When you live in the Twin Cities, severe summer storms come with the territory. Those storms can leave behind some serious home damage, and as a homeowner, it’s your job to know what to look for, so you can address minor issues before they grow into major problems.
Read on to learn about a few different types of storm damage you need to inspect for after every severe weather event. If you find anything unusual, call a storm damage repair specialist (Kiser Construction is an excellent choice!) right away.
Roof Damage
Inclement weather is notorious for damaging roofs throughout the Twin Cities metro, and your home is no exception, no matter how high quality the roof is. High winds, heavy rains, and severe hail can some serious damage to any roof, so after the skies clear, head outdoors to check your roof for the following issues:
● Missing shingles or tiles
● Lifted, cracked, curling, or otherwise damage shingles
● Torn underlayment (if you can see missing shingles or tiles)
● Damaged soffit or fascia
If you can see any of these issues from the ground, there’s a definite chance water found its way into your attic during the storm. Head into the attic to check for wet spots, damp insulation, water stains, dark spots on the wood, and mold growth.
If you notice anything unusual, call a roofing contractor right away for a comprehensive inspection. Any degree of storm-related roof damage needs to be handled promptly to prevent further structural damage and the need for expensive roof repairs.
Projectiles
Summer storms can come with unpredictable behaviors, and one of the most common types of damage occurs from projectiles, with tree branches at the top of the list. Depending on their size, they can cause extensive damage to shingles, siding, gutters, and windows and even cause more extreme structural damage. One way to help negate this is by ensuring they are well-trimmed, especially if you have larger branches hanging over your home.
Broken Windows
It's not uncommon for storms to go from rain to hail in a matter of minutes in some areas. If the stones are large enough, they can potentially break windows, damage vehicles, and even wreak havoc on bushes and plants in your yard. It's not uncommon for window replacement to happen after a major storm, so installing awnings or shutters can be beneficial to prevent needing storm damage repair.
Internal Damages
Another area of your home that can be affected by summer storm damage is the temperature fluctuations that can take place. If you have hardwood floors, when the temperature moves up and down, they will swell and expand if there's moisture that fills up any gaps under the baseboards. This can result in cracking, potential permanent damage and restoration services.
The temperature changes in humidity can also affect your furniture and decorations, especially if they are made from wood. Being aware of any picture frames, armchairs, or even paintings or artwork can all be affected, so controlling the humidity in the home can help reduce this risk.
Piping Trouble
Your plumbing is another area of your home to pay attention to during summer storms. If your piping is not sealed correctly, it may leak or even burst, especially if there is high water usage. If there's excessive drying, it can also cause issues with the lines and result in disconnection or even rupturing resulting in water damage cleanup. So, be sure to schedule regular inspections to help prevent potential damages, especially in the hotter times of the year.
Basement Flooding
When summer storms bring substantial rain, your basement may be at serious risk for flooding if any of the following are true:
● You can see cracks in your foundation.
● You notice water pooling near your house frequently.
● The land around your home slopes toward your foundation rather than away from it.
● You don’t have a sump pump or you’re not certain that yours is fully functional.
To avoid a call to a water extraction specialist after a severe storm, double-check your sump pump and any other property drainage system you have before summer starts. If your property has a sloping problem, it’s likely in your best interest to contact an engineer who can develop a safe water drainage solution.
Gutter Damage
High winds, flying debris, heavy rain, and severe hail can do some major damage to your gutter system if it’s in questionable condition already. If there are any small cracks, holes, leaky seals, or the gutters aren’t properly attached to your home, inclement weather can easily prompt further damage.
Worse, further gutter damage will result in water leakage near the foundation of your house, and possibly, water intrusion into your home’s lowest level. If your downspouts aren’t properly positioned, they can end up directing water too close to the foundation of your home, which also puts the lowest level at risk for flooding.
If you know your gutters aren’t cut out to handle inclement weather (or if you don’t presently have gutters), spring is an excellent time to fix that. One call to a gutter contractor is all it takes to ensure your gutters and downspouts are properly prepared to help protect your home against water damage.
Siding Damage
Hail, heavy winds, and flying debris can easily cause siding damage, especially if your home has cladding that’s vulnerable to penetration or denting. Vinyl and aluminum siding are typically the most prone to damage during severe weather, so if your home currently has either of these types of cladding, perform a siding inspection after every severe storm.
When the skies clear, look for cracks, holes, lifting, denting, and any other signs of minor siding problems. While these issues might seem rather inconsequential, they’re not. Any degree of siding damage can allow water penetration and pest intrusion, both of which will prompt more severe siding issues (and even structural damage) down the road.
If you notice even a minor degree of damage, call a siding contractor for a more in-depth inspection. The more proactive you are about handling siding repairs, the better protected your home will be.
Kiser Construction: Your Twin Cities Storm Damage Repair Specialists
If your home suffers any degree of damage during a summer storm, call our team at Kiser Construction right away. Our storm damage repair specialists are expert roofing contractors, siding contractors, door and window contractors, and water removal experts, and we can restore your home to its pre-storm condition as promptly as possible. If you need assistance filing your insurance claim, we’re more than happy to help with that too!
To learn more about our services or schedule an inspection, give us a call today at 763-633-2010 or contact us online, and we’ll be in touch. If you require emergency service, please call our 24/7 emergency response line at 612-518-8852.