It should go without saying that bad weather can be far more destructive than practically any other force on the planet. This is especially true about the damage that springtime storms can cause to your home. Every year, storms cause millions of dollars worth of damage to homes worldwide. While the incidents of storm damage that garner the most attention involve catastrophic damage due to hurricanes, tornadoes, lightning, or even straight winds that all but destroy homes, most of the damage that occurs after particularly nasty spring storms comes in the form of hail or water damage to siding and roofs. This may seem insignificant for many people compared to having the roof of a house torn away by a tornado, but this damage can become troublesome over time and requires repairs as soon as possible.
One of the more common home repair jobs that are routinely performed after a storm is siding repair. This makes sense, since the siding of a home is always exposed to the elements. Vinyl siding has proven to be quite popular in recent years since it's usually pliable enough to not be dented by hail storms, yet even vinyl will become cracked and damaged if it is hammered hard enough continuously during a storm. Metal siding can be dented quite easily by hail, as can wood siding. Of course, wood siding is also more vulnerable to water damage and can warp and be more easily cracked over time. If you want siding that can really hold up to hail damage, you might want to consider something like fiber cement siding. It's five times thicker than vinyl siding and can withstand winds up to 150 MPH.
If you have had a particularly severe hail storm and want to check for siding damage, look for cracks or dents closer to the bottom of a wall rather than the top. The eave of a house offers more protection higher up on the wall. It's important to find any damaged or weak spots early; it's not uncommon for hailstones to punch a hole right through damaged siding.
Roof repairs are also frequently performed after severe storms. It's easy to tell if a roof has suffered hail damage, as the roofs of most modern homes are covered with asphalt shingles. The granules of these shingles can be easily stripped away by hail damage, giving the shingles a scoured appearance. While it is always a good idea to have a professional inspect your roof at least once a year, it is especially important to inspect your roof after a severe storm. If your house has a rain gutter, check it after a storm for asphalt granules. This is often a surefire way to know if your roof has suffered damage. As with siding damage, it's important to note any roof damage as quickly as possible and call a professional repair company to deal with the issue.
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One of the more common home repair jobs that are routinely performed after a storm is siding repair. This makes sense, since the siding of a home is always exposed to the elements. Vinyl siding has proven to be quite popular in recent years since it's usually pliable enough to not be dented by hail storms, yet even vinyl will become cracked and damaged if it is hammered hard enough continuously during a storm. Metal siding can be dented quite easily by hail, as can wood siding. Of course, wood siding is also more vulnerable to water damage and can warp and be more easily cracked over time. If you want siding that can really hold up to hail damage, you might want to consider something like fiber cement siding. It's five times thicker than vinyl siding and can withstand winds up to 150 MPH.
If you have had a particularly severe hail storm and want to check for siding damage, look for cracks or dents closer to the bottom of a wall rather than the top. The eave of a house offers more protection higher up on the wall. It's important to find any damaged or weak spots early; it's not uncommon for hailstones to punch a hole right through damaged siding.
Roof repairs are also frequently performed after severe storms. It's easy to tell if a roof has suffered hail damage, as the roofs of most modern homes are covered with asphalt shingles. The granules of these shingles can be easily stripped away by hail damage, giving the shingles a scoured appearance. While it is always a good idea to have a professional inspect your roof at least once a year, it is especially important to inspect your roof after a severe storm. If your house has a rain gutter, check it after a storm for asphalt granules. This is often a surefire way to know if your roof has suffered damage. As with siding damage, it's important to note any roof damage as quickly as possible and call a professional repair company to deal with the issue.
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