How to Check for Roof Damage After a Storm

3/21/2022 (Permalink)

Roof with tree through it from a storm

After a significant storm, it's a good idea to inspect your property for storm damage. Your home's main line of defense is your roof, and it takes a beating. Pay attention to things like dings in your gutters or tears in your window screens, indicating hail damage. You may see missing tiles or other signs of roof damage from the ground, but most leaks don't represent a need for whole roof replacement. Usually, the leak is coming from something requiring minor roof repair. Find the source of the leak, stop it, and clean the water damage.

Find the Leak Source

During storms in Ontario, wind damage lets the rain into your roof. From the inside of your home, look for stains that indicate the leak source and areas needing roof repair. You may see water stains on your ceiling or coming down a wall. When you see that, get your flashlight and head to that area. Here are five familiar sources for a roof leak:

1. Vents and fans

2. Chimneys

3. Window dormers

4. Vent pipes

5. Unsecured nails and nail holes

Fix Water Damage

To complete your roof repair, start looking for materials damaged by water. Check for discolorations and rotting wood and wet drywall and insulation. When you find mold, remain careful and don't spread it during cleanup.

A mold remediation professional can help create a containment area while working on the water and mold damage. If you haven't found mold, be sure to start drying any wet materials immediately. Mold can begin growing on wet damaged materials in as little as 48 hours. Complete drying is critical to preventing mold, and it may take longer than you realize. Specialists have monitoring equipment that they use to ensure materials are dry.

Preventing Wind Damage

3/21/2022 (Permalink)

If you have storm damage, contact SERVPRO of Peterborough today.

Many areas of Canada have experienced heavy winds and storms this season, and the strong, powerful winds can cause significant damage to your home. Wind damage can cause a range of destruction to your property, from broken windows and fallen tree branches to more severe damage to the roof, garage, or car. It can happen from the strong wind or indirectly from the wind blowing debris into your house.

Wind Damage from Different Types of Storms

Thunderstorms are the most common source of wind and storm damage, but winds from hurricanes or tornadoes are stronger and can cause more severe damage. It can produce many types of bad weather, such as lightning, hail, tornadoes, straight-line winds, flooding, and more. Thunderstorms are responsible for most wind damage cases in Canada, but the storm damage repair may be more costly for hurricane or tornado wind damage. Billions of dollars are spent on wind damage repair and storm damage restoration each year; understanding the nature of wind damage can help you limit the amount of damage to your property and save on restoration and repair costs.

It's important to know when a storm is approaching your area and what type of storm it is so you know the potential and level of damage to expect. These wind damage facts will help you better understand the potential for wind damage and how to prevent it. Here are some steps you can take to minimize the risk of damage to your home when severe weather strikes.

Preventing Wind and Storm Damage

Most wind damage is caused by flying debris either from plants or other structures and objects that aren't secured. If a storm is approaching your area, make sure any potential debris around your homes, such as patio furniture, toys, garbage cans, and other objects, are either secured or brought inside. Secure your doors and windows to help minimize the potential storm damage to the home.

Roof damage can be reduced during the construction phase when the roof deck and the shingles or membrane is applied over the decking. A well-designed roofing system will firmly anchor the trusses and decking to the walls and foundation to keep the entire roof from lifting off the building in a strong wind. Roofing material must be fastened to the deck. Weakly connected shingles will lift easily from the deck.

The damage to your siding can be reduced at the construction phase as well. Properly fastened siding is less likely to lift off a structure in strong wind. Building codes will likely direct the minimum standards for connections. You, your architect, or your contractor may decide to exceed these minimums for a stronger and more storm-resistant structure.

Falling trees and tree limbs are another significant type of damage to structures in a windstorm. Tree maintenance to remove dead limbs or identify and remove weakened trees will reduce the likelihood of the structure being damaged.

Mitigating Damage After a Storm

Close any openings made in the structure by the wind. Roof openings and broken windows are the most common problem. Keep a roll of plastic sheeting that can be cut to size and nailed over the opening.

Keep your safety in mind and attempt such a closure yourself only if it can be done with little or no risk. Your insurance policy will likely cover the cost of an emergency close up. Contact your agent or claims center to report the damage and seek advice on how to proceed.

Falling trees and tree limbs can open a structure with sudden violence. A tree on a structure is a severe personal and structural safety issue. A tree may look like it won't shift position. But it can shift and cause serious injury to the unwary. Fallen trees may also mask other severe safety issues, such as downed electrical wires. The wires may still be alive, and the tree itself energized. Contact your agent or claims center to report the damage and seek advice on how to proceed.

Suppose your home or business sustains wind damage during a storm. In that case, it's essential to contact a storm damage restoration professional as soon as the storm is over to help limit and repair the damage. SERVPRO of Peterborough can respond immediately to storm and flooding conditions. Our quick response will help prevent secondary damage and help reduce restoration costs.

