You're definitely right about gutters—had a similar experience myself. Thought I was all set after trimming branches and sealing windows, but overlooked the gutters completely. Next big storm, water was pouring down the side of the house like Niagara Falls. Ended up with moisture seeping into the attic insulation, and trust me, that's not a fun cleanup.
One thing I'd add is considering the roofing material itself. I used to be skeptical about green roofs—thought they were just trendy eco-stuff—but after seeing how well my neighbor's sedum-covered roof handled heavy rains and hail, I'm coming around. It absorbed a ton of water, slowed runoff, and even seemed to buffer against hail damage. Not saying it's a magic bullet or anything, but it might be worth looking into if you're already thinking about roof upgrades.
Gotta admit, I was pretty skeptical about green roofs too—seemed like one of those trendy things people do more for Instagram than practicality. But I inspected a house last year with a sedum roof, and it really did hold up surprisingly well after a nasty storm. Still, they're not foolproof... saw another one that wasn't installed properly, and it turned into a soggy mess. Like anything else, it's all in the details and maintenance.
I installed a green roof on my garden shed about three years ago—mostly sedum and some native grasses. Honestly, it's held up better than I expected, even through heavy rains and snow. But you're right, installation is key. I spent extra time on drainage layers and waterproofing membranes, and it paid off. Still, wouldn't rely solely on that for extreme weather protection... pairing it with reinforced windows and proper grading around the foundation made a bigger difference overall.
You've got the right idea about combining measures. I've managed properties through several nasty storms, and while green roofs definitely help with runoff and insulation, they're not a silver bullet. Your point about reinforced windows is spot-on—seen too many folks underestimate wind-driven debris. And proper grading? Honestly underrated... saved more than a few basements by just tweaking the slope around foundations. Sounds like you've got a solid setup there, nice work.
