The Unusual Ways Storms Can Damage Your Property
Storms can damage your property in obvious ways, like broken windows and knocking down trees, but they can also cause problems in subtler ways as well, in many instances that you don’t expect. In this guide, we look at some of the strange ways storms can degrade the place where you live and cause havoc on your lot. Here’s what you need to know.
Backyard Trampolines Flying off Like UFOs
When storms roll in, the backyard trampoline is often their first victim. That’s because this is a lightweight structure with a large surface area in a single direction. If the wind gusts, then it’s easy for it to be blown over or even take off into the air like a flying saucer. Therefore, it’s a good idea to take down your trampoline if you think a storm is coming. Ideally, you want to remove the piece of fabric entirely or fold it up, but if you can’t do that, then tying it down to the lawn can sometimes work and stave off disaster.
Hail Damage to Your Roof That Creates Pellet-Shaped Potholes
During storms, hail damage can also create pellet-shaped potholes in your roof. Many homeowners find that it makes their asphalt angles look more like Swiss cheese the next morning, sometimes with golf ball-sized holes that go all the way through to the rafters. Hail is particularly damaging to small outcrops of your home, which face the sky like a porch or a kitchen extension. Here, hail can really cause damage if the structure hasn’t been built to the same high quality as the rest of the house.
The best thing to do in this situation is to consult with a roofing expert about ways to mitigate damage. They can often tell you how to prevent hail from causing complete destruction.
Trees That Look Like They’re Falling Apart
Storms can also leave you in a situation where your trees look like they’re falling apart. Sometimes they are, sometimes they’re not, but it’s hard to tell.
This is why you need to call your arborist. You need to think “when do I need tree cabling”? Sometimes, you’ll have to bind trees up so that they can heal and recover and still provide beauty to your outdoor spaces.
Flying Debris Damage
If the wind is high, then you can also get into a situation where flying debris becomes a major issue. Everything from trash cans to kids’ toys left out in the garden can suddenly fly around and smash into other parts of your property. If you think a storm is on the way, bring everything inside or lock it in your shed. Make sure that it is held down somehow and not out in the open. Small objects are easy for the wind to whip up and put through your window.
What to Look For After a Storm That Most Homeowners Miss
A thorough post-storm inspection starts with the assumption that visible damage is only part of the story. The areas most worth scrutinizing are the ones that do not announce themselves, the spaces where water, pressure, and wind force do their work quietly and where the evidence requires more than a glance from the driveway to find.
Attic spaces deserve particular attention after any significant storm event. Wind-driven rain can enter through soffit vents, ridge vents, and compromised flashing without producing any visible ceiling staining for weeks or months, depending on the volume of water involved and the absorbency of insulation below. A flashlight inspection of the attic within a day or two of a major storm frequently reveals evidence of intrusion that would never be caught from inside the living space. Insulation that appears wet, darkened wood framing, or any smell of dampness are all indicators worth taking seriously before they progress.
Drainage patterns around the foundation warrant equal scrutiny after heavy rainfall events. Storms that deliver significant water volume in a short period can shift soil, overwhelm drainage systems, and redirect water flow in ways that push moisture toward a foundation rather than away from it. Pooling that persists for more than a day after rain stops, erosion patterns that have changed since the last major storm, and any new dampness in basement or crawlspace areas all point toward drainage issues that will return with every subsequent storm until they are addressed. The unusual damage a storm leaves behind rarely disappears on its own. It waits, quietly, for the next opportunity to remind a homeowner it was never actually resolved.
