By Lance Edwards

Homeowners stay on high alert every summer, especially when their local meteorologist reminds them of hurricane season. If you’re new to the Texas Gulf Coast, from June 1 until November 30, all eyes are on the seas incase a storm decides to churn in the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico.

The common TV personality tells you to organize your hurricane survival kit with flashlights, batteries, bottled water and MREs; But a lot of these items are geared towards prolonged power outages and devastating circumstances, AFTER THE FACT. Nobody ever mentions getting your roof checked before hurricane season, to make sure there are no trouble spots that could become major devastation if twenty inches of rain dump on your home in less than two days.

So here I am, telling you right now, if you are reading this article and nobody has walked on your roof in the last three years, you need to get that free inspection. If a problem is identified before storms hit, a fix for a few hundred dollars is a preventative measure that could eliminate the possibility of a $20,000 or higher restoration project.

If your roof is more than ten years old, it’s not necessarily time to replace it, but it’s definitely worth calling your trusted roofer to extend the life of your roof by making sure all areas are securely fastened or sealed. A roofing professional can identify zip rings, prior wind damage, nail pops; All of these seemingly tiny problems can become an unfathomable headache if not addressed before a major storm.

Wind damage is not always the biggest nuisance during tropical weather. Heavy rainfall, which can happen without an officially named storm, can collect via the tiniest of cracks or openings on your rooftop. Once that water gets beneath the surface, it’s over. Water goes wherever it wants to go and doesn’t need your permission to penetrate your walls and ceilings.

That’s why all areas around dormers, chimneys, vents, even your solar panel racking, need to be assessed and cleared with a green light. As mentioned earlier in this article, the inspection from most major roofing professionals is free. For a couple of hundred dollars you can purchase a maintenance package to protect the most important asset you own.

If you neglect your roof you’re asking for trouble long term. You don’t always need to break the bank and replace the entire roofing system. By picking up the phone, or scanning some QR codes in this magazine, you can make your property a guaranteed winner. This small action is a simple step that helps extend the life of your roof.

Texans love to ride out the storm. We sometimes refer it as “We’re gonna HUNKER DOWN.” You don’t want this to be your top strategy if you haven’t ensured your roof as safe, secure, and prepared to battle the storm.