The Best Way to Check Your House After a Storm

1/9/2023 (Permalink)

Storm and wind damage in Colorado Springs, CO.

After the Storm

It's a good idea to inspect your home after a storm. Unfortunately, there may be some damage that could make it difficult for you to stay in your home or worse—put your family at risk for injury or death. We hope these tips will help keep you safe and give you peace of mind after the storm passes.

Inspect the Roof

The roof is one of the most likely places to sustain damage after a storm. Here are some places to check: 

• Look for loose shingles.
• Check for holes in the roof.
• Look for torn or missing shingles.
• Check for damaged flashing (the metal or plastic that seals around chimneys and roofs).
• Check for loose or missing gutters and downspouts (metal bars used to divert rainwater).

Inspect the Siding

If the storm damaged any of your home's siding, be sure to inspect it for missing or damaged pieces. Check for loose nails or screws that could cause additional damage to your home, as well as any dents or holes in flashing that should be replaced. If you find any problems with the structure of your house, call a professional to inspect it further and make repairs if necessary.

Inspect Windows

Check windows for damage or missing storm windows. Storm windows should be firmly secured to the window by a lock, latch, or another fastening mechanism. If you find that any of the locks are missing or broken, have someone replace them immediately.

If you do not have storm windows in your home and one side of your existing window is glass and the other side is louvered wood blinds or energy-efficient material (such as plastic film), use nails or screws to secure these materials so they don’t blow away during high winds.

Check all screens for tears and holes in them. A screen can easily rip when it gets caught on debris flying around from high winds during a storm event. If there is any pressure on the screen from outside forces such as wind gusts from being left open too far; shutters being blown back into them; or heavy objects crashing into them like branches from trees falling down nearby then take appropriate measures like using duct tape over certain areas where tears have developed so water does not leak inside.

Inspect the Yard

After a storm, you should always do a walk-around of your property. This will help you check for any damage that may have occurred during the storm, and it can also give you an idea of what repairs are necessary in order to prevent further damage.

If you live in a storm-prone area, it's important to be aware of the trees on your property and whether they pose any danger. If a tree has fallen during a previous storm, examine its roots and branches:

• Look for loose or broken branches, which could fall again at any time.
• Check for dead or dying trees that might be more likely to fall in another storm.
• Make sure any leaning or weak trees are being propped up by supports so that they don't topple into your house during a future event.

Inspect your yard and any detached structures, like a storage shed or garage. Trees may have fallen on these structures and damaged them, so you need to check them carefully.

We hope this article has helped you understand how to check your house after a storm. If you do experience damage to your home or business after a storm, give SERVPRO of Northern Colorado Springs/Tri-Lakes a call! We will get your Colorado Springs, CO property back to normal as quickly as possible!