Roof Installers in Baton Rouge: Is Your Business' Roof Ready for Hurricane Season?

Editor's note: This post was originally published on June 4, 2015 and has been updated for accuracy and relevance.

The calendar just turned to June and along with afternoon rainstorms, the Tigers heading toward Omaha and high temperatures comes hurricane season. From now until after Thanksgiving every newscast will be focused on the tropics, spaghetti charts and our backyard, the Gulf of Mexico. While we’ve had a few quiet years, Gustav and Isaac are still in our recent memory and caused quite a bit of damage in the Baton Rouge area. So as we enter the young part of this year’s season, here are a few tips to prepare your business and commercial buildings and roofs against the potential threat of a Hurricane.

Before a storm makes its way in our direction, follow these steps to make sure your commercial building is prepared:

• Take photos of your roof to document its condition before the storm.

• Keep all drainage areas free from debris.

• Any loose items that can become airborne need to be removed or restrained.

• If there is A/C unit on the roof, make sure that it is secure.

• Check your roof's flashing and other metal elements and make sure they are secure.

• If your building features skylights in the roof , remove the lenses and cover them with plywood or a metal curb cap.

• If you are concerned about how your roof will fair through a hurricane, schedule a consultation with a local roofing company. They will be very busy after the storm passes.

After the storm, taking these actions can be very helpful:

• Just as before, take photos or video of any damage.

• If there is any damage, contact your insurance company.

• Do not seek any general contractors or roofers immediately, especially if they are from out-of-state.

These tips can save you a lot of money and headaches. Hopefully, they can also protect your business in the event of a hurricane. If you suspect you have roof damage or experience roof issues after a storm, call a trusted, local roofing company. For over 50 years Cribbs Incorporated has been taking care of and repairing commercial buildings in the Baton Rouge area. Cribbs understands a hurricane’s impact on the community and knows how important it is to get your business back on its feet.