Bad weather is a part of life, no matter where you live. Since it’s inevitable, you should be aware of what these conditions can do to your home. Here’s how bad weather can impact your home:

1. Wear and Tear on Your Exterior

Over time, your home’s exterior experiences general wear and tear from general exposure. This is to be expected and the right contractor can help you pick the best roofing and siding materials to withstand common weather events in your area.

However, if you experience bad weather frequently, this will exacerbate wear and tear. Remember, it can take only one major storm to shorten the life of your home exterior. These weather events are just one of the things to consider when choosing a roofing material.

2. Roof and Siding Damage

Many kinds of bad weather can do damage to your roof and siding. Here is how different types of weather can impact your roofing and siding:

Heavy Rain

Heavy rain can cause leaks, especially if it’s frequent. Strong winds that come along with heavy rains can force rain in different directions, sending water to places where it typically wouldn’t go, like under shingles or other roofing material. If this is happening, this can be one of the signs your roof needs to be replaced.

Heavy rains also damage siding and spouting due to the weight of the excess rain. Without proper drainage, your siding can experience rot and mildew, so it’s important to make sure your spouting and gutters are in good shape. If your home has experienced heavy damage due to rains, this may be a sign your house needs new siding.

Strong Winds, Hurricanes, and Tornados

Other bad weather like strong winds, hurricanes, hail, and tornadoes can cause damage to your roof and siding. If your roofing material and siding aren’t installed correctly, heavy winds can pull these materials right off your home or drastically decrease their lifespan.

Hail can cause visible damage to your roof but only if the hail is larger in size. However, smaller-sized hail can cause long-term damage to a roof if it occurs often. High-strength siding and types of roofing with higher impact ratings can help withstand damage from hail and debris.

Tornadoes can cause a lot of damage in minutes. Tornadoes can level homes but they can also cause damage by pulling roofing off or by throwing debris at your home. All these weather events can negatively affect a home’s exterior. High-strength siding, hurricane clips on connection points of the roof, and more can help better protect your home and prevent or at least minimize damage from severe weather.

Snow and Ice

Snow and ice can cause some of the most common winter roofing problems. Snow can be very heavy, especially if a large amount of wet snow has accumulated. A properly installed roof can accommodate heavy amounts of snow, but damaged roofs will be more susceptible to damage.

Heavy snow and ice may even cause a roof to cave in, causing even more damage and headaches. Melting snow and ice can also cause water damage, much like rain. If icicles form around your roofline, they may damage your gutters. The weight of the water can cause cracking or even pull gutters off your roof.

They can also fill and block gutters, which forces water to stay on the roof. This is one of the reasons why gutters and downspouts are important. Without proper draining, your roof can develop leaks. If the water can’t escape your gutters and re-freezes, the gutters can expand, causing cracks.

3. Foundation Issues

Flooding caused by heavy rains and hurricanes can damage your foundation and exterior walls. Flood waters can even lift concrete foundations and cause issues to your basement. Cracks in the foundation are just one of the signs of structural damage you should never ignore in your home.

If your home is already vulnerable due to these cracks, swiftly moving water will have a much easier time causing extensive damage. If you live in an area with flooding, work with an experienced contractor to build a strong foundation with extra reinforcements. While damage is sometimes inevitable, a well-built foundation can help mitigate issues.

Update Your Home With Zephyr Thomas

This is how bad weather can impact your home. Unfortunately, bad weather is often inevitable, no matter where you live. Thankfully, there are a few home updates to protect your home from severe weather that you can do. If you’re ready to make these updates, Zephyr Thomas can help! Give us a call at 717-399-4708 to get started!