Florida Hurricane Prep Checklist

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Florida Hurricane Prep Checklist

The Roof It Right service area; Jacksonville, Gainesville, and Daytona Beach, has seen an influx of new first time Florida homeowners. Welcome! Might we start by saying- roof maintenance, and / or a proper functioning roofing system is the most important element a homeowner can control when aiming to protect the value of their home. Locals know this. If you’re a local, use this blog as a refresher. However if you’re new to Florida, following the steps in this blog are essential to your home surviving hurricane season.     

“Florida Rule”

Florida sits within a sub-topical climate region- susceptible to torrential rain, high winds, hail, high heat, and humidity. Some contractors say building here requires “Florida rules.” A tiny attic leak that may go unnoticed for years up North, can and will become a mold nightmare here in the South. And it happens fast! With this considered, a little prep now will go along way when storms arrive. This blog will discuss simple steps you can take to get your home ready for Florida’s relentless hurricane season.

Steps to prepare your roof for Florida’s Hurricane Season:

Roof, Gutters, and Downspouts-

Tropical storm and hurricane activity batter Florida roofs with wind, rain, and debris. If your roof’s gutter and drainage system is not operating at full capacity, your home or business is more susceptible to damage. A roof’s purpose is to keep you, and your belongings dry, but that’s a tough task when water can’t drain away as the system was designed. Cleaning the gutters isn’t fun, but is truly an essential step to make sure your roof is ready to fight Florida’s relentless weather.

If you are going to clean the gutters yourself, start at the top and work your way down. Remove twigs, leaves, and debris first. Make sure water can flow freely to all downspouts. Removing the downspout from the gutter system is often a good choice and will make it easier to clean. Make sure all downspouts are clear and securely fastened to the gutter and roofing system. When in doubt call a Florida roofing professional.

Trim Trees-

Weather from a hurricane or tropical storm batters Florida’s roofs with high winds and rain. In this case untrimmed trees become dangerous projectiles battering your home. Best practice is to maintain all trees / limbs on your home or business property. That said, the closer the overgrown limb is to your home or business, the more potential for damage. If an overgrown limb is over your roof? It needs to be trimmed as soon as possible. Trimming trees is another critically important step to ensure your home’s roofing system survives hurricane season.

Visual Inspection-

Do you best to do a visual inspection from the ground. If you find loose or missing shingles, you need to call a roofing professional. If your home has an attic, head up and take a look. If you are able to see water damage, wood rot, or mold; these are signs of roof damage that needs to be addressed. Contact a trusted local Florida roofing contractor and have them do an inspection.

Insurance Policy –

Mother nature does what she wants. Sometimes no matter how much we prep, a storm is just too strong to avoid damage. In this case you’ll be relying on your insurance coverage. Don’t wait until you need to make a claim. Review your insurance policy now and double check exactly how strong your coverage is. Does your Florida policy cover full roof replacement? Does it protect against floods? These are important questions to find out now, before the storm.

Call a professional-

Still in doubt? Schedule a roof inspection. An inspection from any reputable Florida roofing contractor will put you at ease, and ensure your roof is shipshape. A roof inspector will go over every part of the roofing system, looking for leaks, wear and tear, debris damage, organic growth or foundation issues, even problems that may have resulted from prior repairs..

We hope you can make use of our Florida Hurricane Season tips. Remain as diligent as possible as we start to see more Tropical activity. If you need any assistance, our professionals at Roof It Right are here to help. Contact us today for Florida’s preeminent roofing experience. Proudly serving Jacksonville, Gainesville, Daytona Beach, and surrounding areas.  Still offering contactless or virtual appointments. Roof It Right so you can sleep at night.