CARY, N.C. — A North Carolina roofing company is preparing for extra business next week.

Luis Perez, a project manager for Cary-based "On Tops Roofing," says most people see their roofs as an afterthought. He's advising homeowners to give their roofs a little extra love, especially with severe weather in the forecast.

Our Spectrum News 1 meteorologists are predicting heavy rain, gusty winds and the possibility of tornadoes when the remnants of Hurricane Ian move through North Carolina this weekend.

Related article: Ian to bring heavy rain to North Carolina for Friday and the weekend

“When it's heavy wind, it can blow the shingles off and cause leaks. But if it's like a pretty flat roof, thats where the water stays the most and that's where the water can penetrate in between the shingles," Perez said.

A salesperson with On Tops advises residents to check their attic for any daylight that might be coming through, which would indicate missing shingles and entryways for water.

After the storm, On Tops recommends checking your attic again and looking for possible holes in a pipe boot or exhaust bin.

Finally, walk around your yard. Check for debris and look up to see if there's any debris on your roof.

When you keep debris on the roof, experts say you impede the flow of water.