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Health & Fitness

Homeowners Need to Repair Damage from Storm Quickly

In the aftermath of the recent hurricane, many homeowners are dealing with storm damage. But it is important to repair the damage quickly so you don't face even bigger problems.

With Hurricane Sandy battering the East Coast recently, many homeowners spent a lot of time preparing their home to withstand the wind and water that accompanies this natural disaster. 

But the aftermath of the storm often leads to additional home repairs that are necessary to make the home livable again.

We helped a lot of homeowners in the area this past week board up their homes and store outdoor furniture in preparation for the storm, but now we are starting to get calls to make repairs of the damage the storm caused.

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Once the storm has passed, homeowners should look around their home for areas that are damaged and need repair.  Once homeowners have done an inventory of any damage, they should contact their insurance claims adjuster to determine the next steps needed to process a damage claim.  However, there may be some areas that need immediate repair to ensure further damage doesn’t occur:

-Loose Roof Shingles and Roof Leaks – The strong winds can loosen roof shingles or even blow them off the roof, and leaving those areas exposed can result in roof leaks. 

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–Gutters and Downspouts- Today’s lightweight gutters are easily dislodged from the home’s fascia boards, and the wind can even blow off the downspouts.  Gutters that aren’t functioning properly can cause water to seep into a home’s foundation which can lead to wet basements or first-floor leaks in homes built on a slab.

-Broken Window/Storm Panes – The strong winds and flying debris can result in cracked or broken windows and storm panes.  It is best to board up broken windows to eliminate potential for flying glass until a window repair company can arrive to fix the glass.

-Loose Siding and Shutters –Whether you have wood or vinyl siding or shutters on your home, the strong winds can dislodged them.  Missing siding can result in leaks and a swinging shutter may cause further damage to your home if it blows off.

In addition to fixing areas that were damaged, we also are documenting the home’s damage and the steps taken to repair it along with before and after photos to be used for any homeowner’s insurance claims. 

Waiting to repair home damage can lead to more problems, so it is better to fix things promptly.  But make sure you work with a reputable contractor so you know the repairs will be done right. 

Dave Fink is the owner of HandyPro- Philadelphia located in West Chester, Pa. HandyPro provides both home maintenance and senior home modifications and services homeowners and businesses in the Philadelphia-Mainline and western suburbs. For more information, visit HandyPro’s website at www.handypro.com or call (610) 727-0500.

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