Initial Steps You Should Take When You Need Roof Repair in Grand Rapids Michigan
As severe storms moves through the area, so does the risk of damage to your home. One component of the home that can become damaged by severe weather such as hail or high winds is the roofing on your home. Shingles can break and fail and you may have a roof leak before everything is said and done with the storm. When that happens you’ll need to hire a roofing contractor in Grand Rapids Michigan to make repairs to your home’s roof. There are some steps you should take when your roof is damaged however. Here are some of the initial steps you should take if you have a roof leak or your home’s roof has been damaged in some way.
Initial Steps You Should Take When You Need Roof Repair in Grand Rapids Michigan
No matter where you live, you can be subject to emergency roof repairs. Whether it is from the weather, falling debris, impacts, or untreated damage, anything is possible. If something happens, it is important to not panic, and take the necessary steps to fix the problem. Here are some of the initial steps you should take if you think your roof may have been damaged in some way.
First Things First, Stay Safe!
The first, and most important step when there is an emergency with your home is to stay safe. If you do not feel safe in or near your home, then you should leave. You can call your insurance and a contractor from anywhere, so grab the information you need and get to a safe location. Never enter a home that has severe safety hazards like cave ins.
Check the Damage to the Roof or Home
If you are comfortable staying inside long enough to do an inspection you should first go outside and survey the top of your roof. Look for any signs of damage and make not of them to report to a contractor and insurance. It is helpful to take pictures to document everything right when it happens. You should then go up to your attic and note what damage is visible there. Don’t forget to check gutters and flashings as well. Don’t go onto the roof and only survey the damage from the ground if the storm or event has passed.
Protect Your Home
To prevent the damage from getting any worse before someone can get out to fix it, you should take steps to protect your home. This includes placing tarps over holes in your roof and securing them down, as well as covering insulation and anything inside your home that may get wet or damaged. If you have a severe roof leak with water coming in, you should turn the power off and unplug anything in outlets to prevent electric shocks. Buckets can be used to collect water coming into your home.
Call A Qualified Contractor in Grand Rapids Michigan
It is always good to have a contractor vetted and approved before you have an emergency. This will save you valuable time and prevent you from choosing someone incompetent because you are in a rush. Make sure whoever you choose has a valid license, full insurance and experience with this type of work. You don’t want your roofing emergency to be their first job. Qualifications are key so make sure you get references that you can call and verify their past work. At Grand Rapids Home Pros we offer roofing services in the Grand Rapids Michigan area which includes roof repairs, emergency roof repairs, and roof replacements. Contact us for a free quote!
Contact Your Insurance
You should contact your insurance provider to file a claim as soon as possible. The sooner you call, the sooner an adjuster can come out to assess the damage and decide how much they think it will take to fix the home. Make sure you know your policy and save the number in your phone so you don’t have to search all over for the information.
You should stay in contact with your insurance throughout the process and make sure that everything is being processed and moving through as it should. You don’t want to be aggressive with the contact, but you should call if you haven’t heard anything in over a week about what is happening with your home.
