When Your Home Is Damaged, What Should You Do?
The first step after a raging storm hits the area: take precautions to stay safe. Though we understand you may want storm damage repair as soon as possible to prevent damage from snowballing, your well-being is the top priority.
Even if the weather has seemingly cleared up, tune in to local radios or other official sources and wait until given the go-ahead if you need to go outside. When doing so, use common sense.
- Keep far away from downed trees
- Don’t enter or drive through flooded areas; debris and downed power lines are real risks
- Thoroughly assess the structural soundness of a building before entering; leave your home if it is unsafe
You should also assess your home’s utilities. Is your gas working? How about your sewer system? This might also be a good time to test or accrue the applicable safety devices, such as fire alarms, extinguishers, and CO detectors. Again, staying out of harm’s way is the number-one priority.
Document the Damage
Next, you’ll need to properly record your needs for storm damage repair. Take photographs of your home pre-cleanup for insurance compensation purposes (a topic which we’ll cover in a bit). Videos may also be permissible.
List the areas of your home impacted by the storm that you want to seek coverage for to make sure you have all your bases covered. And be thorough. Even minor damage can be covered by insurance, so check all parts of your property including:
- Roofing Systems: Check for missing or damaged shingles, broken gutters, and damage to the soffits and fascia.
- Siding: Look for torn, pitted, or missing siding pieces, especially in extreme wind conditions.
- Doors and Windows: Inspect the glass and frames around your doors and windows for cracks, holes, and splits.
- Outdoor Appliances: A/Cs, outdoor kitchen equipment, and other outdoor appliances should be inspected for exterior impairments and water damage.
- Foundation and Basement: Check for cracks in around your foundation and flooding in your basement or the crawl space under your home. Flooding or excessive water drainage can lead to problems with your foundation or interior water damage.
- Interior Moisture Accumulation: Even if you don’t see pooling water inside your home, you may still have water damage from heavy rains seeping through your roofing or siding. Look for moisture or mold or mildew growth in your insulation, walls, furniture, and carpeting.
Contact Your Insurer
In certain conditions, homeowners insurance can help you with storm damage roof replacement, storm damage siding replacement, and storm damage window repair, though this depends on your personalized policy.
You’ll need to read your insurance policy to determine exactly what coverage you’re eligible for. We’re happy to take a look and help you decipher the jargon!
Sometimes, insurance companies can be difficult to contact, so don’t hesitate to reach out on all avenues, or ask us for help.
Begin Cleanup
Before you look into contractors for storm damage roof repair, storm damage siding repair, or storm damage window repair, you’ll probably want to clean up your yard and exterior so it’s got some semblance of functionality.
To avoid needing extensive storm damage roof replacement, it’s advised to make a makeshift cover for leaking roofs. Tarps work excellently for this purpose.
In addition, to prevent storm damage siding replacement and storm damage window replacement, carefully remove hazardous branches from nearby trees.
As far as interiors go, open your windows and get a dehumidifier going if water has seeped inside. You don’t want mold damage!
As always, exercise caution. Rainwater can make things slicker than you think.
Find the Right Storm Damage Repair Pro
Anything from storm damage roof replacement to storm damage window repair is no small potatoes – you need to find a reputable storm damage repair pro to get your home back to normal.
Emergencies exempt, wait to hear from your insurance company before sealing the deal with any contractor, though, because how much coverage you get can vary.
On that note, stay away from storm chasers – contractors who only show up to offer their storm damage window repair, storm damage siding repair, or similar services after rough weather. These folks are hardly ever reputable and are generally looking to make a quick buck.
Your local homebuilders at GCM are ready to provide solid repairs!
Gassen Construction & Maintenance: Here to Help Post-Storm
From insurance help to providing the actual storm damage repair, we provide comprehensive support to homeowners and HOAs when they need it most.
Give our Eden Prairie office a call today at 952-922-5575.