Prepare Your Roof for Storm Season

With the notorious Perth storm season on the horizon, we’ve made this article to help you prepare your roof and home from potential storm damage. Storms can bring in high winds, heavy rain, hail, and even tornadoes, all of which are unforgiving of your roof. This article will go over some quick simple steps to help you prepare your roof before a storm hits and minimise the risk of damage and potential costly repairs.

The first step is quite simple. Inspect your roof and assess its condition. This is especially important if you’ve not had your roof inspected in a while, or have been slacking on the maintenance. Logically – if your roof is older or in poor condition, it will be more susceptible to damage during a storm. In other words, your home’s main layer of defense against storms has been compromised. Look for signs of damage such as cracked, missing, or loose tiles and shingles. If you see any then you should have them repaired or replaced before the storms start to creep up.

Loose tiles or other components can be ripped apart during high winds, causing significant damage to your roof. If you see anything loose – you should immediately secure them with nails or screws. This also includes ensuring any satellite dishes, or other equipment, on your roof are securely anchored.

While you’re up on the roof, you should also check that your gutters and downspouts are clear of debris to prevent water from backing up and causing damage.

Trimming trees around your home is another important, but often overlooked, step in preparing your roof for a storm. High winds can cause branches to break off and fall onto your roof, or even worse, your car or other personal property. Depending on how big the branch is, there is even a risk of potential fatalities.

I’ve had a personal experience just near-missing potential serious injury (or worse) from fallen branches so, I cannot stress this enough. Mother Nature can be unforgiving at times, but preventative measures can be taken! We highly recommend trimming back any branches that are close to your roof, or are dead or damaged. The more potential risk of the branch, the higher of a priority it should be to trim it.

Although not always necessary, for those that want further protection from absolute worst-case scenarios such as cyclones or tornadoes, there are additional roof reinforcements available. This can include hurricane straps or clips, which help secure the roof to the walls of your home, or reinforced roofing materials, such as metal or concrete tiles.

As a Perth homeowner and resident, you should double check that your insurance policy covers storm damage to your roof. Most homeowner’s insurance policies do cover storm damage – but it’s important to review your policy to understand the extent of your coverage. If you’re concerned, you should also take photos and videos of your roof during your inspection. This can help you provide evidence of any post-storm damage to your insurance company if a claim is necessary.

Finally, the most obvious step is having your roof inspected regularly by a roofing professional. They can identify any potential issues with your roof and make necessary repairs before a storm hits. A professional can also provide advice on the best ways to protect your specific roof from the upcoming storm season.

At Roof Repairs Perth WA, our phone is ringing all day during and after the storm season. Much of the damage and repairs we attend to, could be avoided or lessened, by following our above advice. If you’re in need of an inspection before the next storm season, feel free to contact our team.