A wind storm can be as damaging to a home’s roof as any other natural disaster. Wind damage occurs when strong, fast winds barrage your house, battering it with debris and potentially causing significant damage to the roof, siding, windows, and other important parts of the house. The more powerful the wind, the more damage it can cause, but even minor wind storms can have serious consequences. Making sure you know how to tell if your roof has been damaged by wind is a good way to identify problems before they have a chance to become worse. Here are five signs to look for in a wind-damaged roof.
Missing Shingles
It might not look like much, but missing shingles are a strong indicator that your wind-damaged roof needs some repairs. Missing shingles are not too difficult to spot from ground-level, and you may even see blown-off shingles in your yard or around your house. Look out for areas of the roof where the wind has struck several times and ripped off a large number of shingles, as this is a sign that your roof needs to be repaired immediately. If the damaged area is small, your roofing contractor may be able to repair the problem without the need for a full roof replacement.
Cracked Shingles
Broken or cracked shingles, on the other hand, are much trickier to identify. Heavy winds can sometimes catch shingles in such a way that they are folded upwards, causing folds and cracks to appear and compromise the shingles’ integrity. It often takes a professional roof inspection to identify this type of damage, as it can be very difficult to spot by the untrained eye from the ground. If you suspect your roof may have sustained damage from a recent wind storm, it’s always a good idea to call a trusted roofing company for an inspection. Subtle damage can escalate into much worse problems if not repaired in a timely manner.
Water Damage
Another common sign of wind-damaged roofs is water damage. A lot of times, a storm will blow small tree branches and other debris onto your roof, preventing drainage and causing water to pool on the roof. This could spell disaster for your roof, as pooling water can eventually seep through the roof’s materials and into the home if it’s given enough time. The end result is that you could be dealing with a roof leak and all the problems that come with it, including mold and mildew infestations. If this happens to your roof, you must find a water damage repair professional right away. The longer the water damage sits, the more costly and time-consuming the repairs will be.
Damage from Debris
Speaking of debris, roof damage can be caused directly by falling tree branches or heavy debris blown onto your property. String winds can often cause large pieces of debris to fly through the air and come in contact with your roofing materials. If you see branches scraping at your roof or chunks of debris flying through the air, call a local roofing company right away. Damage from debris can be severe, and leaks are very common in cases like this. If you have a roofing company take a look as soon as possible, they may be able to repair the damaged areas without needing to replace the entire roof.
How to Handle a Wind Damaged Roof
Wind-damaged shingles should never be ignored, especially if you live in an area that gets windy on occasion. Even if there are only a few broken or missing shingles, you still need to get them replaced as soon as possible. A small gap between a damaging storm and roof repairs can allow more severe damage to occur, leading to leaks and other serious issues. If you do not have a professional replace your damaged shingles in a timely manner, you might end up spending a lot more money in the long run on a full roof replacement. Take the proper precaution to prevent it from happening in the first place.
