While severe weather can damage your home the follow steps may reduce the risk for loses in the future.

Inspect your roof: Start by walking your property and looking for shingles that may have blown off and need to be replaced, while still on the ground look for roofing granules on the ground. Roofing granules protect the asphalt singles from UV light, so the loss of these granules will shorten your roofs life.  Next check the roof for popped nails, loose shingles, or any moss that may be growing.  I used to go up on the roof and do this but not anymore. Now I get out a pair of binoculars and inspect the roof from the ground, a lot safer and easier. While a separate system the gutters are tied to the roof in many ways. While walking around the house make sure that all gutters are properly hung and the weight of ice and or snow has not pulled them down or away from the house and make sure that they are free of debris and running freely.

Trim overhanding tree branches from around your home. Strong winds can cause branches to rub against the roof and damage it and high winds can snap off large limbs and puncture the roof of your home.  Lastly overhanging trees can create the right environment for moss, algae or lichens to grow on the roof damaging it.

Ensure outdoor furniture and fixtures are secured so they don’t become projectiles during the next round of high winds that hit Northeast Ohio and before you renew your homeowner’s insurance policy call the Trusted Choice insurance agents at Richey-Barrett.