June 1 marks the beginning of the 2013 Atlantic hurricane season. Jared Mellick, a professional roofing contractor and President of Universal Roof & Contracting, dishes out precautions to take right now to spare homes from significant storm damage.
Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) July 03, 2013
As a professional roofing contractor and host of In the House with Ken & Jared home improvement radio show, Jared Mellick is all too familiar with various levels of damage from hurricanes and other severe storms in Florida. A few statistics should sober up even the most dismissive it-can’t-happen-to-me homeowner:
· Recently, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York were three of the states hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy on October 29, 2012. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports - Lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy (April 2013), 44% of survey respondents reported minor damage to their property, (i.e., broken fences and downed electrical wires on their property). 10% suffered major damage, with flooding as the most frequently cited problem, followed by damage to roofs, windows, and doors, possibly by wind, falling trees, and other debris. In some cases, damage was so severe that residents couldn't remain in their homes. 11% of all respondents said their homes were uninhabitable for three or more days, and 4% were still not able to live at home several months after the storm.
· Not too long ago in 2004, the state of Florida suffered from an extremely harsh hurricane season. According to FloridaDisaster.org (Florida Division of Energy Management), four storms in 44 days caused an estimated $45 billion in damage. Overall, approximately one out of every five homes in Florida was damaged by the 2004 hurricanes. In Florida, the devastating damage that occurred was a result of three primary sources:
1. Tree damage, where entire trees or flying tree limbs impacted houses.
2. Existing roof damage which is when loose roof shingles or tiles blew off, or exposed roof sections became wet.
3. Storm damage caused by wind-driven rain, where forced moisture penetrated the home perimeter.
This time of year it is necessary to perform preventive storm maintenance and prepare your home for the hurricane season:
1. Review your homeowner’s property insurance policy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency notes that more than 20 percent of flood claims originate in areas deemed "moderate" or "low" risk. Although the standard homeowner’s insurance policy covers damage such as fire, hail, wind, lightning, falling trees, tornadoes, cars, and vandals, it often doesn’t include earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding. Just one inch of water damage can result in thousands of dollars in costs, usually to clean up and replacing flooring. Homeowners must buy extra coverage for those situations.
2. Trim the trees around your house. Thin out the branches and remove all dead limbs. This is so important because it takes the weight out of the tree and allows wind to blow through the tree instead of blowing it over onto your home. This will also help preserve the tree you enjoy rather than have it ruined by strong winds. This process can be dangerous, so be sure to hire a certified arborist or tree professional.
3. Examine the damage that currently exists on your roof. An older roof may not be secure or may have loose or missing shingles. This instability is extremely common. Even newer roofs may have sustained recent hidden damage that you may not be aware of. These vulnerable areas will be more easily compromised by heavy wind gusts and rainfall. The integrity of your roof is critical as the rainy season approaches. A good roof can resist moderate to high winds. Now is the best time to have it inspected – before the storm hits. Regular yearly inspections by a state licensed roofing professional are highly recommended. The repair of damage found early costs much less than a major roof repair or replacement and will prevent the need for expensive interior reconstruction.
4. Consider the effects of wind-driven rain. This occurs when strong winds combine with heavy rainfall within a short period of time. As Floridians experienced back in 2004 with Hurricane Jeanne, the last of the four consecutive hurricanes to hit the Southeast, many homeowners had stucco exteriors that were not thick enough or had large surface cracks and inexpensive or poorly installed windows. These points of entry allowed the horizontal wind-driven rain to blow into homes resulting in water damage that ruined floors and much of the interior. Be sure you closely examine the exterior of your home, seal and caulk all cracks in stucco, seal with good quality paint, and properly install high grade windows to ensure a tight perimeter. A good contractor can perform this type of inspection and make necessary repairs.
So this hurricane season, focus on the condition of these important areas – your insurance coverage, trees on your property, your roof and your home's exterior. Look thoroughly at your roof and around the perimeter of your home. With a little effort you can stop, or at least minimize, the damage that could happen to your home during this season's severe weather.
About Universal Roof & Contracting:
Jared Mellick and his father Ken Mellick are the owners of Central Florida’s premier construction company Universal Roof & Contracting, a family-run business which has been serving homeowners in the Greater Orlando area for more than 20 years. Together they host a local radio home improvement and construction talk show called “In the House with Ken & Jared”. Reported by PRWeb 4 days ago.
