According to Aon, winter storms caused a record $15 billion in insured losses in 2021. Do you know how to fix storm damage?

Storms are common, so it’s essential to know how to spot signs of storm damage. Once the storm has passed, you don’t want to discover that you have more damage to your property than necessary.

There are various types of storm damage, and when it comes to home storm damage repair, you’ll need to know whether you need professional help or whether you can tackle it yourself.

Read on to learn about some common examples of storm damage and how you can handle it.

An Overview of Storm Damage

Any state of the disturbed natural environment, such as an astronomical body’s atmosphere, is a storm. It may be characterized by significant deviations from the norm, such as strong winds, tornadoes, hail, thunder, lightning, heavy precipitation, strong winds, wind transporting some substance through the atmosphere, and more.

The air rising off hot earth can create small localized zones of low pressure, which can cause smaller disturbances like dust devils and whirlwinds. When a core of low-pressure forms and a high-pressure system surrounds it, storms are produced.

This balancing act of opposing forces can produce winds and lead to the development of cumulonimbus-type storm clouds.

Different Types

The roof withstands the full force of storms and other extreme weather and shields your building from harm. After a severe storm, you might observe your house or structure and think everything is in order, but two weeks later, a significant leak may occur, causing considerable damage to your roof and home. Here are some of the types of storm damage:

Random Debris

One type of damage is random debris. This can include things like branches, rocks, or even whole trees. This type of damage can be very destructive and can cause a lot of damage to your home.

If you have random debris damage, it is essential to fix it as soon as possible. Otherwise, it could cause further damage to your home or even lead to injuries.

If your home is hit by random debris, it’s essential first to assess the damage and then take the necessary steps to repair it. If the damage is minor, you may be able to sweep or rake up the debris. However, if the damage is more significant, you may need to call a professional to help repair your home.

Water Damage

Water damage can come from many sources, including storms. Water can enter your home through damaged windows, doors, or roofs or seep in through cracks in your foundation. Cracks in your foundation are very serious and will require professional foundation repair services. Water can also cause mold and mildew to grow, leading to health problems.

For proper cleanup, you will need to dry out your home, repair any damage to your windows, doors, or roofs, and repair any cracks in your foundation. You may also need to remove mold and mildew from your home.

Water can cause extensive damage to your home, including mold and rot. It can also seep through the walls or ceilings. If you have water damage, it is essential to act quickly to mitigate the damage.

You should remove all wet items from your home, including carpeting, furniture, and wallpaper. You should also thoroughly dry the area and use fans and dehumidifiers to help with the drying process. If you have significant water damage, you may need to call a professional water damage cleanup company to help repair the devastation.

Wind Damage

This can be caused by high winds, tornadoes, or hurricanes. Wind damage can be severe, and it can be very expensive to fix. If you think you have wind damage, you first need to call your insurance company.

Wind damage can range from minor problems, like shingles being blown off your roof, to significant problems, like your home being blown over by a tornado. If you experience wind damage, it’s essential to assess the damage and determine whether you can fix it yourself or need to hire a professional.

Sometimes, wind damage can be fixed by replacing a few shingles or boards. However, at other times, wind damage can be much more severe and require extensive repairs. If you’re unsure how to fix the wind damage, it’s essential to hire a professional to ensure that your home is repaired correctly.

They will send an adjuster to your home to assess the damage. You may need to hire a repair contractor if the damage is severe.

Lightning Damage

Lightning damage is one of the most common types of storm damage that homeowners face. While it is often not as severe as other types of damage, such as wind or hail damage, it can still cause significant damage to your home. Lightning damage can occur to any home but is most common in older houses with metal roofs.

If your home has been struck by lightning, you may notice a few different types of damage. The most common type of damage is the charring or toasting of your roof. This can be caused by the lightning itself, or by the heat that is produced when the lightning strikes.

If you notice this type of damage, it is important to call a professional roofing contractor as soon as possible to have the damage repaired.

Lightning can cause the metal to expand and contract, which can cause the gutters or downspouts to become bent or even broken.

Snow Damage

Snow damage can occur when the weight of the snow causes the roof to collapse, or when the snow melts and then re-freezes, causing an ice dam to form. This can lead to water damage inside the home. To prevent snow damage, it is important to shovel the snow off of the roof regularly and to keep the gutters clear of debris so that the water can drain properly.