What to do in a winter storm

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

In North America, we have the luxury of having all four seasons to contend with; unfortunately winter is part of those seasons. For most North American's the winter season brings with it a lot of hurt backs and disastrous driving conditions. Not to mention the snow storms. From the inability to see inches ahead of you, to being trapped in your home due to the sheer volume of snowfall, this brings us to the thing we North Americans detest the most, the infamous snow storm. During these times a lot of us are left not knowing what to do, or even knowing what not to do. Luckily, SERVPRO offers a variety of information that can help prepare you and your family for the worst. We also offer emergency response services, based on different situations. For example-dealing with frozen pipes, extreme cold weather can cause pipes to freeze and potentially burst. In these cases, water damage can be extensive, to say the least. Always pay attention to your local weather network or radio broadcast to stay up to date with the necessary information. A severe drop in temperature can cause potential driving hazards and pedestrian walking hazards. Always be sure to check weather broadcasting before your commute, because being prepared could even save your life.

Heavy summer rain facts and safety tips

6/18/2021 (Permalink)

Did you know on Aug.19, 2005, up to 175 mm of rain fell over Toronto in less than 2 hours. Total costs from damage associated with the storm exceeded $500M - the second largest loss event in Canadian history!?!

There are two different types of summer heavy rains that Canada experiences:

1. Large scale weather systems with long-term rainfall -
   These large weather systems can last several days. Environment Canada issues Rainfall Warnings for this type of event.

2. Short-lived thunderstorms with significant rainfall - 
   Within a short period of time, sometimes only minutes, localized downpours from thunderstorms can produce flash flooding. Environment Canada issues Severe Thunderstorm Warnings for these types of rainfall events.

Here are some useful heavy rain safety tips:

• Routinely monitor the Environment Canada weather forecasts for watches and warnings of potential heavy rains or severe thunderstorms with local heavy downpours.

• Know potential risks for flooding in your area and plan an escape route to higher ground but keep in mind the threat from lightning which is greater on high ground.

• During heavy rains, avoid roadway underpasses, drainage ditches, low lying areas and water collection areas. They can unexpectedly flood or overflow.  DO NOT TRY TO DRIVE ACROSS A FLOODED ROAD. You can’t tell the condition of the road under the water. 

• Stay away from power lines or electrical wires during floods.

• Monitor the provincial government flood forecasts and warnings.

The above is sourced from the Government of Canada Environmental Website.

In case of a Storm...

6/16/2021 (Permalink)

Storm Warning

It's not everyday your Zoom call gets interrupted with, "Hey, everyone. I have to log off and head down to my basement. There's a tornado not too far from here." Although this may not be the case in Canada, there has never been harm for preparing for any type of disaster.

Keep reading for some of SERVPRO's top tips for homeowners that want to be prepared!

Top 5 Storm Preparation Tips

#1 – Be ready for a power outage 

 Warning: You might lose power.

Severe weather is the leading cause to power outages, so hope for the best but plan for the worst. Preparation for an approaching storm should include:

• Buying a standby generator if your area has several severe storms throughout the season.
• Making sure you have batteries on hand for flashlights.

#2 – Sign up for local alerts 

 Sign up to receive emergency alerts.

Most local communities have an alert system, which will send messages via email or text to your phone. Generally, these automated systems will send all kinds of information, from steps your town is taking to keep you safe to the status of the local roads to tips on how to prepare for a storm.

 #3 – Make a home emergency plan 

 Make sure you have two exits for every room.

Similar to a fire evacuation plan, you also need a home emergency plan for your family. Also, have a place to meet inside the neighbourhood, like a neighbours house or a certain tree, in case your family needs to evacuate your home. 

#4 – Don't forget outdoor preparation

With a severe storm headed your way, there's a few steps you should take to protect yourself and your neighbours. Move your car to a safe location, one that usually doesn't flood. Secure your patio furniture. Protect your home by covering windows and doors.

#5 – Review your home insurance 

 Look over your homeowners insurance.

If you want to be ready before a disaster strikes SERVPRO of Peterborough is here to help you. Call us today to see how we can help you feel safe and secure in your home or business today!

Tel: 705-761-7216

When Storms or Floods hit Peterborough, SERVPRO is ready!

4/1/2021 (Permalink)

SERVPRO of Peterborough specializes in storm and flood damage restoration.  Our crews are highly trained and we use specialized equipment to restore your property to its pre-storm condition.

Faster Response

Since we are locally owned and operated, we are able to respond quicker with the right resources, which is extremely important. A fast response lessens the damage, limits further damage, and reduces the restoration cost.

Resources to Handle Floods and Storms

When storms hit Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes, we can scale our resources to handle a large storm or flooding disaster. We can access equipment and personnel from a network of 1,650 Franchises across the country and elite Disaster Recovery Teams that are strategically located throughout Canada.

Have Storm or Flood Damage? Call Us Today 705-761-7216