The mighty thunderstorms of Las Vegas are known for their enormous power and dazzling lightning displays. Although these impressive storms may be nice to watch from a distance, they can be a little more intimidating when they are right over your home. If you are worried about the potential for damage from lightning strikes, a lightning rod might provide an added layer of protection for your home and your family.

How Do Lightning Rods Protect Structures?

A lightning rod is a pointed metal bar that is installed on the highest point of a building or other structure. This placement allows them to attract the lightning so it does not strike another nearby location. It is typically made from copper or copper alloys, but any conductive metal would also be suitable. Lightning rods are connected to the ground by wiring that will safely carry the electricity from a lightning strike away from buildings and structures.

It is common for some people to become confused by the way lightning rods "attract" lightning and think that installing one will draw more lightning to the building. The truth is that lighting will strike no matter what structures are present, and when it does it will seek an easy path to the ground. If no suitable paths are available, it will strike buildings, trees, and other locations that can suffer tremendous damage from the heat and electricity. A lightning rod simply provides an optimal path to the ground so that lightning strikes there rather than roofs and trees.

Repairing Lightning Damage

A single burst of lightning can generate enough electricity to power a home for almost two months. When that much power is concentrated in one place, an incredible amount of heat and pressure will occur. If your home is struck by lightning, it can result in fires within the home or on the roof, small explosions, flying debris, and damage to metal fixtures and plumbing systems. First Quality Roofing & Insulation can help you recover from this devastating damage with roofing and attic repair and replacement, drywall repair, and more. To learn more about our roof repair services, contact us today.