Orlando, Florida (PRWEB) July 03, 2013
As a professional roofing contractor and host of In the House with Ken & Jared home improvement radio show, Jared Mellick is all too familiar with various levels of damage from hurricanes and other severe storms in Florida. A few statistics should sober up even the most dismissive it-can’t-happen-to-me homeowner:
· Recently, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York were three of the states hardest hit by Superstorm Sandy on October 29, 2012. According to a survey conducted by Consumer Reports - Lessons learned from Superstorm Sandy (April 2013), 44% of survey respondents reported minor damage to their property, (i.e., broken fences and downed electrical wires on their property). 10% suffered major damage, with flooding as the most frequently cited problem, followed by damage to roofs, windows, and doors, possibly by wind, falling trees, and other debris. In some cases, damage was so severe that residents couldn't remain in their homes. 11% of all respondents said their homes were uninhabitable for three or more days, and 4% were still not able to live at home several months after the storm.
· Not too long ago in 2004, the state of Florida suffered from an extremely harsh hurricane season. According to FloridaDisaster.org (Florida Division of Energy Management), four storms in 44 days caused an estimated $45 billion in damage. Overall, approximately one out of every five homes in Florida was damaged by the 2004 hurricanes. In Florida, the devastating damage that occurred was a result of three primary sources:
1. Tree damage, where entire trees or flying tree limbs impacted houses.
2. Existing roof damage which is when loose roof shingles or tiles blew off, or exposed roof sections became wet.
3. Storm damage caused by wind-driven rain, where forced moisture penetrated the home perimeter.
This time of year it is necessary to perform preventive storm maintenance and prepare your home for the hurricane season:
1. Review your homeowner’s property insurance policy. The Federal Emergency Management Agency notes that more than 20 percent of flood claims originate in areas deemed "moderate" or "low" risk. Although the standard homeowner’s insurance policy covers damage such as fire, hail, wind, lightning, falling trees, tornadoes, cars, and vandals, it often doesn’t include earthquakes, hurricanes, and flooding. Just one inch of water damage can result in thousands of dollars in costs, usually to clean up and replacing flooring. Homeowners must buy extra coverage for those situations.
2. Trim the trees around your house. Thin out the branches and remove all dead limbs. This is so important because it takes the weight out of the tree and allows wind to blow through the tree instead of blowing it over onto your home. This will also help preserve the tree you enjoy rather than have it ruined by strong winds. This process can be dangerous, so be sure to hire a certified arborist or tree professional.
3. Examine the damage that currently exists on your roof. An older roof may not be secure or may have loose or missing shingles. This instability is extremely common. Even newer roofs may have sustained recent hidden damage that you may not be aware of. These vulnerable areas will be more easily compromised by heavy wind gusts and rainfall. The integrity of your roof is critical as the rainy season approaches. A good roof can resist moderate to high winds. Now is the best time to have it inspected – before the storm hits. Regular yearly inspections by a state licensed roofing professional are highly recommended. The repair of damage found early costs much less than a major roof repair or replacement and will prevent the need for expensive interior reconstruction.
4. Consider the effects of wind-driven rain. This occurs when strong winds combine with heavy rainfall within a short period of time. As Floridians experienced back in 2004 with Hurricane Jeanne, the last of the four consecutive hurricanes to hit the Southeast, many homeowners had stucco exteriors that were not thick enough or had large surface cracks and inexpensive or poorly installed windows. These points of entry allowed the horizontal wind-driven rain to blow into homes resulting in water damage that ruined floors and much of the interior. Be sure you closely examine the exterior of your home, seal and caulk all cracks in stucco, seal with good quality paint, and properly install high grade windows to ensure a tight perimeter. A good contractor can perform this type of inspection and make necessary repairs.
So this hurricane season, focus on the condition of these important areas – your insurance coverage, trees on your property, your roof and your home's exterior. Look thoroughly at your roof and around the perimeter of your home. With a little effort you can stop, or at least minimize, the damage that could happen to your home during this season's severe weather.
About Universal Roof & Contracting:
Jared Mellick and his father Ken Mellick are the owners of Central Florida’s premier construction company Universal Roof & Contracting, a family-run business which has been serving homeowners in the Greater Orlando area for more than 20 years. Together they host a local radio home improvement and construction talk show called “In the House with Ken & Jared”. Reported by PRWeb 4 days ago.