Your roof is a huge investment, and storm seasons are an imminent threat. There’s nothing you can do to prevent storms from hitting your buildings, but there is plenty you can do to reduce the damage and storm impact on your roof. It’s important for facility owners who are in severe weather-prone areas to take necessary precautions when it comes to storms. Not only can this help reduce the damage your facility might sustain, but it can also help you avoid insurance claims. According to Forbes, the average home insurance claim for fire or lightning damage to a roof is $77,340. Imagine how much more it is commercially! Here are some steps you can take to reduce your roof risks.

Plan a Roof Inspection

Before storm season rolls around, you need to schedule a professional roof inspection with a commercial roofing service. These professionals will inspect the roof and inform you of any vulnerabilities the roof may already have. Getting these fixed ahead of time will reduce the chance of these weak spots becoming a big problem during a storm.

Perform Gutter Maintenance

Your gutter system is a vital part of your roofing. Many people think of gutters as working to protect the foundation of a building, and they do, but they also protect the roof. Without properly functioning gutters, water will collect and pool on the roof. This can lead to water damage that will affect your roof and the inside of your building as well. Gutters need to be cleaned and any dents or gaps need to be repaired. Heavy rains can put a strain on gutters if the gutters are already in poor shape. You should check for loose or weak fasteners as well. When gutters are dirty and in poor shape they can’t move water effectively, and they pose a safety risk on your property.

Remove Debris

If debris has collected on your roof, such as leaves and twigs, you need to have this debris removed as soon as possible. When debris collects on the roof, water collects as well. This is especially true of leaves. Leaves will become a wet soggy mess. This standing moisture will start to deteriorate the shingles on your roof making it susceptible to leaks. Most roofs need to be cleaned of debris at least once each season.

Trim Trees

If you have any trees that hang over or around your building, they need to be trimmed back before the stormy season. Falling tree branches can cause a lot of damage to your roof and the rest of the facility. In our experience, large trees should be trimmed away from your roof at least once a year by professionals.

Have Trees Inspected

If you have large trees on your property near your building, they need to be inspected annually for weakness and age. A weak and aging tree near a building can easily fall during a storm. Falling trees can cause tremendous damage to your facility. This type of storm damage could cause serious injuries to those within the building as well. If there are indications of weakness, disease, or age, you may want to consider having the trees removed before severe storms usually hit your area.

Prevent Ice Dams

It’s not just spring and summer storms that can damage your building. Winter storms can also cause a great deal of harm to your roof as well. When branches on overhanging trees freeze, they can break easily and damage your roof. Your roof is also at risk of ice dams. This happens when snow melts and refreezes. You can prevent ice dams from developing by having an ice and water shield added to your roof by a commercial roofing service. This is a type of fully adhered underlayment. It sticks to your roof and creates an additional layer of protection. This type of protective layer won’t blow away in strong winds or shift under the pressure of snow and ice. This will protect your building from leaks resulting from winter storms. It is best to have a commercial roofing service install this type of precaution so that it is done correctly.

Stock up on Tarps

It’s also a good idea to stock up on tarps before stormy seasons hit. If you do wind up having roof damage, it’s important to have the right supplies on hand. Having tarps ready makes it easy to get any damage covered quickly. This will prevent that damage from becoming more widespread.

These are just a few tips on how to prepare your roof for storm seasons. If you’re looking for roofing professionals or a commercial roofing service in your area to help with roofing maintenance or repairs, please contact Western Roofing Inc today.