The storm has passed and left your neighborhood in its wake. You are wondering what the wind and rain have done to your roof and are at a loss as to what you should be on the lookout for before things deteriorate further?

Guy Brothers Roofing & Siding can put those concerns to rest. We have been putting such questions to rest for Gulf Coast homeowners since 1970. Give us a ring at (850) 783-2062 if you are dealing with the aftermath or simply want some peace of mind.

One is accustomed to hurricane season when you make your home on the Gulf Coast; from Mobile and Fairhope to Pensacola and Punta Gorda we know how it goes. Yet a major storm will often take its toll in ways that even the most ready homeowner does not expect. Some of the damage is plain to see, other times a leak or a rotting deck will not reveal itself for weeks or months.

This is what you should be aware of when it comes to the usual roof troubles after a hurricane.

Missing and Lifted Shingles

Your roof has its weak spots and high winds will find them. A shingle will lift and the wind will get under it to do more of the same. Then you have an open invitation for water.

Make a post-storm inspection for any of the following:

• Shingles that are curled at the edge
• Patches where there used to be shingles
• Any loose ones in the yard
• Cracked or split shingles up on the roof
• Granules in the downspouts and gutters

Do not be lulled into thinking a few missing shingles is no big thing. The area they leave exposed is vulnerable and come the next rain it is a problem of much larger proportions.

Water Intrusion and Hidden Leaks

A hurricane’s wind-driven rain is a threat like no other, forcing its way where ordinary rain would not go. Too often the damage is concealed until harm is done.

Be on the alert inside for:

• Stains of water on a wall or ceiling
• Dampness in the attic insulation
• Paint peeling off around the roofline
• An attic with a musty odor
• Any sagging in the ceiling

An early detection of a leak is fortunate, it spares you from having to put in a new roof deck. Should you spot these after a storm, make a move of it.

Damaged Flashing

All the metal that is meant to seal the edges and joints of the roof, be it at the chimney or where sections of the roof come together, is called flashing. The winds of a hurricane will bend it, rip it or loosen it. And a failure of the flashing lets water in where it is most difficult to keep out. It is all too easy to miss from the ground so a professional eye is needed once the storm is over.

Debris Impact

Loose objects and tree limbs become projectiles in a hurricane. A branch of any size can crack a shingle or put a hole in your roof. Even minor debris left on top will hold moisture and in time wear the shingles down. If a large limb has come down on your roof, consider it serious regardless of what you can see; the structure below may have been compromised by the impact.

Gutter and Fascia Damage

Heavy rain and wind put your gutters through their paces. Clog them with debris or let them pull away and you will have water backing up against the edge of the roof and into the soffit and fascia. Rot is the result and with it more extensive repairs.

The Case for a FORTIFIED Roof on the Gulf Coast

Then there is the matter of building a roof to withstand the weather. Guy Brothers Roofing & Siding is a certified FORTIFIED Roof program installer with the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety. We put in roofs with better sealing and stronger connections to hold the shingles and the water at bay. For a Gulf Coast family the protection a FORTIFIED roof affords is something else again. We stand behind our work with a 10-year warranty on all installations.

Let Us Check Your Roof

We have been serving this coast in both the commercial and residential sector for over half a century as a family operation. We have seen what a Gulf Coast storm is capable of.

So if a hurricane has just been and gone, do not put it to guesswork, and if you are in the area our Mobile roof repair team is ready to help. Contact us at (850) 783-2062 for a free estimate. We will have a look and report back to you so your home is in order for the next one.