Well, Hurricane Sandy has come and gone and thankfully the DC area was spared the worst of the storm. But that doesn’t mean we escaped unscathed. I’ve been driving all over our area (mostly Germantown, Gaithersburg, and Frederick County) the last two days and I’m seeing more damage than is being reported. I’ve seen downed trees, ponding water around foundations, damaged gutters and siding, and displaced roof shingles.
As a homeowner, it is important to identify any damage you might have sustained and notify your insurance company. If you find damage, take plenty of photographs. Your insurance company will send someone out to assess the full extent of the damage at no cost to you (it’s built into the cost of your insurance). Most damage from Hurricane Sandy is obvious and you don’t need a home inspector. Examples are broken windows, blown siding, missing shingles, or a fallen tree on your deck (yes, I’ve seen that already), but less obvious damage such as partially dislodged roof shingles or damaged flashing, water intrusion into attic spaces, and water seepage into hard-to-see areas of your basement should also be identified, brought to the attention of your insurance company, and ultimately repaired. If ignored, moisture can cause significant damage and, of course, produce mold.
Many homeowners can self-assess damage from a storm without the need for a home inspector. However, if you have concerns, and want an independent inspector to have a look on your roof, Kemp Home Inspections can help.
I have broad experience conducting post-hurricane and severe storm structural inspections. In fact, I spent ten years as a project engineer designing structures to withstand hurricane events, and I served on one of the Maryland State Highway Administration rapid response teams sent out to assess structural damage after severe weather events.
If you are concerned about damage to your roof or other parts of your home, Kemp Home Inspections can help. We offer both pre- and post-hurricane inspections. Give us a call. 301-916-6030.
