Signs of Wind Damage on Your Roof
Wind damage is no joke, and if left untreated could result in a massive bill
No matter where you live, strong storms are likely to be an issue. When this happens, you need to make sure that your home is sufficiently protected. Wind damage can easily degrade or destroy your roof, and it happens all the time. If there happens to be some hail involved, the situation becomes even worse.
Thankfully, your roof is tough and can make it through most storms unscathed. When that one bad storm causes damage, you want to get on top of repairing it quickly to prevent future issues. Thankfully we offer emergency roof repair, if you need help immediately. If you don’t get immediate service you may end up needing a total roof replacement as well as water damage repairs inside the home. Below is a breakdown of wind damage, its effect on your home, and possible remedies.
What wind speed causes roof damage?
Wind exposure is an impending danger that all homeowners ought to be mindful of. Usually, shingle roofing is rated to withstand winds of up to 60 mph. However, if you reside in a hurricane prone area, you might be better served opting for metal roofing sheets as they can withstand winds of up to 150mph.
Wind does not necessarily need to be intense to cause roof damages. Relatively slower and weaker wind gusts can also lift shingles or tiles off your roof in a split second, opening your roof to other potential damages such as water or additional wind damages. Wind speeds of up to 70 mph are often the baseline for wind that might inflict roof damage. Nevertheless, occasionally a wind of 50 mph can do some damage to your roof.
Where does wind damage occur?
The damage caused by wind 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 over time due to extended exposure to wind.
When the underneath of a roof is uncovered, not only will rain enter, but the wind has something to hold onto. You can prevent this form of 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 in or on your gutters as it can cause blockages which can become detrimental over time.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY ROOF HAS WIND DAMAGE?
Thankfully, wind damage tends to be fairly obvious. After a storm, it’s a good idea to walk around your yard and look for shingles. When wind damage occurs, the shingles are almost always the first part of your home to be affected. If you find any loose shingles on the ground, it’s a good idea to have your property inspected by a roofing professional.
External Check
Whether you find any shingles or not, your next task should be to climb on the roof and inspect the damage. Depending on the design of the house this could be dangerous. Therefore you should make sure to observe all relevant precautions. If you don’t think you can do the job safely, get down from the ladder and call a professional. What’s worse….spending a little money or falling off the roof?
If you can inspect the roof yourself, pay particular attention to the edges of the roof. This includes the shingles near the edge, and also those at the top. As mentioned earlier, when a strong storm begins ripping pieces from your roof, the edges will be the first to go. This happens because the wind produces a suction effect around these edges.
It might be tempting to ignore the problem if you only have one or two shingles missing. This kind of thinking is not correct because of the way shingles work. Each one overlaps the other and helps to reinforce the other. Therefore when one of them is removed it weakens the shingle below. Over the course of several storms, this creates a chain reaction that can strip away large sections, exposing the roof (and your home) to water damage.
Internal Check
After doing the external survey you need to check inside the house as well. Check the ceilings in every room, looking for wetness, dripping, or discoloration. Bear in mind that some leaks can be very small, making them harder to spot, however, the discoloration will tell the tale in these cases. Keep in mind, when attic beams are involved the wetness or discoloration may not be at the exact site of the roof issue. Roof leaks can travel down the beams in your attic and discolor the ceiling far from where the leak is occurring. A professional roofer will be able to assess exactly where the roof needs to be repaired.
It is worth noting that interior damage is far more expensive and problematic than exterior damage. Research from various sources suggest that repair costs are dramatically increased once water breaches the interior of the home.
Curling Shingles
During your exterior inspection watch for curling shingles that the 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 and start to curl.
A Word about Fascia and Soffit
Fascia and soffit, trap water out of the roof, eliminating the likelihood of leakage. Fascia and soffit are fancy words for the side boards and eaves of your roof. Fascia are the long pieces that are attached directly under the roof and along the edges. Soffit are the small overhangs that connect your wall to the bottom of the roof. Whenever you have roof damage you need to inspect the connecting structures as well.
Falling Debris
Tree branches (specifically dead tree branches) and other debris may topple on your roof during severe storms resulting in fractures in the shingles, which can inevitably cause leaks. If 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.
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.
Stone Grit in Downspouts and Roof Valleys
Heavy winds and rain can wash the stone grit away from asphalt shingles making them less durable. You’ll see dark bands running along your roof or black patches where the tar has been exposed.
Missing Granules on Your Shingles
Similar to hail, damage caused by wind may 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?
Unfortunately there is no quick fix for wind damaging to your roof. You cannot halt the wind; however, you might be able to reduce the damage to your roof. Here are some 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 conditions will undermine 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 home, damaging your roof. In the event of 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 furniture and equipment secured when not being utilized, particularly when you are expecting a big storm in the area.
Similarly, trees can be hazardous to your roof in diverse ways. During strong winds, trees planted near the house can brush against the roof and wreck shingles or have their branches collapsing on your roof. Trimming back the branches or removing the troubling tree is the appropriate remedy.
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 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 installations such as vents, HVAC systems, solar panels, satellite dishes, or utility posts attached to the roof can also be ripped off by strong winds if improperly secured. This can 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 the shingles of your roofing and ripping them up; this simple task will not only protect your roof, but also prevent water damage inside your home.Lowcountry roof repair specializes in servicing roofs in the Lowcountry. If your roof suffering from any of these ailments, get in touch and see what we can do for you!
Most of the time your shingles can shrug off fairly intense wind without any trouble. Eventually, the weather is going to win and the roof will need attention. If you want to give your roof the best attention available contact Lowcountry Roof Repairs at (843) 258-2716. We’ll get an expert out to see your roof (24/7) and provide you with repairs that restore not only your roof, but your peace of mind as well.
