Though we may have yet to have our yearly inaugural thunderstorm that marks the beginning of severe weather season, there’s no better time than now to prepare. According to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, “in Minnesota, tornadoes have occurred every month from March through November.” And with severe weather, if not tornadoes, comes storms—high winds, hail damage, rain, and more. It’s a wonder that the preceding months aren’t taken more seriously in terms of preparation!
Luckily, Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors, your Sauk Rapids providers of storm damage repair and more, is here to help. Below, you’ll discover a few practical tips to get your home’s exterior ready to rumble before the skies first begin to do the same.
Preventive Maintenance: The Key to a Healthy Home and Family
Nothing beats the help of a qualified roofing contractor, siding company, or other applicable pro when it comes to getting your home storm-proofed. Though there’s plenty you can do on your own—and we’ll cover those steps in a minute, don’t worry—professional eyes can spot what the layperson’s eyes can’t. Therefore, they’ll be able to stop minor problems before nature makes them big ones, which is what storm prep is all about.
Too, a pro can grant you peace of mind better than anything else. A big part of making sure your household is ready for severe weather is making sure that you are from an emotional standpoint.
When a severe thunderstorm hits, you are likely to feel all sorts of stress, and you need to be able to put that towards keeping your family safe, not towards worrying about your exterior. Professional help can make the state of your exterior a nonissue so you can better tend to your loved ones and focus on safety.
Proper Tree Maintenance: Critical for Safety’s Sake
Though a lovely part of many Minnesotan lawns, trees can be the downfall of your home in a heavy storm if left unattended—and no, not just when they happen to fall. Branches can easily snap in harsh winds, and when airborne, your shingles and siding will then have a new threat to deal with besides the ever-present hail damage.
So give your home every advantage possible and practice proper tree pruning. You’ll reap the resulting savings and peace of mind. The University of Minnesota Extension details this process in more detail—but if you want to make sure you get things done right and preserve the health of your beloved botany projects, it never hurts to hire a pro.
Look Out for Storm Chasers
It’s certainly a heroic-sounding profession, but in reality, storm-chasers are anything but. During storm seasons, they wander from neighborhood to neighborhood, preying on homeowners’ anxieties about recent bad weather to get business.
Because they make themselves difficult to find and contact after the success of their pushy sales tactics, they can get away with shoddy workmanship and leave you high and dry. It’s an effective scamming model because of all the fear involved—though, of course, certainly not ethical!
As harsh weather rolls around, you’ll undoubtedly see or hear about your share of these charlatans. We’ve written an entire roofing contractor blog on them to help you stay safe. Your best weapon here is education; it gives you the courage to say no and search out the great roof repair specialist you truly need.
Know the Subtle Signs of Roofing and Siding Damage
Your roof doesn’t need to be sagging in to deserve repair. Understanding the subtle signs of damage, and the less-obvious circumstances that lead to it, can help you know when to call a pro before a storm rolls through, takes advantage of the weak points in your home’s armor, and results in drastic measures needing to be taken.
For instance, if an animal has taken up residence in your attic, you’d most likely think to call an exterminator first to humanely return it to the wild—and you should, as it’s sure not paying rent! That being said, that animal must have gotten in from somewhere, say, from a hole in your roofing or siding. After you’ve evicted your unwanted house guest, get a hold of an exterior contractor to inspect your home and fix the damage critters may have caused.
Other subtler signs of roofing damage can include curling shingles, which compromise your roof’s protection. According to the Daily Republic, a California newspaper, they can occur if the shingles are defective in the first place. They can also crop up as a result of age or faulty installation methods.
Tony’s Lifetime Exteriors: Safeguarding Homes and Families Since 1973
Our storm damage, siding, and roofing experts are ready to go to work on your home today. Reach our Sauk Rapids office now at 320-252-9086.