Getting your home prepared for hurricane season is essential, especially if you live in the Orlando area. While a major hurricane doesn’t hit every season and it can be tempting to put it off until later, being prepared in advance can help save your roof (and your home) from suffering unnecessary damage. Here are four tips to prepare your Orlando roofing for the coming hurricane season.
1: Fix Missing or Loose Shingles
Missing or loose shingles might seem like a small thing, but they can lead to big problems if they are not taken care of before a storm. Nail or caulk loose shingles and replace missing ones, or contact a roofing contractor in Orlando to come and take care of it for you. This will help prevent water from leaking into the home, or other damage from wind, rain, or hail. Also check for rusted flashing, loose eave and gable end vents, soffits, or turbines and get these things fixed before the storm.
2: Consider Roof Tie-Downs
These truss tie-downs, often called “hurricane straps” help to brace the roof in very high winds and severe storms. They can help ensure that you don’t lose a whole portion of the roof to a large or sustained wind gust. Not every roof will need tie-downs, but it’s a good idea to talk to Orlando roofing contractors to find out if it is advisable for yours.
3: Secure Yard Items
The furniture and other decorations in your yard can quickly become flying projectiles that could damage your Orlando roofing. If you have these things, either tie them down or move them indoors to the basement, garage, or shed so they don’t get loose and damage roof shingles.
4: Trim Back Trees
Trees in the yard can also become dangerous in a hurricane. If you have trees that hang over your Orlando roofing, trim them back a safe distance so they won’t break and fall onto the house during the storm.
Failing to prepare your roof for the coming storms can cause a significant amount of damage—everything from leaking water coming through the roof decking to parts of the roof collapsing and damaging the attic, insulation, and walls underneath. Get prepared so you don’t have to worry this storm season but if the worst happens, Russ Noyes Roofing Inc can help with storm damage repairs throughout the Orlando area.