Storm Recovery: Advice For Homeowners

Living up here in northern MN we don’t face the problems with storms like many other places in the United States. Our main worry is snow and cold! Every year many homeowners this far north deal with freezing septic and water lines (even right in the middle of town) not to mention ice damns on their roofs ripping their shingles and gutters off.

Steel is becoming a common roofing material up here because of its practical immortality. But, more than that, because of our snow and ice problems steel is a very smart choice.

I had (and do) plan on putting steel on my roof someday. But, when I moved in to Grandma’s house, the majority of the shingles were only a few years old. With cost a major player in my renovation it was just silly to cover them with steel.

But, many years from now, it will be my choice when my shingles need to be replaced.

(The following is a contributed article.)

Even with the best preparation in the world, many homeowners will experience storm damage to their property at some point.

With extreme storms becoming more common, even homeowners who may once have thought adverse weather was unlikely to ever impact them are now finding themselves facing the tricky process of repairing significant damage to their home.

Hopefully, you will never find yourself having to face significant home repairs in the aftermath of a serious storm, but if you do, the thoughts below are well worth keeping in mind…

Safety is the first priority

If your home has been damaged, the urge to ascertain the severity of the problems is overwhelming – but it’s important to try and remember that a storm-damaged house is a dangerous house.

There may be standing water, electrical damage, broken glass, and even structural damage, so be extremely cautious at all times, and only enter an area of the property if you are 100% certain it is safe to do so.

Call your insurance company as soon as you can

The sooner you call your insurance company, the better – even when you are not yet sure of the damage that has been sustained.

Your insurer will be able to open a case, which will make managing the process far simpler, so make a quick call to ensure they know what is happening as soon as you possibly can.

Focus on the damage to the exterior before the interior

Interior damage is worrisome, but exterior damage is a security risk – so focus on this area first and foremost.

Take the time to carefully inspect all areas, starting with the roof; if there is obvious damage, contact a professional for assistance rather than seeking to fix it yourself.

You should then inspect your windows; if any are broken, or the seals are damaged, contact a professional for further advice rather than attempting to fix the issue yourself. Finally, don’t forget to inspect your garage door, as high winds can cause real problems in this area; if you do notice any issues, contact a garage door repair company to rectify this as soon as possible.

When you are satisfied that the external problems have been remedied – or at least that the process is in hand – you can move to an exploration of the interior.

A similar process applies here, too: be careful, assess the damage, and call the appropriate professional for advice rather than attempting DIY repairs.

Prepare for a longer process than you may initially expect

Above, we focused on the immediate fixes that can secure your home, but it would be remiss to suggest that recovering from storm damage is a quick process.

In many cases, you will have to monitor your home for any existing signs of problems. This is especially true if your home has been flooded, as this can lead to long-term issues with mold and damp.

Facing a long repair process can feel extremely daunting, especially when you will want to resolve the issue and move on. However, this continual assessment is incredibly important and can help prevent a fixable issue becoming more severe in future.

In conclusion

Storm recovery is never a simple task, and the possible long-term consequences can be particularly troublesome.

However, if you do ever experience storm damage to your home, the tips above are a good starting guide that should help you get back to normal as quickly as possible.

(This is a contributed post, for more information about my compensation please read my disclosure policy)