While snow is beautiful to look at, it can wreak havoc on your home. Snow damage can occur to your roof, gutters, windows, and doors. If you do experience snow damage, it is important to call a professional to assess the situation and make any necessary repairs.

Hail Damage

Hail damage is one of the most common types of storm damage that homeowners face. While it is most often seen in the form of dents and damage to siding and gutters, hail damage can also cause serious problems with your roof.

This damage is caused by hailstones hitting the home and can cause damage to the roof, siding, windows, and gutters. If you have hailstorm damage, it is important to have it fixed as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home.

You can fix hailstorm damage by hiring a professional to repair or replace the damaged areas. They will be able to determine the extent of the damage and recommend the best course of action for repairs.

Impact Damage

Impact damage is one of the most common types of damage that occurs during a storm. This type of damage is caused by flying debris that hits your home. Impact damage can cause serious damage to your home, and it can be difficult to repair.

If there is impact damage, you should contact a professional to repair your home. Impact damage can be very minor, such as small chips or cracks in siding, or it can be much more severe, such as holes in walls or roofs.

Fortunately, most impact damage is relatively easy to fix. For minor damage, you can simply patch or repair the affected area. For more severe damage, you may need to replace entire sections of siding or roofing.

Either way, it’s important to have the damage repaired as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home. If you want to look how restoration services work, visit countyservicesinc.com.

How to Identify

Experts have secure access to this lofty area, and not all damage is visible to the untrained eye. By evaluating potential storm damage to your roof, you can act quickly, get in touch with your insurance company to submit a claim and avert more expensive, extensive repairs in the future.

Here are some things to consider in identifying storm damage:

Ice Dam Formations

Ice dams can form when heat escapes from the home and melts the snow on the roof. This melted snow can refreeze and cause a dam to form at the edge of the roof. It is important to remove ice dams as soon as possible because ice dams can cause water to back up under shingles and into the home, causing damage to the roof, walls, and ceilings.

To prevent ice dam formations, make sure your home is well insulated and that any heat source, such as a fireplace, is properly vented. If an ice dam does form, removal is the best solution.

Missing or Loose Shingles

This can be caused by high winds, hail, or even falling trees. If you find that you have missing or loose shingles, it’s important to act quickly to avoid further damage to your home. You’ll need to carefully remove the damaged shingles and replace them with new ones.

It’s also a good idea to check your gutters and downspouts to make sure they’re clear of debris so that they can properly drain during a storm.

Granule Loss

This happens when high winds and/or hail cause the protective granules on your roof to come off. This can leave your roof vulnerable to further damage and leaks. Luckily, granule loss is typically covered by homeowners insurance.

To fix this type of damage, you will need to have a professional roofer come and inspect your roof. They will then be able to recommend the best course of action, which may include repairing or replacing your roof.

Fallen Debris

This can be anything from tree limbs to power lines and can cause serious damage to your home. If you have any fallen debris on your property, it’s important to have it removed as soon as possible to prevent further damage.

There are a few different ways to remove fallen debris, so it’s important to consult with a professional to find the best method for your situation. If you are not able to remove the debris yourself, you should contact a professional to do it for you.

Internal Leaks

Internal leaks are one of the most common types of storm damage and can be extremely costly to repair. While many people think that internal leaks are only caused by faulty plumbing, they can actually be caused by a number of factors, including wind, rain, and even snow.

In most cases, internal leaks are not covered by insurance and can be very difficult to fix. The best way to prevent internal leaks is to have your home inspected by a professional before the start of each season.

Crooked Chimney

This can happen for a variety of reasons, but the most common is simply due to the weight of the chimney itself. Over time, the weight of the chimney can cause it to lean to one side, and eventually, it can even collapse.

If you notice that your chimney is starting to lean, it’s important to act quickly. The first step is to have a professional come out and assess the damage.

Once they determine the extent of the damage, they’ll be able to recommend the best course of action. In most cases, the chimney will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

All you need to do is hire a professional to come and straighten out your chimney. This process is usually fairly quick and easy, and it will have your chimney looking good as new in no time.

Plan Ahead

Homes are often the family’s biggest investment, so it’s important to be aware of the types of storm damage that can occur and how to fix them. Wind, rain, snow, and ice can all cause damage to your home, so it’s essential to be prepared.

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