Does My Roof Have Wind Damage?
Your roof is designed to resist the impact of heavy winds, but that doesn’t mean that there’s no damage after a significant storm. If the wind has been particularly aggressive, or if your roof is older or in need of repair, your roof, unfortunately, can fail. You should make sure that your roof doesn’t have wind damage before any more significant damage can occur.
Why Is Detecting Wind Damage Important?
Wind damage can exacerbate roof issues quite quickly. If you’re experiencing a storm season, for instance, even a minor amount of wind damage can become severe over time. Because of this, it’s important to assess wind damage periodically and make sure that your roof is still solid. If there is wind damage, your roof might start to leak. Water damage can cost thousands of dollars of damage to your home (and even structural problems) if left unaddressed.
Do You Have Missing Shingles?
The first and most obvious sign of wind damage is missing shingles. You should walk around your home after bad weather to inspect it, especially if you’ve seen fallen shingles around your property. You might not always be able to see all areas of your roof, in which case it’s better to either get up there with a ladder or pay a professional to do so. But if you have missing shingles, they need to be replaced quickly; otherwise, your roof will begin to leak.
Are Some of Your Shingles Curling or Broken?
This can be more difficult to spot than outright missing shingles. Your shingles could be curling up at the edges, which is a sign that they’re becoming detached. That also means that water may be able to run under them. If they’re broken, such as being cracked in half, they could also be permeated by water. But you may need to actually get onto your roof and inspect your shingles if you want to see this type of damage, as it may not be visible from the ground.
Do You See Shingle Pieces of Granules in Your Gutters?
A fast way to see whether you have experienced shingle damage is to take a look at your gutter. If you see granules of shingles or actual pieces of shingles in your gutters, it’s a sign that your shingles are getting worn down and may need to be replaced. A lot of granules means that your shingles have taken a beating. Even if they aren’t actually falling off, they might not be as well insulated or waterproofed as they once were.
Is Your Roof Leaking?
An obvious sign that your roof has experienced wind damage is a leaking roof. If your roof is leaking, something has gone wrong, and it has to be addressed right away. Water damage becomes significant quickly. Wood will swell and warp, ultimately making it so that you need to actually replace the rotten, broken wood before you can repair all the damage. And that also means that the water-logged areas of the roof will need to be removed and replaced.
Don’t know whether your roof is leaking yet? Take a look in your attic. You should always inspect your attic after any storms to see whether there may be some leaks or water damage. This will also show you the exact area of the roof that needs to be repaired.
How Do You Repair Wind Damage?
Most wind damage is just a matter of replacing and repairing shingles. The wind blows shingles off or causes them to curl and crack, which ultimately means that they can no longer do their job protecting your home. But other damage can be caused by things like branches flying across the top of your roof — this damage is more obvious and could require more substantial repairs. The best thing to do is to have your roof assessed.
Of course, if your roof is already 20 or 25 years old, it’s also possible that it’s nearing the end of its lifespan and needs to be replaced. Asphalt shingle roofs only last about 20 years. At that point, it can be cheaper to replace the roof entirely rather than continuously repair it as it gets damaged. If your roof has never been replaced before, it’s possible to install a shingled roof over your existing roof quickly.
So, does your roof have wind damage? It can be hard to tell if you aren’t a professional. Contact Money Roofing and Construction to get a professional assessment of your roof and a quote for your repairs.