Spring is here in West Michigan and that means we’ll all soon be facing April and May storms, high winds, heavy rainfall, and the potential for hail storms and falling trees and tree branches. And for many each year in the Grand Rapids area, all this turbulence leads to some degree of roof damage.
But while the unexpected cost and hassle of a roof repair can be frustrating, it’s ultimately a small price to pay to avoid the serious dangers and even health and safety hazards that come from a leaky roof and water penetration into the home.
What Are The Hazards Of Undetected Storm-Related Roof Damage?
If your roof is damaged, allowing water to penetrate through the shingles and into the attic or other spaces of the home, it can quickly lead to increasingly serious issues, including the following:
Water Damage
Unless it is identified, contained, and dried very quickly and effectively, rainwater can cause serious damage and outright destroy most of the materials your home is made from, including insulation, drywall, carpeting, finished surfaces, textiles, and even the base wood structure of the home.
And, even beyond the direct physical damage water infiltration can cause, it’s also the most important ingredient for another serious consequence of home damage, that being:
Mold Propagation
Inactive, airborne, and microscopic mold spores are everywhere, and all they need before they begin to grow out of control is a warm environment, moisture, and time. In fact, it can take as little as 24-48 hours for mold to begin spreading in your home in significant quantities after rainwater exposure in an interior home environment (like your attic).
This should make it easy to understand why the area underneath a leaky, damaged roof can be such a haven for out-of-control mold propagation that, along with the moisture feeding it, will begin to spread throughout the home, spreading spores, damaging your air quality, and destroying many impacted materials. And if you don’t spot the damage immediately (or if you put off getting it fixed) your problem can end up being much more widespread as a result.
Pests
Unfortunately, if your roof is damaged by a storm so that water can get it, it’s likely that other creatures are going to find their way in as well. Mice, wasps, bees, ants, birds, bats, and squirrels are constantly on the lookout for hidden locations where they can expand an opening and build a nest inside your safe, warm home, leading to more water penetration, droppings, noise, nuisance, and increasingly bad damage with time.
Electrical Problems and Fire
Water and electricity simply do not mix, and even small amounts of water exposure in the wrong place can cause serious electrical issues including short-circuits, sparking, and fires.
Issues With Energy Efficiency
Roof damage, leaks, airflow, and compromised insulation can also severely compromise the heating and cooling effectiveness of a home, allowing both the cool air from your air conditioning and the warm air from your heating system to escape as they are produced. This, in turn, leads to higher energy bills every month until the damage is corrected.
Structural Damage
In a worst-case scenario, if water is allowed to run its course for a long period, the damage can get so bad that the home’s structure is severely damaged. This can be repaired (though not necessarily easily) to restore the home’s integrity and health. But if it is not, the home will eventually be at a much greater danger of failing or even collapsing under the wrong conditions.
Insurance Problems
Even if you have insurance that would normally cover storm-related roof damage, there is a chance that the secondary damage caused by moisture or pest penetration may not be covered. And most policies also have time limits that impact claim acceptance, meaning that, if you don’t spot the problem quickly, you may not be covered by the time you do.
What Homeowners Should Do After A Storm
Each season (including early springtime!) and after major windstorms, you should do a visual inspection of your roof and attic. This is a simple process and usually involves either circling the home or getting up on the roof to visually look for evidence of damaged shingles, broken tiles, holes, or other problems, and going into the attic space to scan for wetness, mold growth, water marks, light penetration around holes, or signs of animal life.
But, if you go up on your roof, BE CAREFUL. Falls from rooftops and ladders are a common cause of home injuries and deaths, and professional help is available to help you check up on your roof if you don’t feel safe doing it yourself.
If You Spot Trouble…
Don’t put off dealing with it! The first 24-48 hours after storm damage occurs are the most important for stopping problems before things get any worse.
Start by calling us, Amber Valley Construction, so we can come out and inspect and evaluate the damage. We have the knowledge, tools, and expertise required to diagnose roof problems, interface with your insurance company, and recommend the right repairs to deal with the damage quickly, completely, and with a minimum of cost and hassle for you and your family.
We are also available for:
- All Grand Rapids exterior repairs/remodeling (wind damage, lighting damage, fallen branch damage, etc.)
- West Michigan roof replacements
- All flood, mold, fire, and smoke remediation and odor removal
- General Grand Rapids home renovations and remodeling
Call today!