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5 Vital Steps for Protecting Your Home

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If you are a homeowner, you want to protect your home from various threats. But it can be confusing to understand what threats are out there and how exactly to protect yourself. But don’t worry. If you focus on these five vital steps, you can have a safe home for you, your loved ones, and all of your belongings:

 

Homeowners Insurance

No matter what you do, something could happen to your home. It could flood, there could be a windy day, and a tree branch could fall through your roof, or some appliance could stop working. There are worse things that could happen of course, but the idea is that you need to be protected from these surprises that you can’t control. If you have to pay out of pocket, it could be ridiculously expensive. Luckily, homeowners insurance coverage extends from the outside structure of your home to all of the corners inside of it, according to the Insurance Center. That way you can have peace of mind that you are protected no matter what.

 

Roof Maintenance

roofing contractor

Your roof is one of the most dangerous parts of your home. You can’t tell what’s going on under the surface. It could leak or even collapse if not taken care of. So be sure to have regular maintenance done on it.

 

Pest Control

Modern pest solutions aren’t simply a matter of fighting off infestations, but also creating an exclusion barrier around your home that will keep many types of pests outside. Especially concerning are Bed Bugs and German Cockroaches, which are notoriously difficult and expensive to terminate. You should also get a Termite inspection before purchasing a home, and keep the house clean to avoid attracting primary and secondary pests.

 

Foundation Inspection

There is no aspect of your home more dangerous than a faulty foundation. One crack could lead to your home being destroyed. Avoid this risk by getting it inspected regularly.

 

Home Security

A home security system used to be a luxury. But now, with population growth and increased crime in some urban areas, it has become something you shouldn’t do without it. In the event of a break-in, you will be alerted on your phone, and a siren will go off, also calling the police. Don’t hesitate to get one installed as soon as you can.

 

Owning a home is great, but it isn’t easy. And one of the more difficult parts is having to ensure that you are protecting all of the various aspects. But if you use the methods above, you can enjoy peace of mind. Then you can sit back and relax knowing you did your part to secure your home and your future.

Tips to File a Roof Repair Insurance Claim

Tips to File a Roof Repair Insurance Claim

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In Florida, severe weather can damage a roof on a modern or vintage home. If you’re unsure whether or not your home has proper insurance coverage, there are ways to investigate.

 

Insurance Coverage Steps

By contacting your current insurance provider, you can quickly find out if the policy covers roof damage. Policies that are provided by traditional insurance companies will vary, however, many insurers will only offer funds for roof repairs following a situation that involved a fire or vandalism. If weather damage is included in your policy, find out the amount of assistance you’ll get.

If you decide to shop for a new insurance policy, you must consider the age of your roof. If the roof is less than 10 years old, an insurer may help you replace specific sections that were damaged in a storm. In most cases, you’ll only get money based on the depreciated value of your roof if the shingles are over a decade old.

Florida Insurance Claim Procedures

After high wind damages your roof, you must call an agent and file a Florida insurance claim in a timely manner. You’ll need to give the agent your new address and an alternative phone number if the damage to your home forced you to temporarily relocate. Later, the insurance company will send the claim by mail, or an adjuster will visit your home.

After the storm, grab a camera and take pictures of the damaged sections on your roof. If possible, you may want to get on the roof to capture detailed shots. The process of getting reimbursement might be challenging if you don’t present clear evidence.

Storm Damage Roof Repair Strategies

If you need to make temporary repairs or replace household items in order to make your home livable, make sure to document all of your repairs and costs. You’ll need receipts for everything to get full reimbursement from the insurance company.

Overall, because tropical storms and hurricanes can damage and destroy shingles and other roofing components, all Florida residents should have proper insurance. If you need help repairing your home or building, various storm damage roof repair options are available at Quality Discount Roofing.

How to Check your Roof for Damage After a Storm

How to Check your Roof for Damage After a Storm

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Storms damage thousands of roofs every year in Florida. Hail can damage asphalt and wood shingles and ceramic tiles, while tornado’s and hurricanes can tear, lift or shift asphalt shingles, strip shingles and tiles right off a roof, and even damage the structure of the roof itself. Many thunderstorms have heavy enough winds to do damage too.

After every serious storm, you should check your roof for damage. If you detect any, contact your insurance company to file a claim, then get in touch with a professional roofing contractor who can provide damage assessment and perform the repair. If you’re not sure whether there’s damage, call a Florida roofing contractor to make a determination for you, then contact your insurance agent if any is found.

How to Look for Roof Damage

If you have water leaks in or near the ceiling in the house, you’ve got roof damage – no question about it. But not all ceiling leaks go “plink, plink, plink” in the middle of the floor. Walk around inside the house, looking for damp spots where the walls and ceiling meet on exterior walls. If you dodged that bullet, it’s time to check the exterior.

Walk around your house, looking for pieces of roofing or flashing that have fallen on the ground and for shingles or tiles, pieces of flashing, or gutters and downspouts that are visibly displaced. If all looks good on the ground, it’s time to examine the roofing itself. Are all the shingles and tiles in place and lying flat?

We advise against climbing onto your own roof to do the inspection because more than 130,000 people are injured in the United States every year due to falls from ladders. Instead, use binoculars for a closer look.

What to Look For

Hail can cause a noticeable pattern of damage to asphalt, fiberglass or composition shingles. A really hard hailstorm can crush the mineral granules or knock them right off, leaving the shingles looking black and soft or shiny. Really large hailstones can produce visible dents on asphalt and wood shingles as if someone pounded with a ball peen hammer all over your roof. Wood shingles can also be split by hail.

Right after the storm, the splits will be darker than the upper surface of the shingles because they remain wet longer. Look for orange or brown lines running from top to bottom on individual shingles.

If hail was accompanied by really high winds – the kind that accompanies tornado’s and hurricanes – look for broken windows and dents and patterns of chipped paint on the siding too. You’ll want to report as much of the damage as possible all at once to your insurance company.

When large branches or trees fall on a roof, they may cause serious structural damage that could make a house unsafe. Get out and stay out until you can have a contractor assess the damage. If the home is determined to be unsafe, your homeowner’s insurance may cover the cost of temporary housing.

If you do need roof repair or replacement, talk to your contractor. Experienced Florida roofing companies know what works best and last longest in our challenging climate.

In the Jacksonville area, contact Quality Discount Roofing for storm damage assessment, repairs, and complete roof replacement. They’re your trusted friend in the roofing business.