Identifying Types of Storm Damage

After a disastrous weather event, property owners are left with the destruction in its wake. Piecing together your items and figuring out what needs to be repaired can be a painful experience, but it doesn’t have to be when it comes to dealing with your insurance. Your coverage may include the types of damage that has been inflicted on your property, but understanding exactly what damage has occurred is one of the first steps in the claims process.

Storms bring with them several elements that can destroy your property. Here are the three biggest types of damage that can occur during a storm:

1. Roof Damage: The most common types of shingles used in America are asphalt, which are made primarily of asphalt that has been reinforced with other materials and then coated with granules which reflect UV rays to help preserve the integrity of the shingles for longer periods of time. During a storm, these shingles can be severely damaged or even swept clean off of your roof.

Some of the damage you could see on asphalt shingles may not be as obvious as you’d think. For instance, hail can simply shear off the metal granules, leaving a ‘bruised’ area on your shingle. Other high-wind storms like tornadoes may cause splitting or cracking in the shingles themselves or even total loss of the shingles.

Unfortunately, when shingles are damaged or destroyed, it leaves your wood roof underneath open to further damage like wood rot and leaking. You may not even realize the damage until you begin experience leaks within your house, so always be sure to have a professional inspect your roof for signs of damage after a major storm.


2. Exterior Damage: Different sidings that are common are vinyl, stucco, and paint, and each of these can be quickly damaged in a severe storm. Hail, wind, heavy rain and flying debris are common causes of exterior damage. Cracking, denting, and chipping of these exteriors can threaten the integrity of your house, so always inspect your house’s exterior for obvious signs of trauma like discoloration or chipping.

3. Window Damage: Protective storm shutters are found on many houses that are located in high-wind or high-risk tornado areas. Even with these shutters, windows can become damaged. Chips in the glass or outright shattering may occur, exposing your house to the elements. Shards of glass can become a safety hazard, so tread carefully and board up areas where windows have been damaged until a replacement is installed.

It’s easy for homeowners to identify many severe damages, but after a severe storm, it pays to hire a professional to ensure that nothing has been overlooked. Filing an insurance claim should be done quickly if your home has suffered storm damage. Learn more about how to ensure that your adjuster pays for 100% of the damage <<HERE>>.