Local Roof Repair Contractor Ratings: Comprehensive Unveiling
December 5, 2024
What does wind damage look like on a roof ? Your roof can be damaged in a myriad of ways ranging from natural calamities to ecological events. However, unlike roof damage by thunderstorms usually accompanied by hail or rain, roof damage by wind can occur even in the absence of other weather events. Consequently, wind damage is among the most prevalent forms of roof damage, particularly at elevated altitudes. Below is a breakdown of wind damage, its effects on your home, and possible remedies.
What wind speed causes roof damage?
Altogether, the wind speed that your roof can withstand depends on the material used to build it and the roof’s age. Typically, older roofs are prone to wind damage as compared to newly constructed roofs.
Where Does Wind Damage Occur?
The wind’s impact on a roof is not consistent. The edges and corners of the roofing system are prone to greater wind loads compared to other parts of the roof. If the roofing material becomes somewhat loose, the wind will get underneath it and lift it. As a result, the wind gets more grip, subsequently causing a string of peeling damage. Damage of this kind may start small but increase with time due to extended exposure to wind.
When the underneath of the roof is uncovered, not only will rain enter, but the wind also has something to hold onto. You can prevent this form of wind damage by ensuring that the materials on your roofing edges are solid and in good shape to sustain strong winds.
Moreover, major wind incidents can also carry debris such as tree branches onto your roofing. Strong winds can blow debris onto your roof, damaging its surface. Assess what may have been blown onto or over the roof during a wind incident before examining the roof. You should also check whether there is any debris on your gutters as it can cause blockages which can become detrimental over time.
How do I Know if My Roof has Storm Damage?
Since there is no way to determine whether your roof would be damaged by wind, it is prudent to inspect your roof following storms or strong winds. It would help if you were on the lookout for signs of roof deterioration to prevent more costly replacements in the future. Below are a few indicators that a storm has damaged the roof:
Outdoor inspection
Examine the roof and the area surrounding it for missing or broken shingles. If the damage is limited to a specific area, repairs can solve the issue. However, roof replacement may be necessary if the damage is extensive.
Missing shingles
The absence of full shingles is among the most apparent signs of wind-damaged roofing. If you discover shingles in your backyard or around your residence, you ought to seek a professional to establish what else could lead to problems. Wind gusts can tear shingles off your roof, leaving it exposed.
Curling shingles
During the inspection, watch for curling shingles that wind can grip and start to strip the shingles. Shingles seal your roof by keeping water out, but it will result in water infiltration and a rapidly decaying roof if they get loose.
Damaged soffit or fascia
Soffit and fascia, like shingles, trap water out of the roof, eliminating the likelihood of leakage. Wind can create fractures, loose or twisted patches, or even wholly blow off the defective fascia.
Falling debris
Tree branches and other debris may topple on your roof during severe storms resulting in fractures in the shingles, which can inevitably cause leaks. Suppose you notice debris on your roof, contact experts to evaluate the extent of damage beneath the debris. To prevent similar issues in the future, ensure trees near your roof are trimmed.
Indoor indicators of leaks
Examining your interior spaces for roof damage can sound irrational; however, the signs may be presented on your walls. If you notice staining, damp patches, or flaking paint, your roof is most definitely leaking.
Chimney condition
If your chimney looks a little twisted, this should alert you of an issue with your roofing. Occasionally, you can discover absent spots of lashing, which destroys the flashing around the chimney allowing water to infiltrate.
Missing granules on your shingles
Similar to hail, wind can also result in granule loss. To determine the loss of granules, start by examining your gutters for granules as they tend to accumulate.
Can you Prevent Roof Wind Damage?
If you stay in a region prone to strong winds, you will continually worry about wind damage to your roof. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix for wind damage to your roof. You cannot halt the wind; however, you can reduce the damage to your roof. Here are tips that will protect your roof against damage by wind.
Regular inspections
Routine inspections can help detect broken, deteriorated, curled, or missing shingles, as well as water leaks and damage. Each of these problems will impair your roof and increase the likelihood of wind damage.
Landscaping
Pieces in your yard may not appear to be a threat to your roofing, but strong winds will send them spinning directly at your property. In the event of a strong wind, anything that is not pinned down can be blown to your roof. Furthermore, even bulky objects can become airborne during strong winds. Therefore, keep outdoor equipment off your yard when it is not being utilized.
Similarly, trees can be hazardous to your roof in diverse ways. During strong winds, trees planted near the house will brush against the roof and wreck shingles or have their branches collapsing on your roof. Trimming back the branches or having the troubling tree removed is the appropriate remedy.
