Identifying problem areas on a roof before heavy snowfall can save homeowners thousands of dollars in costly repairs.
Bergen County, NJ: Mother nature has been less than kind to Northern New Jersey in 2021, unleashing destructive storms with record-setting tornados, heavy rainfall, and damaging hail and wind. The first dose came in July, when powerful tornadoes and tennis ball-sized hail caused widespread destruction throughout the Garden State. Then, in September, the remnants of Hurricane Ida delivered the most powerful tornado to strike New Jersey since 1990. Finally, October’s nor’easter
left towns swamped with more than five inches of rain, and scattered debris from hurricane-force wind gusts. In the aftermath of the trifecta of storms, homeowners are still cleaning up and making repairs. Other homeowners who believe they have escaped the wrath of these storms may unknowingly have major damage to their roofs –and that could spell disaster for them this winter and coming spring.
“Most storms won’t completely wreck a roof, but they can compromise the structural integrity of the shingles and underlayment, leaving homeowners vulnerable to leaks…and the winter months can be especially brutal to damaged roofs, making any weaknesses or holes far worse. What most homeowners don’t know is that most damage cannot be seen from the ground or by an untrained eye,” says Ryan Hoke, owner of the Exterior Company.
“With what’s predicted to be a pretty nasty winter, homeowners really should take a close look at their roofs so they’re not dealing with thousands of dollars in repairs come spring.”
The Old Farmers’ Almanac is predicting January and February to be stormy, especially along the Atlantic Seaboard in New England. It warns homeowners to have their shovels and snowblowers ready for a “winter whopper” towards the end of February 2022.
While a shovel will be helpful this winter, a quick inspection of a roof now will be even more beneficial to homeowners in the spring. There are plenty of roofing companies still offering free inspections, even as the temperatures drop. “With the destruction Northern New Jersey has seen this past year, roofers will likely be backed up in the spring, so it really is an ideal time to identify any damage. And with the deadline in mind to file a claim for storm damage—it really is critical that homeowners not wait,” adds Hoke. Most insurance companies allow up to one year from the date of the storm for homeowners to file a claim.
“Our number one priority is to be able to help customers protect their home and those in it from any further damage. The last thing we want to see is a homeowner take too long to get their inspection, or worse, experience a leak, and then have to pay out of pocket for their repairs and replacement,” says Hoke.
