Protecting Your Roof In The Face Of An Impending Storm

When you see that hurricane bearing down on you, what are some of the last minute things you can do to ensure that your roof will weather the storm? Let’s go over 7 proven steps.

1. The number one item for protecting a roof against a storm is to be certain that air conditioning unit covers are attached with all the required screws. Most damage to roofs comes from items already on the roof. The worst culprits are mechanical units and their screen enclosures. Air conditioning units, ventilator fans, satellite dishes, antennae, and the like are all potential debris during a storm. We often reflect here at RAMCON about Hurricane Andrew sending an unsecured 30-ton air conditioning units rolling across a roof. But the most common damage during all of the storms was from air conditioning unit cover panels that were not completely secured. Similarly, ventilator fans lost the covers and antennae lost arms. All of these sharp metal pieces caused long rows of gashes as they blew across the roof and dug into the membrane, allowing direct water intrusion.
2. Put satellite dishes, small air conditioning units and cell phone cable trays on stands and secure them to the structure rather than putting them on wood sleepers or holding them in place with concrete blocks. Concrete blocks and sleepers will blow around in a heavy storm. Strap the equipment to the stand with metal straps to keep them in place. 
3. Check the lightning protection system to be sure that the cables are well secured to walls and tight on the roof. Be sure the air terminals are well attached to the system. The cables will move during the storm and the air terminals with their sharp points will poke holes in the roof. 
4. Secure condensate lines. The wood blocks normally used to support condensate lines gouge the roof as the pipes are blown back and forth, slicing and damaging the system.
5. Check the roof for weak spots like torn flashings and loose perimeter metal accessories. Reinforce weak gravel stops and copings to be sure they will stay in place.
6. Clean debris off the roof and check to see that drains are free-flowing and not cluttered with debris. Check gutters and downspouts to be sure they are well-secured and not clogged. Remember, water weighs 62lbs a cubic foot and your structure is unlikely designed to handle such heavy loads. 
7. Know what is on the roof and its current condition. During the past few storms, insurance companies have sometimes denied claims based on prior damage. They argue that they have no way of knowing what damage existed prior to the storm so they are not responsible for any damage that has occurred. A smart move is to schedule a RAMCON inspection now to document the condition. As a RAMCON client, it’s free and a smart move.

Hurricanes don’t have to mean a total loss for a roof. If the roof is well-designed — with wind events included as a part of the total package of design parameters — properly installed and well-maintained by RAMCON, it has a solid chance of weathering the storm.