Yesterday Mother Nature unleashed her fury on the Midwest, and the severe storms that passed through the Twin Cities dropped massive amount of hail in areas like Coon Rapids and Blaine. Trees were uprooted and the hail piled up to the extent that in some neighborhoods the snow plows were out to remove it.
But a storm like that produces a lot more than extra work for street maintenance crews and landscapers. The potential for storm damage to houses can’t be underestimated.
Heavy wind-blown rains and hail in an the amount and size the northern Minneapolis metro area got have the potential to cause extensive damage to the exterior of homes, especially roofs, windows, and siding.
Did you know that hail as small as a pea can damage a roof? And wind-driven rain can get up under loose siding and around window frames if they don’t fit snugly. Those same winds can rip siding off the side of a home as well.
Some areas had trees uprooted, and falling trees can cause damage, everything from scratches to pulling off siding, breaking windows, and taking out sections of roofing.
First of all, it’s important to minimize further damage by making sure any exposed areas are covered up so that water and debris don’t get inside your home. The next thing is to get a storm damage contractor out to assess the state of your home. This is especially important to have done as quickly after the storm as possible. Insurance companies won’t pay storm damage claims unless the damage can be connected to a storm, and the further away from the event you get, the harder it can be to prove.
The second reason is that many insurance policies require that you have storm damage repaired within a certain amount of time. Go through your homeowner’s insurance policy to find out what that time frame is for you.
Often hail damage is very obvious. In the photo at right, you can easily see that this home suffered extensive damage to the siding and window frames. But you can’t always tell if there has been damage. Some people think that if you can’t see any damage to your home’s exterior that there isn’t any. That isn’t always the case. Often it takes a trained professional like a siding or replacement window contractor to spot damage that might be missed by a novice. And not all Minnesota home improvement contractors are experienced in storm damage, so it’s important to work with a company that is.
We suggest that while you’re waiting for your storm damage company to come and inspect your home that you take pictures to document the condition of your home.
If you live in a neighborhood that got hit hard by the June 11th storms, give us a call. We don’t charge for inspections and estimates, and we’re used to working aggressively with insurance companies on behalf of our clients. And if your siding has been severely damaged, perhaps this is a good time to upgrade to James Hardie® fiber cement siding. It’s especially resistant to impact damage from hail. We’re currently running a special on installation of this exceptional siding product if you have it installed this summer.
Window Outfitters, Inc. is a licensed Minnesota home remodeling and improvement company serving the entire Minneapolis metro area. We offer such services as replacement windows and exterior doors, siding, and more.
Window Outfitters is a premier Window Replacement, doors, siding contractor and installer. As Contractor in the St Paul, Minneapolis, (Twin Cities) Minnesota (MN) metro, we proudly serve, but are not limited to, the following areas: Minneapolis Energy Efficient Vinyl Windows, Replacement Window Contractors Minnesota, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Lakeville, Savage, Bloomington, Edina, Richfield, Eagan, St Paul, Hastings, Minnetonka, Plymouth, Maple Grove, Eden Prairie, Farmington MN, Chaska, Shakopee, Chanhassen, Victoria, Mendota Heights Anderson Windows Minneapolis, Marvin Windows Minneapolis.
