Hurricane Season Checklist

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Hurricane Season Checklist

Florida natives understand hurricane season, and the serious nature of the weather it brings. If you’re new to Florida, this blog will help you prepare your home’s roofing system for what lies ahead. If you’re a local, our check list will serve as a good refresher to ensure your roof is ship shape.

“The Florida Rule”

Florida sits within a sub-topical climate region- susceptible to torrential rain, high winds, hail, high heat, and humidity. The life span on anything we build or install- i.e. roofs, windows, pavers, HVAC systems, etc. is considerably shorter here in Florida, as compared to other areas of the United States. This means we must be more diligent as homeowners regarding prep, maintenance, and upkeep of our home’s vital systems.

Things are just “different” here in Florida. Some contractors call it “the Florida rule.” For example- 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, as in months not years. 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:

Clean The Roof, Gutters, and Drainage System-

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 Tree Branches-

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. 

Check for damage-

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. 

Review your 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.

Schedule A Roof Inspection-

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.