What does the county-wide storm record mean for a south-east lot?
The June 2018 overnight storm damaged thousands of houses and cars across El Paso County, and it was described as the worst overnight storm in the county in more than 20 years by a regional newspaper report. Storm damage of that scale is county-wide, which makes every roof in 80916 worth checking after a major storm.
The 2024 hail season was described as sporadic and mostly mild, so the risk changes from year to year. A roof that has not been inspected since a big storm should be looked at before the next rain season.
How does the cleanup handle a loss in this part of the county?
The cleanup is planned from the readings. Each room is read with a meter, the wet material is identified and the dry standard is set from an unaffected part of the same house. The equipment is placed for the room and the material, and it is moved as the readings fall.
The record is handed to the homeowner, and it lists the source, the time, the materials removed and the readings at each visit. The record is the basis of the insurance claim, and it is kept in a form the insurer can review.
What can a homeowner do on the south-east side before the rains?
Clear the gutters and the downspouts before the rain season, and make sure each downspout discharges well away from the foundation. A downspout that empties against the wall can wet the soil and the base of the wall for weeks.
Look at the roof for loose or cracked shingles and for dented flashing around the vents. A quick check from a ladder on a dry day is safer than a check from the roof itself, and a contractor can inspect the roof if anything looks wrong.
What should be checked on the south-east side after a long hail season?
A roof that has taken several seasons of hail can carry small cracks in the shingles that are visible only from close up. A roofer can inspect the surface with a ladder and a test square, and the result tells the homeowner whether the roof is near the end of its service or simply needs a repair.
The gutters and the downspouts take the first blow of a hailstorm and often show it. Dented gutter sections, a split seam and a downspout that has popped loose are all reasons to look at the roof above, because the same hail that dented the gutter may have opened a shingle beside it.
A south-east lot and its outbuildings
Sheds, fences and detached garages on a south-east lot each collect water in their own low corner, and each one is a separate water path to check. A short walk around the outbuildings after heavy rain, looking for a silt line or a damp floor, costs nothing and often finds a problem early.
