How Storms Can Damage Your Home Monday, May 27, 2019

In central Florida areas like Plant City, Lakeland, Winter Haven, and nearby cities, we get a lot of severe thunderstorms—as well as hurricanes and tropical storms.

When these weather disasters pass through, they often leave damage in their wake. Storms can cause a lot of damage to your home, including roof issues, broken windows, and more. Here’s how storms can damage your central Florida home and how you can work with True Builders to be proactive in avoiding many of these issues.

What to Do Before a Storm Hits

We generally have warning before a hurricane or tropical storm comes through, so we know that we can prepare as much as possible before the storm hits. It’s not as easy to prepare for severe thunderstorms though, as those can arise without much warning at all.

One thing we suggest is to take photos of your home before the stormy season begins. That way, you have a record of how your home looks before anything happens. If your home sustains damage from a tornado or thunderstorm, then you are ready to show your home insurance company exactly what happened when filing your claim.

It’s also a good idea to have hurricane shutters ready to go. Many stores will run out of plywood before a large storm hits, but if you have yours already stored in a shed or garage, ready to install at a moment's notice, then you will be set up for maximum protection.

At True Builders, we can help with performing a roof inspection and making sure that your roof is in top condition before the storms start. If you have any roof leaks, now is the time to get them repaired before bad weather hits.

Water or Flood Damage Can Occur During a Storm

One of the most common types of damage we see and fix is water damage. This can occur due to floods or from a roof that hasn’t been properly maintained. A leaky roof during a storm can lead to worse leaks throughout the house, including down into the walls and flooring.

If the storm has produced a lot of rain, your home may also see flooding, which can cause even more extensive damage. Leaving water damage untreated will lead to issues such as mold and more permanent damage to the structure of your home.

Windy Storms Like Hurricanes Can Cause Roof Damage & Other Issues

When the wind whips around your home during a storm, it can remove roof shingles, siding, and other elements of the house. It’s not always easy to tell if your house has sustained roof damage after a storm, which is why you should be proactive in scheduling roof inspections. Leaving roof issues to sit can cause worse issues when other storms strike later on in the year.

If wind damages your gutters, then you could see problems like water draining into your walls or pooling in areas around the foundation. That type of damage will need to be quickly addressed as well.

Hail Can Break Windows, Wear Down Roofs, & Deteriorate Your Property

We do sometimes see hail strike during a storm. These pieces of ice fall from the sky, hitting your roof, windows, cars, and other parts of your property. Hail can cause extensive damage depending on how large the pieces are. At True Builders, we can assess the damage done to your home by hail and get that damage fixed quickly so that your home is ready for the next storm.

Storms Can Cause Trees or Other Projectiles to Crash Into Your Home

Wind can knock down trees which can then fall onto your home. It can also whip around any sort of items that are outside such as patio furniture and cause those to crash into windows. Fixing storm damage is one of our areas of expertise and we can help get your home back into shape as soon as possible.

Are you concerned about storm damage to your home or other property?

At True Builders, we work with many clients across the central Florida area that includes cities like Plant City, Lakeland, Winter Haven and other communities. We can help you with storm damage to your property! Give us a call at (863) 647-1800 to start the process.