The entire world seems to be suffering from a bad case of weird weather recently, and many parts of the country have fallen prey to hailstorms with projectiles the size of melons, been flooded out of their homes with the heaviest rainfall on record, and been battered by crazy-high winds that never let up. It’s almost inevitable that your home will suffer in some way as a result of this bad weather, but if you play your cards right and handle things the right way, a storm damaged roof doesn't need to impose too much stress or cost on your life.



HAVE A LOOK
After the storm has passed (and you are very sure of this) go outside and take a long, hard look at your roof. Hailstones can shatter, split and break shingles. Wind can blow shingles right off the building, or knock your chimney stack down. Lots of rain can have a detrimental effect to poorly-maintained gutters too. With just the smallest buildup of moss, the water struggles to drain as it should and, before long, the water will have managed to find its way into the building somehow. Be aware that storm damage isn’t always obvious. You should have a look inside the attic space to ensure that water and other things haven't managed to get inside, but be careful when you do this; there could be wild critters inside. Storm damage is the number one cause of wild animal intruders.

CALL YOUR INSURANCE COMPANY
If you can see storm damage/are pretty sure your roof has been damaged in some way, it is wise to give your insurance company a call. They can send someone out to take a proper look at things — an adjuster. They will look for all areas of damage, compile a report, and let you know the extent. They will also give you a few ideas of companies or contractors you can work with in the local area, what services will be covered by the policy, and other important details. It is not wise to start any kind of repair or restoration work to a storm damaged roof until the adjuster has been. If you do, you may be faced with some or all of the cost of those repairs and restorations.

GET MORE THAN ONE QUOTE FROM ROOFING CONTRACTORS
If you get two or three different estimates and/or assessments from two or three different companies, you can get a good idea of what you really need. If all of those companies say pretty much the same thing — the same work, modifications, repairs, etc. — you can be sure that the work really needs doing, and that you're not just being offered “special extras” for what appears to be no reason. Secondary to that, you can be sure that you are paying a decent price. If you get three quotes, two of which are the same and one of which is considerably more expensive, you need to ask yourself why that is the case. Does the more expensive company offer anything extra? Are they going to do more than the other two companies? Are you being ripped off if you hire them, or do they really have all of those amazing accreditations that they boast of? The more research you do, the more you can be sure you’re hiring the right person or people for the job. With so many companies around, and a few “dodgy” ones, it’s best to be prepared.

BE AROUND FOR ALL VISITS
If you’re around the roofer or roofing team at all times, there is less of a chance of something going wrong. Bogus or scam artist roofers — very popular after storms and periods of bad weather — can sometimes damage the roof deliberately in a bid to drum up work … that they then won’t complete, or will only complete to an incredibly poor and unsafe standard. Being present and asking questions while the process is going on can minimise these risks.

ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS
The more questions you ask, the more answers you’ll get. The more answers you’ll get, the happier and more comfortable you’ll feel with the person or people who is going to be working on your biggest investment — your home. Roofers — the reliable ones — want to offer you the best service. They want to leave you with a home that is safe and secure, and that is completely to your standards. Reliable and reputable companies know how much negative reviews (word of mouth or on social media) can affect a business, and it’s just not worth the risk. That's why they’ll answer your questions and offer you advice going forward, all to prevent you from having to deal with more roof-related issues.

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