Roofing material
Wind damage can be mitigated by upgrading the materials and structure of the roof. For instance, consider installing roof clips. They are steel clips intended to clamp rafters or trusses to the rafters. As a result, they counteract uplift forces caused by strong winds.
Furthermore, the simplest way to boost the efficiency of your roof is by choosing shingles that equal or surpass the wind intensity in your region. Several suppliers make shingles with the highest wind rating; therefore, you should have no difficulty locating them. In general, laminated shingles function exceptionally in strong wind zones as compared to other types of shingles.
You may also replace your ridge vent with a baffled model. Baffled vents are designed for hurricane-prone regions so that they could endure strong winds. These vents keep the rain out while also allowing air to circulate in, making them less vulnerable to being torn off the roof.
Moreover, installing windproof sheathing can help protect your roof even if your shingles are damaged. Therefore, investing a little more for proper underlayment is a wise choice.
Roof installation
For older roofs and roofs that had already been constructed at the time of purchasing your house, it is worth running a review to confirm that your roof is up to standard. Building standards evolve, particularly in the aftermath of extreme weather incidents such as tornadoes and hurricanes. Even though your roof was designed by a reputable specialist years ago, changes in the code suggest that you may be exposing your home to danger unless it is inspected.
Reinforce roof installations
Wind can smash items installed on or close to your roof, resulting in roof damage. Consider reinforcing your gutters routinely to counter the damages they might cause when loose. Gutters that droop or broken can break off the roof and ruin the eaves during windstorms. Therefore, you will need to mount more gutter clips to fasten your drains and downspouts to the board.
Other roof installations such as vents, HAVC systems, and utility posts attached to the roof can also be ripped off by strong winds if improperly secured. This will consequently cause shingle damage.
Therefore, on a routine inspection, ensure that all structures are securely fastened to the roof. Check for broken bolts, loose parts, or ongoing damage to get the issues repaired as soon as possible.
Focus on seals
A defective sealing is a significant risk factor for wind damage to roofs. It is vital to ensure that the seals along your roof’s edges are inspected and repaired routinely. Consider using roofing cement to deter wind from penetrating underneath shingles of your roofing and ripping them down.
Actions to Take after Wind Damage on Your Roof
Following any adverse weather incident, it is prudent to proceed with caution. Powerlines can be toppled from fallen trees in the wake of strong winds, and threats can be hidden in ruins. Here are steps you can follow after wind damage.
Assess the damage
After experiencing extreme wind, the first task is to determine its impact. Approximate damage estimates will assist you in negotiating your expectations with your insurance provider or consultant, avoiding unexpected charges or anomalies. However, not everything will be readily apparent.
Avoid additional damage
When it is time to begin repairing loss, commence with what you can repair directly. Sometimes, the wind may not have destroyed your house, and it can be repaired. If you can reasonably fix any of the damage, you can do so as soon as possible while seeking specialist restoration services for the other components.
Contact your insurance provider
Determine if the loss is significant enough to be covered by home insurance. It can be helpful to utilize the homeowner’s insurance because private contractors may get overburdened after natural disasters.
When necessary, contact a credible contractor
You must select a competent and skilled contractor to assist you in restoring your roof. Moreover, it is crucial to fix and correct the damage quickly to prevent more disruption and health hazards.
Insurance for Wind Roof Damage
The forms of roof damage compensated by your policies can vary depending on the terms of your insurance. A policy often protects against issues that occur unexpectedly or due to wind, fire, or hail incidents. Comprehending how your insurance covers you from wind damage is essential for adequately planning for the unforeseen. Therefore, you can understand what coverage caps to choose and what extra coverage opportunities you have for a broader net of insurance.
Insurance against partial damage
Wind roof damage can decrease the lifetime of your roof in a few situations. Although your roof is only partially damaged, your insurance can cover the expenses of replacing it entirely. The insurance is valid only if there is significant wind damage that substantially impacts your roof’s lifespan.
Matching coverage insurance
Matching policy requires the insurer to compensate for repairs or replacements of your damaged goods with products that match the existing undamaged materials. If the supplies used to repair the roof are not affordable, the insurance provider will be forced to replace the entire roof. For instance, if your roof’s asphalt shingles are no longer available, the insurer may need to replace the whole roof to guarantee matching materials.
Although numerous home insurance plans are structured on a replacement value basis, specific covers are set on an actual cash cost basis. When covering for roof loss, maintenance expense compensation is preferable because it does not consider the age of your roof, unlike real cash value insurance.
Final Word on What Does Wind Damage Look Like on a Roof
While many homeowners overlook the importance of roof maintenance and upkeep, it is among the most crucial aspects of a home. Instead of waiting until you have serious problems, have your roof monitored and regularly inspected by competent roof repair services. This can significantly help to remedy the effects of wind damage on your roof.
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