Nebraska City, you were recently hit hard by a Spring hailstorm. The Rooferees at Weatherguard Inc. are here to help!

First, here are some tips to know if your property was damaged by the hail:

• Asphalt granules in the gutters or coming out of downspouts are a good indication that asphalt shingles may be damaged from hail.
• Check siding, downspouts, and gutters for dents and ding marks.
• Look for loose, damaged, or missing shingles. We do not recommend homeowners climb on the roof, especially a wet roof, so do your best to assess this from the ground or second story windows.
• Check vehicles that were outside in the storm. Hail dents on a vehicle are a good indication that the roof has also been damaged.
• Look for torn screens or siding that has dents or paint chipped off – another sign your roof may have been damaged.

If your property has storm damage, call the professionals for an assessment –  BUT avoid doing business with storm chasers. Storm chasers typically arrive from out-of-town to an area that has been recently hit with a significant wind or hailstorm. They perform the bare minimum – replacing a damaged roof quickly with a cheaper roof and ignoring other potential problems. This is a problem for homeowners because these roofs typically don’t last long, and the storm chaser is no longer available in the area to make any repairs when they arise.

Here are some things to keep in mind as you choose a contractor to assess and repair the damage to your home:

• Do your research. Ask for license and insurance, and make sure the company is an established, LOCAL company.
• Be leery of a door-to-door salesman. They canvas a neighborhood that was recently hit by a storm, preying particularly on senior citizens or older homes. The scammer will offer a free inspection and once on your roof may fabricate damage or produce a picture of damage that isn’t on your roof.
• Don’t sign any paperwork with a roofing company before your insurance adjustor has inspected the roof first and determined the extent of damage.
• Don’t be pressured by a high-pressure salesman. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Some roofing scammers will bid the job much lower than everyone else, only to add more costs after the job has started. Material costs should never rise after the job has started.
• Always ask for an estimate that includes the total cost of labor and materials. If a contractor doesn’t want to give you an estimate before the insurance adjustor assesses the damage, they may be trying to scam you.

Before you make a down payment on work to be performed, make sure you are working with a reputable, local company. Be cautious about making any payment to a roofing company before supplies are delivered to your home.

If your home is damaged in a storm, don’t just trust anyone. Choose a local company like Weatherguard Inc. with a solid reputation – it will pay off in the long run!