According to the National Weather Service Louisville KY and its surrounding areas like Jeffersonville, Radcliff Kentucky and Lanesville Indiana experience an average of 48 inches of rain and 13 inches of snow per year. Most of this rainfall occurs during the spring and summer months and can present itself in many different ways. Lanesville IN is no stranger to tropical storms, severe thunderstorms, hail, ice, floods, windstorms and even 200mph tornados from time to time.
Indiana experiences so much annual wind and rain it is essential to take necessary precautions and follow post-storm procedures in maintaining a sturdy and waterproof roof and home. Bottom line, your roof will tell you when it needs repairs, a re-roofing, or even a full roof replacement—you just need to understand how to evaluate your roof for signs of storm damage and be able to spot a roofing or gutter problem when it appears.
Your roof, gutter system and siding are the three main components in protecting your home against unwanted leakage, molding problems and water damage. Below are a few signs that may indicate your roof needs some TLC (tender loving care).
1 – Damaged Flashing and/or Caulking Around Chimneys, Vents, Lights or Skylights. Flashing is the metal that is installed at the base of chimney that comes into contact with the roof. There is also caulking that seals the chimney and flashing together, which allows the area to become waterproof and directs the water away from the chimney and toward the gutters. During a high wind storm or over the years this flashing may become damaged, caulking may develop cracks, or flashing may be torn away completely. All of the above scenarios will compromise your roof’s ability to repel water and make your home susceptible to mold and water damage.
How to fix: Replace the flashing and re-caulk the damaged areas as soon as possible. If you are unsure how to do this yourself, consider hiring a professional like The King’s Mitigator Inc. based out of Lanesville IN.
2 – Water Collecting, Squishing, or sunken in parts of a roof can all be signs that your roof decking (also known as wood sheathing) is not up to par. Roof decking normally consists of OSB (oriented strand board) or plywood that’s attached with nails onto the rafters of the attic. Overtime, these boards can become cracked, break or wear down. Damages or even improper installment of these boards can allow for pooling on the roof as a result of being uneven which can impair proper drainage from shingles, metal sheets, wood and ceramic tiles.
How to fix: Get a free roof inspection by a local roofer to consult them on whether roof repair or full roof replacement is the best option for you and your budget.
3 – Granule Loss or missing shingles, broken tiles or dented/punctured metal sheets. The granules on shingles helps protect the shingles UV sun rays. If you find a large number of them in your gutters it could indicate roof damage from hail or heavy rainfall. Broken tiles or punctured metal sheets will allow water to seep through the cracks and holes and overtime will allow water to seep into the home.
How to fix: Carefully replace the tiles, shingles or metal sheets as soon as possible. If excessive hail damage is observed your next roof replacement may be covered by insurance.
4 – Dark Discoloring or Mold Growth on roof, interior walls and ceiling, or exterior walls/siding. Mold or stains on any part of your house is a huge indicator of water accumulation or exposure.
The cause of the leak could be the result of a variety of things – normal wear and tear, damaged roofing or siding, cracked caulking around sheathing, cracked bricks ect. Whatever the case, this warning sign should never be ignored.
How to fix: Hire a professional roofer immediately to determine the cause of the problem. If left unattended, mold and water accumulation issues can quickly become costly restoration projects.
5 – Damaged or Clogged Gutters. During big storms, debris can accumulate quickly on roofs and gutters. When gutters are clogged or debris is left on roofs for long periods of time it can interrupt how the roof repels water and thus impair the roofs water repelling functionality.
How to fix: Routinely check and remove any debris from roof and gutters before and after storms. Check the area around the debris for any damage to shingle, tile or metal and repair when necessary. Repair or replace any gutters or siding that may be damaged, bent or broken.
Storm damage is nothing new for Lanesville residents. This is evident by the high number of reported property damage and power outages from fallen power lines and trees that left 15,000 residents without power just a few weeks ago. In St. Matthews, a pick-up truck driver narrowly escaped disaster when a massive tree fell on his truck bed while driving down Grandview Avenue. The driver was lucky to avoid serious injury in the incident. Meanwhile, in Jeffersontown, the recent storms caused property damage for resident Sierra Edds. She suspects that a lightning bolt caused a tree trunk to fall on her home around 5 p.m.
In conclusion, knowing the signs of storm roof damage and making immediate remediation is crucial in minimizing expensive home restoration projects and mold removal problems. The Kings Mitigator is a 24/7 emergency fire, smoke & water remediation, roofing, gutters, siding, flooring & home remodeling service and has over 20 years of experience handling insurance claims. When it comes to storm damage, choose The Kings Mitigator. Protecting People, preventing disaster.
Is your next roof replacement out of your budget and you don’t think your insurance will cover it? You may qualify for roof and gutter replacement assistance from the Louisville Kentucky Home Repair Programs if your household is below or at the 80% area median income (AMI):
1 Person – $47,4502
2 Persons – :$54,2003
3 Persons – $61,0004
4 Persons – $67,7505
5 Persons $73,2006
6 Persons – $78,600