Harm You See and Harm You Do Not
Wind is a pry bar. It gets under rims and lifts. Shingles. Siding rows. Metal seams. Gutter runs. Awnings. Fence boards. What you see from the yard — lost siding, a bent gutter — is oft half the tale. The rest hides where wind rain got in. Back of siding. Under lifted flashing. In the attic where boards bent and nails backed out.
After Hurricane Isaias, look in this order. Roof rims and peaks. Gutters and spouts. Siding on the wind side. Windows and screens. Garage doors. Fences and sheds. Then go in. Attic first — light through boards, stains below. Then rooms under the roof for new spots.
Common Fixes, Trade by Trade
Siding. Vinyl rows unzip in wind. Single rows can go back if whole. But old or dead-color siding may force big swaps. Wood and fiber rows crack on junk hits. Hurt boards get cut out. The wall back of them gets checked for water in.
Gutters and spouts. Wind rips gutters off boards and bends spouts. Rehang works only if the wood back of them is sound. Rot wood must go first, or new gutters pull off too.
Windows and screens. Junk breaks glass and bends frames. A burst window is a water door too. Board it the same day. Swap the glass or sash soon.
Garage doors. Wind can buckle door rows or blow the door in. A dead garage door lets wind fill the house. That is how roofs lift off. If your door bent, get it checked before the next storm, not just patched.
Fences and sheds. Fences tend to die first and count last. But shoot them for the claim first, with photos before cleanup.
How It Works: A Wind Fix Job
1. Walk the lot. Ground look outside, then attic, then rooms. Shoot all for your claim.
2. Shut openings. Board burst windows. Tarp roof harm. Brace what could fall.
3. Rank by water in. What lets rain in — roof, windows, siding gaps — gets fixed before pretty work like fences.
4. Get written quotes. Three pros. Itemized by fix zone. Weigh scope, not just price.
5. Check licenses. Alabama home builder license for jobs over $10,000. See hblb.alabama.gov or 1-800-304-0853.
6. Fix and check. Walk each fix before last pay. Keep all bills for the insurer.
Two Hid Costs
Match. If your siding or shingle hue is dead, a "small fix" can turn full-side or full-slope to match. Talk to your adjuster on match cover before work starts.
Code lifts. If Mobile's now code wants more than your old build had — storm straps, hit glass — ask your insurer what the policy pays for code lifts.
Stop Next Time's Harm
- Storm straps tie roof to walls
- Sealed roof decks block water if shingles lift
- Hit-rated garage doors hold in wind
- Trim trees near the house each year
What Adjusters Look For
Help your adjuster help you. They want:
- Clear photos with dates — before cleanup
- A written list of hurt items with ages
- Proof the harm came from this storm, not old wear
- Bills for urgent fixes like tarps and boards
- Your pro's written view on fix vs swap
Walk with them. Point at the attic, the crawl space, the back of siding. What they do not see, they do not pay.
Make the Next Storm Hurt Less
- Trim trees. Keep limbs off the roof and walls. Fell dead trees before wind does.
- Lock the shell. Storm straps, sealed decks, hit-rated garage doors.
- Guard water paths. Clean gutters. Aim spouts from the base. Seal gaps at vents and pipes.
- Photo your home yearly. Fresh "before" shots make the next claim far less of a fight.
Garage Doors in High Wind
Your garage door is the weak link most owners miss. A big door catches wind like a sail. When it buckles, wind fills the garage and pushes up on the roof from in. That lift is what peels roofs in bad storms.
- If your door bent in the storm, do not just straighten it — get it checked
- Ask for a wind-rated door with firm tracks and braces
- Keep the door shut in high wind — an open door is a wind trap
- Check the auto-reverse eyes still work after debris hits
Siding Fix Tips
- Save one whole row of old siding — it is your match chip at the store
- Do not caulk weep holes at row bottoms — they drain the wall
- Loose rows near the fix get re-nailed, not left to flap
- Shoot the wall back of torn siding before it gets covered
When to Call It a Day
Stop DIY and call a pro when you find soft wood back of siding, bent wall studs, or water in wall bays. Frame harm is not a handyman job. It needs a licensed pro and often a permit. Pushing past your skill here turns a fix into a rebuild.
Every project is different — contact us for a free written estimate.