Typically, after heavy rains and storms, roofs tend to experience the bulk of the damage. This is why after a storm; homeowners are advised to inspect their roofs for any damage. Don't wait until the damage worsens to call roofing repair services, you should instead do the following.
Inspect the Exterior of Your Roof and Home
Start by walking around your property and look for any signs of fallen shingles, metal roofing parts, nails, or any other debris that may have fallen from your roof. If you can't find any, proceed to conduct a visual inspection of your roof. Can you see anything on your roof, such as fallen tree limbs? Are there parts of your roof that are missing? Once you have inspected the exterior, the next step would be to inspect the interior.
Inspect the Interior
The first thing you should check is to see if you have any cracks, leaks, or water damage in your home. You should also see if your house has water stains on the walls or floors. Inspect all rooms and don't forget to check the attic. If you can see signs of damage done to your roof, it's probably time to call in the professionals to conduct a thorough inspection.
Schedule Professional Inspection
Don't climb onto your roof without safety equipment, as you may risk falling off or getting injured. You probably don't have the experience to conduct a roof inspection safely. Instead, you should contact your roofing repair company and request a roof inspection.
Contact Your Insurance Agent
With the results from the roof inspection, you can decide whether to call your insurance agent or not, depending on the extent of the damage. If the damage is one or two missing shingles, you can repair that without filing a claim. However, if the inspection shows that your roof needs extensive repairs, contact your insurance agent and file a claim. Ensure you take photos of the damage and request the inspector does the same.
The inspector will provide a report of the damage, which you'll need in order to determine the repair estimates. You can ask the roofing repair company to provide repair cost estimates. You'll use these estimates to file and negotiate your claim.
Hire a Roofing Repair Company
Contact a local roofing repair company to commence repair works. Before you do so, check their reviews online and ask around to see if they're credible. If it's a company you've worked with before and enjoyed, you can probably just proceed with the repairs.
Don't wait too long to fix the damage. You'll need the repairs done swiftly to limit the spread of the problem. The longer you wait, the worse it becomes, and you could end up replacing the entire roof. Keep these tips in mind when looking for a new roofing contractor near you.