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Essential Storm Damage Checklist for Your Frisco Home
If you've just made it through a major storm, or even an extended period of extreme winter weather, you may be feeling a bit rattled and worried about potential damage to your property. Don't panic! This checklist will guide you through the top 10 places you need to check for damage.
Once you've completed a thorough investigation and found nothing wrong, you'll have peace of mind from knowing your home has weathered the storm. Or, if you do find extensive damage, you'll be able to get help from service professionals such as the team at Mr. Handyman of Frisco to stop the problem in its tracks before it can get any worse.
Either way, a careful examination of your entire property will help you determine what needs to happen next, and you'll be prepared with helpful information when you contact your insurance company. As you're going through the 10 essential steps on this checklist for storm damage assessment, take your time and try to look at each spot from as many angles as possible so you don't miss more subtle signs of damage.
1. Exterior Walls
First, walk around your whole house and examine the exterior walls. Look for obvious holes in the siding, like cracks and gaps that could let moisture or pests into the interior of the walls. An undeniable hole or a missing piece of siding isn't going to be hard to spot but look for discreet issues as well, such as warping where the siding is bulging outward or cupping inward, chipping or peeling paint, and damaged stucco. Your siding is essential for both safety and comfort, so it’s important to know the signs your home needs siding repairs.
2. Roof, Soffits, and Fascia
Rough weather is particularly hard on your roof. Even if you can't get up on a ladder, try to check as much of your roof as possible from the ground for missing sections of roofing materials, places where the wind has knocked shingle granules loose, or other obvious signs of trouble. You should also take a good look at your fascia (the board on the edge of the roof eaves that runs parallel to the exterior wall) and your soffit (the board underneath the eaves, usually with roof vents) for dents, cracks, and gaps.
3. Gutters and Downspouts
Rain gutters and downspouts really take a beating during inclement weather as well. Make sure they're still firmly attached to your roof, usually on the fascia board, and there's no visible signs of breakage or clogs. If possible, it can be helpful to run a stream of water through the trough from your garden hose to check for leaks. Gutters are your home's first line of defense against water damage, so you want to make sure they're functioning properly for the next time it rains.
4. Windows
Next, it's important to check your windows both from the inside and outside. Of course, if there's any broken glass it will need replacement, but you also need to look closely for signs of window frame damage where pieces of the frame may have come loose or the caulking around the window is degraded, causing water leaks. Additionally, check for screen damage, such as holes, rips, or bent screen frames. Inside, look around windows for signs of moisture intrusion such as dampness around frames, wet floor covering, or cool drafts coming in.
5. Doorways
Give entry doors the same treatment as windows, checking up-close inside and outside for signs that something isn't right. Damage from wind-driven rain can cause exterior doors to become loose on their hinges, cause loose weatherstripping and unseen leaks, peel off paint, or even cause surface cracks. A close inspection is essential for how to determine if you need door repairs or replacement.
6. Foundation
Whether you have a concrete slab, pier and beams, or another foundation type, severe weather can cause structural damage to your home's foundation. Check any visible parts, especially concrete footings, for cracks, heaving, or dropping. Check for soil erosion or pooling water next to the foundation as well.
7. Trees
Take a close look at any trees on your property, and those off your property with larger tree limbs that could cause damage to your home or landscaping. Look for broken branches, dangling limbs, and anything that looks like it is going to fall. Smaller limbs that are close to the ground can be sawed off, but if there's damage to larger limbs (or big branches have already fallen), you'll need the help of a tree professional to avoid damage and increase the tree’s survivability chances.
8. Deck or Porch
Look over your deck, porch, patio, and other outdoor structures such as a gazebo or playhouse for missing pieces, dents, peeling paint or wood stain, and other visible storm damage. Make sure to check underneath as well for signs of heaving footings, soil erosion, and pooling water around posts.
9. Driveways and Walkways
While concrete, asphalt, and stone driveways and walkways are less likely to take bad weather damage from winter storms, it's still a good idea to give them a thorough once-over, checking for cracks, loose chunks, or gravel that's been blown off onto the lawn.
10. Attic and Crawl Spaces
Finally, it's important to give your attic and any crawl spaces (inside or out) a thorough check. Flooding is a concern, but it might not be as severe as a pool of standing water, so get in there with a flashlight and look closely for any signs of water damage. If there's moisture coming in, it needs to be stopped right away to avoid mold, mildew, and wood rot.
Mr. Handyman is Your Storm Damage Mitigation Specialist in Frisco
If you've noticed some signs of damage while going through this checklist, you're probably feeling pretty frustrated and stressed. You don't need to give yourself the added hassle of hiring multiple contractors to deal with this and that when the team at Mr. Handyman of Frisco has the skill and know-how to take care of your entire property and get it back in excellent condition.
Give us a call today or request an appointment online and speak to our friendly customer service staff about what you found, so we can get started on giving you back your peace of mind.
