When you live in Florida, you need to be prepared for hurricanes. Hurricane season can bring powerful storms and high winds that can cause significant damage to your property. That's especially true where your roofing structure is concerned. That's where preventative measures become beneficial. Taking preventative measures to prepare your roof for hurricane season can safeguard your roof and protect the structural integrity of your home.

If you haven't taken steps to prepare your roof for this year's hurricane season, read the list below for six steps you can take to protect your roof from hurricane damage. 

Schedule a Roof Inspection

Before hurricane season kicks into high gear, you need to schedule a roof inspection. A thorough roof inspection will identify any issues that can cause problems for your roof during a severe storm. If you have an asphalt shingle roof, an inspection can identify things like loose or missing shingles. If you have a tile or metal roof, an inspection can find things like cracks or separations. 

Take Care of the Repairs

Hurricane winds can destroy your roof, especially if it's in disrepair. Prompt repairs can prevent further damage to your roof during a hurricane, where massive rainfall and forceful winds will exacerbate any existing issues and create bigger problems. That's why you should call your roofer for repairs as soon as you spot damage to your roof and address repair issues before the storms arrive.

Repairing existing problems will also reinforce your roof's strength and durability. That way, your home is protected against hurricane-force winds and torrential rainfall.

Tighten Metal Flashings

When it comes to protecting your roof during a hurricane, you need to go beyond the shingles and tiles. You also need to take a close look at the flashing. Metal flashing can break free during a hurricane. If that happens, the rest of your roof can come loose as well.

Before hurricane season arrives, make sure your metal flashings are securely attached to the roof. If they're not, be sure to tighten them before the storm arrives. If you see damaged flashing, have those components replaced right away. 

Reinforce Roof Anchors

Roofing anchors can come loose after a while. Securing the roofing anchors is one way to prevent wind lift during hurricanes. Roofing anchors should also be inspected after each severe storm. If you haven't done that lately, it's time to schedule a service appointment. We can evaluate the strength of the connections between your roof and the underlying structure. Reinforcing the roofing anchors can improve your roof's ability to withstand strong winds.

Install Hurricane Straps

Hurricane-force winds can lift the roofing structure right off your house. When that happens, you're faced with extensive damage to your home and your belongings. If you haven't installed hurricane straps, now's the time to do so. Hurricane straps are designed to strengthen and stabilize wood and metal roofing structures. Once hurricane straps are in place, your home is less susceptible to hurricane damage. 

Clear the Rain Gutters

If you're preparing your home for hurricanes, you need to include your rain gutters in the preparation. Rain gutters can protect your home and roof from hurricane damage. One way they do that is by keeping torrential rain away from the foundation of your home. Another way is by preventing water from getting under the edges of the roof line.

That's why you need to get your gutters cleaned and any necessary repairs made before the next hurricane comes through. 

Hurricanes can cause extensive damage to your home and roof. Luckily, there are steps you can take to protect both. If you haven't weatherized your roof yet, call W.D. Hutchinson Roofing LLC today. We can get your roofing system ready for the next storm.