They say April showers bring May flowers. Yes, and sometimes hail as well.

Ah, spring in Indiana. Check your home for damage!

Up and down temperatures after a long winter are just enough warmth to tease, but still chilly to keep the thermostat set to warm on most nights. Yet, a few days of decent temperatures can lead to intense storms, and sometimes of the nasty variety. Have you checked your home for storm or hail damage? If not, read on, I’ll give you a few tips on how or what to look for storm or hail damage on your home.

On my way to dinner yesterday evening, I saw one of the more ominous green skies I had seen in a while. Perhaps you saw the same? Most of us experienced periods of hard rain, and at times some hail and of course some areas had more than others. At our office in Greenwood, Indiana we had marble sized hail yet we also had reports in Greenwood of larger hail with some damage to homes.  A few areas in Indianapolis saw golf ball sized or greater hail storms. And, further south, there were reports of fist sized ice chunks. Yikes!

As I sit here writing this post, we are due for another round of “weather”. Maybe yes, maybe no and maybe I missed my calling as a meteorologist. As the saying goes, “what a great thing that even if your wrong you can still keep your job”, right? That being said, regardless of what happens tonight and the rest of the storm season, I am going to mention a few good points to consider when dealing with what is most likely your most important and valuable asset (Your Home!).  The short version is be vigilant and take a few moments as soon as you can to assess the conditions of the outside of your home.  After all, your exterior is the first line of defense of maintaining “the bones” of your home.

So, what to look for on your home after a bad storm? 

1. Your roof: Your roofing is THE first line of defense of keeping water out of your home. A few missing shingles might not seem like a big deal, but over time it’s asking for trouble. Remember, water flows with gravity, always finds its own level and will find it’s way into your home from missing or inadequate roofing.
2. Your siding: Blown off or damaged siding can expose your home to water.
3. Gutters: Damaged or blown off gutters and downspouts might not seem like a big deal. However, buckets of water falling directly around your foundation can lead to big problems in your basement or crawlspace.
4. Skylights:  Most modern skylights, if installed correctly should be ok. However, if you have old plastic bubble type skylights be on the look out for damage on your ceilings that may show signs of leaks. Any skylights over 10-15 yrs old should be inspected or checked regularly. The truth is modern skylights are very reliable and can provide many years of leak free operation. If you see leaks, now is the time to consider to replacing old units with modern upgrades.

To summarize the points above, water KILLS a home. Water can enter in many ways, but in Spring in Indiana its a good bet you will see it enter during bad storm when your exterior systems are tested!

Be safe out there and look out for your home! If you need us, don’t be afraid to give us a call OR check out our exteriors division, Gettum Home Exteriors. We will even provide a complimentary inspection of your homes exterior. IF we find damage, we are happy to work with and coordinate with your insurance company.

Give us a call at (317) 888-5681 or request an inspection at www.GettumHomeExteriors.com

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