What Homeowners Can Learn From Storm Damage in North Texas

During last week’s round of storms you hopefully learned or were reminded of two key things that will help keep you safe this spring storm season:

1) A WATCH means that we have all the ingredients for tacos: tacos are possible; while a WARNING means we’re having tacos: tacos are happening now. 2) The sirens are deployed not just for tornados, but for hail larger than 1.75 inches, and/or for winds in excess of 70 mph. But neither of those things will help save your home from storm damage in North Texas.

So in the aftermath of a major weather event, it’s time to assess the damage. And while last week’s weather event could have been a lot worse, we saw a good deal of storm damage in North Texas. So we thought we’d take a look at some of the affects of storms on homes that we see in the field in this week’s Upon Closer Inspection.

Throwing Caution to The Wind

The high winds of last week’s storm damaged this service mast. The wind blew the utility pole over at an angle, which pulled the wires taut, knocking loose the service cap and yanking the connections loose at the roof. That’s a garbage bag that you see tangled up in the wires. The service mast is where the city electric lines connect to your home. The service mast and the parts attached to your home are the homeowner’s responsibility. From the point the wires (the service loop) leave your home and onto the utility pole is the provider’s responsibility.

Walking The Roof

One of the most common parts of the home to find storm damage is, of course, the roof. I saw plenty of footage last week of ripped-up shingles, blown-off parts of roofs, and worse. A friend’s Carrollton business had their rooftop air conditioning unit blown over on its side, tearing a gaping hole in the ceiling and causing thousands of dollars of water damage inside.

In the video, we see Dallas home inspector Adrian Butler walking a roof that has some pretty typical wear and tear from storm damage in North Texas — hail and wind damage to shingles and fittings that are worn down and leaking.

The point is, you’re more likely to have serious damage to a roof like the one Adrian is walking during a major storm, than to a new, strong roof. So what can you do? Pay attention to your warranties and your insurance policies. After a storm, have a roofer or insurance adjuster come walk your roof to see if there is damage that needs repair. Don’t let it build up like this.

Falling Branches And Trees

It’s the first thing you see in the aftermath of the storm. Branches and debris in the yard, in the streets, and hopefully not on your roof or breaking your fence or decking. Sometimes you’ll see whole trees taken down by high winds or lightning strikes.

There isn’t a lot we can do as homeowners to protect against this because, of course, we love our trees. But you can keep your trees healthy and safer by calling an arborist to inspect and trim your trees every 1-5 years (depending on age and growth). This lessens the chance of falling branches; keeps branches safely away from your roof, structure and power lines; and keeps your trees healthy and strong.

Worst Case Scenario

When the worst happens and a tornado hits, sometimes we get called in to inspect the property during repairs, or to help determine if repairs are possible. That was the case when we took these photos. These shots were not from last week’s storm, but from the outbreak of tornadoes last December. Thankfully this family is safe and able to repair and rebuild. These pictures put me in mind of the monolithic dome houses CandysDirt.com covered recently that are near indestructible.

This is a reminder to us all to stay vigilant, listen to weather reports, heed that siren, and take shelter when you hear it.