When to Call your North Louisiana Storm Damage Repair Contractor

Knowing when you need to call for help is the first step in the insurance restoration process

You awaken to a loud crash and the sound of rushing water. A tree has fallen across your home during a summer storm, decimating your roof and opening your living room to the elements. At first, you’re focused on making sure your kids are safe, the pets are uninjured, and the immediate danger has passed. But as your spouse looks at rain falling on the sofa, a feeling creeps over you. What next? Is it time to call a storm damage repair contractor?

It’s a scenario none of us want to face, but all too often, many of us have to. The moments after you suffer an insured loss due to storm damage, high winds, floods, or even fire are critical. Yet, in that moment, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by everything you have to do.

Do you call your insurance agent? Your brother-in-law? The fire department? And how do you even begin to put your life back together?

Stopping the damage from getting worse

If the roof is damaged, chances are water is getting into your home or business. In this case, it’s vital that you prevent further water intrusion. That means you need a contractor to assess the roof and secure it from further water intrusion.

Failing to adequately address the immediate effects of water intrusion into attics and structures can mean the difference between major damage and a total loss. Water is one of the most destructive forces on a home, and if your home is getting water, that means it’s getting damage to wiring, plumbing, the foundation, brickwork, flooring–virtually every critical part of your home’s infrastructure.

If water is coming into your building, it’s time to call a contractor.

Securing the property against intrusion

From the moment your home’s exterior is breached–either at the windows or roofline–your home is vulnerable to intruders. That’s not to say the boogieman is going to climb in through the attic. But a squirrel — or family of squirrels — certainly can. So too can insects, other pests, and a host of nasty molds and funguses.

In the hours after suffering damage, you’d be shocked how quickly Mother Nature sends her forces to come reclaim your property. Taking a moment to prevent the invasion of damaging critters can make a big difference in the time it takes to restore your home or business and get life back to normal.

If your home’s exterior is breached, call a contractor immediately to secure your home.

Flickering lights or other evidence of problems

The strange thing about storm damage is that it doesn’t take a massive event like a tree crashing into the living room to cause problems. In fact, some of the most destructive damage is the kind that’s hardest to see. Here are a few signs that you have suffered storm damage that may be difficult to see, and that it may be time to call a Storm Damage Repair Contractor:

• Moisture in light fixtures: Take a look at the light fixtures. If you see tiny beads of moisture inside or evidence of “rust spots” forming, chances are water is sneaking in through hidden leaks in the roof. This is a potentially dangerous situation and should be addressed immediately.
• Flickering lights or appliances that don’t work: You flip the light switch and it comes on. Then it goes of. Then it comes on again a few minutes later. Or maybe the stove clock keeps resetting itself. This can be evidence of hidden water intrusion or damaged wiring. It’s also a condition that could lead to a fire, so it should be addressed quickly.
• Televisions, computers, and other electronics are “fried” by a surge: We’ve all heard about the infamous “power surge.” But what you may not know is that a major power surge event, such as those caused by power spikes during a storm or from lightning strikes, can damage critical safety features of your home’s electrical system. If you find your electronics “fried,” you might want to get your electrical system checked out to make sure everything’s still working.

Call Riddle Builders for all your post-storm questions

If you think you may have suffered storm damage and need to know the next steps, give us a call. Riddle Builders has a team of expert insurance restoration professionals ready to help you put life back to normal. To find out more, get in touch today.