Upgrading Your Home After a Storm
Our team answers homeowner questions every weekend on WCCO 830 AM from 9:00 am-10:00 am. Have your most pressing home improvement questions addressed by calling 651-989-9226. Here’s the must-know information our COO, Andy Lindus, shared on 8.10.19.
When making a hail damage roof insurance claim, one of the biggest mistakes a homeowner can make is rushing through the process. Entrusting the project to the first person who knocks on your door, usually a storm chaser, can have detrimental consequences. These can include shoddy or incomplete work. Allowing these individuals to climb on your roof is also advised against. In the event they fall and are uninsured, the homeowner is liable. In addition, allowing them to inspect your roof also allows for the possibility that they intentionally cause more damage in order to try and make it easier to file an insurance claim. Homeowners that have the best long-term results are those that partnered with a local, reputable contractor that has been referred by a family member or friend. These types of companies don’t simply look at a roof and state whether or not there is damage; they will take the time to fully evaluate all regions of your home to ensure all potentially impacted areas are fully assessed. This includes inspecting the attic to see if the space is properly insulated and ventilated in order to prevent ice dams.
Partnering with a trustworthy contractor also allows you to discuss any upgrades you wish to have made to your home, such as skylights. Seasoned contractors also have the technology to create 3D renderings of your home so you that can visualize the color, material, and style of your new siding and shingles. If algae growth on your roof has been a persistent issue, consider having Timberline Ultra HD® shingles by GAF installed on your home. The shingle granules are impregnated with StainGuard Plus™ Time-Release technology that’s guaranteed to ward off algae for up to 25 years. In addition, the shingles are accompanied with a 50-year, non-prorated warranty that covers both labor and materials. This warranty transfers from the current homeowner to the next one. GAF asphalt shingles are a more cost-effective approach than metal roofing, which often needs to be repainted after a few decades. Another drawback of metal roofing is that it is more labor intensive to install, which also ups the cost.
Here’s What You Need to Know About Replacing Your Roof After Storm Damage:
Siding is another area of the home that’s often damaged by severe storms. Because pests such as squirrels and woodpeckers so frequently tamper with cedar siding, it’s rare to see homeowners invest in this material again. In terms of maintenance-free siding, you’ll be hard pressed to find a more reliable material than LP® SmartSide® which does a much better job than vinyl at standing up to hail damage. The company recently released findings that 1.75-inch hail at a speed of 81 miles per hour created no indentations on the siding.
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