Review Your Home Insurance
The last thing you want is for a hurricane to damage your home and find out your homeowners insurance is insufficient. Before hurricane season even begins, it’s essential to review your insurance policy and if you need additional insurance for flooding.
If you’re unsure about whether your insurance policy covers certain damages, you can always give them a call. The insurance company can see just what damage is covered and offer you the best policy for what you need.
Also, make sure you have an Ordinance or Law in your policy. Ordinance or Law insurance covers the cost to rebuild a home that has been destroyed, as well as the cost to upgrade a home so that it meets the most up-to-date building codes after a covered loss.
Inspect Your Roof
To ensure your roof doesn’t have any weak spots or pre-existing damage, make sure you get your roof inspected before the first hurricane. The cost for a roof inspection varies, but it will likely be significantly less than any damage that could be caused by having a weak roof.
During the inspection, it’s essential to make sure all shingles are in place, the gutters and drains are clean, and that you have roof straps in place. It’s a law in Florida that every home must have roof straps in place. Homes built before 1992 may not have them, now is a good time to get those installed.
Cut Down Dead Trees & Branches
Trees nearby can be one of the most significant risks to your home. By trimming any heavy branches and getting rid of dead trees, you can prevent the damage often caused by flying debris. No, you can’t cut down your neighbor’s tree during the night, but you can point out the branches hanging over your house that worry you and ask them to cut them.
If you have experience trimming tree branches, offer to do it for free if your neighbor doesn’t want to hire someone. Despite the extra work, you’ll be thankful you did it when the winds come and that tree begins to look risky.
Regular Maintenance
One of the best ways to keep your roof in shape is to keep up with roof maintenance. Even when the skies are clear and hurricane season is still months away, regularly checking your roof for preliminary issues can save you money on both roofing contractors and damage done by the weather.
Regular maintenance doesn’t necessarily need to be done by a professional. You can just as easily climb up and clean the gutters yourself. Make sure to check for any missing shingles while you’re up there and look closely for anything that could be a weak spot. If you see something that worries you, call a local company to look at it for you.
Even if it turns out to be nothing, it’s better safe than sorry.
Conclusion
You want your home and roof to be ready for hurricane season, for the safety of your family and neighbors. Have a good preparation plan in place and you won’t have to worry too much about your roof.