Roof damage is the ultimate thing you wish never to have thought about, and neither checks to pull up the hidden damages. We are mainly happy to see the clouds part and the sunshine through after a week of storms. But remember that the storms can have caused quite a significant bit of damage to your roof, either from high winds or hail. So, in our post today, we will check out the wind damage, roof repair services, and more!
The roof may have loose shingles or missing asphalt spots or may even have bang-ups. Always call in the professionals for roof repair services if the roof is old and you suspect it has sustained a few issues. These pros check for all possible signs of damages that an insurance company would need to cover the cost of a new roof.
Damage to your home caused by wind
It may be surprising to homeowners when they hear that wind has caused significant damage to their homes. High wind speeds can become dangerous, damaging your property and its surrounding areas. The wind itself can result in structural damage to your home, although these damages are what we picture after a massive storm.
Shingles can become loose and fall off when higher winds hit the roof. Even the new and secure shingles can get ripped off if the wind speeds are very high. There are even other wind damages to the roof that include damages caused by falling objects and debris such as the down power lines and tree branches.
Wind Damaged Roofs
Roofs are extremely prone to wind damage in regions since higher wind speeds do not uniformly hit the roof. Instead, winds tend to cause significant damage to the roof's edges and even on areas where it is already loose.
Even the loosened parts of the roofs become easy targets as the winds can easily break up the loose shingles, which causes a chain reaction. Roofs are mainly damaged by falling debris and objects too. However, after being subjected to wind damage for a long time, your roof can start leaking or even rotting due to exposure to water.
Which roofs are the best for higher wind speeds?
The decking under the shingles has to be sturdy and strong, and your fasteners should be of higher quality if you wish for the best roof for higher wind speeds. The workmanship is also essential as a few metal roofing can even withstand wind speeds of more than 150 mph wind speeds.
4 Different Types of Storm Damage
The following are four varied types of damage that are mainly caused by storms and higher winds and how you should handle them:
- Wind Damage: Even when a storm has no hail or rain, your roof can sustain significant damage. The stronger winds can also create some stress points on your roof and, over time, can weaken when it is compromised. Check out for the damaged and missing shingles on your roof and even around your property. An instant roofing project undertaking can address this issue if this kind of damage covers less than 30% of the entire roof.
- Hail Damage: For a home, any type of hail storm can create long-term issues. Always check out for the shingles or the bits of roofing that go missing out. Leaks, water damage, and even rotting may happen with penetration of the asphalt shingles or even the wooden shake. Always ensure to assess these damages with the help of a qualified roofing contractor after a heavy storm. They will be inspecting your roof along with identifying the main issues.
- Water Damage: Water intrusion will penetrate down to the property's foundation, and it comprises the house's structural integrity, posing a serious fire threat that results in mold. You will have to address water damage without any kind of delay. Therefore, hire a licensed roofing contractor to get the repairs done for the damages and make your home leak-proof.
- Impact Damage: You can never notice any type of impact damage. It causes latent damages that, over time, result in premature aging of the shingles. Even latent damages may not be visible till months or even in later years that become quite hard to assess. An entire roof replacement is the one that is recommended most of the time to address this kind of damage. A partial replacement of the only damaged plane may also be possible if the damage is only done on a single plane of the roof.
How to identify wind damage on your roof?
You can call in the professionals if you have recently witnessed a wind of 45 mph or even higher. These professionals will head outside and inspect your roof for a few common signs of roof damage. Loose or missing shingles, curling or peeling shingles, damaged soffit, fascia or indoor leaks, and granule loss. Higher wind speeds may also cause the tree branches to fall and cause roof damage.
- Spots of Granules Missing from your Shingles: Wind can also cause the loss of granules like the part of the shingle-like sandpaper or hail. We can inspect the initial place to determine whether you have missing granules or not by checking the gutters and looking for the granules, as this is where it appears to start piling up.
- Edge of Roof Curling from Peeling Shingles: The rims and other pressure points present on the roof are more likely to be sustaining damage from the wind. The professionals will check for the curling shingles that the wind took hold of and start peeling off the shingles quickly. Shingles are left out of water; therefore, if they loosen up, it would lead to significant water damage that would rapidly deteriorate the roof.
- Entire Shingles Missing from the Roof: The loss of the whole shingles is considered one of the easiest ways to inform that you have a wind-damaged roof. You will surely need to have a professional come out and look at the possibilities for the trouble if you find that the shingles are around your yard or your house. The strong winds can entirely rip apart the shingle from your roof, leaving it prone to further damage.
- Cracks or Tears in a Flat, Rubber Roof: We will always look for missing pieces or even tears in the components if you have a flat roof. Wind can easily lift the material ripping it off, and leaving it with bubbles that can hurt the integral coverings and cause significant damage.
- Damaged Soffit or Fascia: Soffit, fascia, and even shingles can keep off the water from your roof, which reduces the chances of causing a leakage. Soffit and fascia can open up your home, making it prone to water damage and strays critters sneaking in when damaged. Cracks, loose or bent areas, and even the blow of loose fascia happen completely due to the wind.
- Chimneys: Did you check your chimney recently? Is it crooked? It should be tipping you off to further issues down the lane. At times, we can find the missing lashing spots that break down the sealing around the chimney, allowing in the water.
- Leaks and indoor signs of roof damage: It may appear quite counterintuitive to head inside your home and check for roof damage; however, the signs may show off on the walls. There is always a good chance your roof is leaking if you find discoloration, peeling paint, or wet spots.
How to Repair a Wind-Damaged Roof
Roof damage is caused by wind that is repaired completely. The extent of the repair will greatly depend on the damage, ranging from the shingle replacement to a new roof. Schedule a property evaluation right away if you notice damage to your roof since the damages will only become worse the longer you have your home exposed to it.
Filing an Insurance Claim for Roof Damage Caused by Wind
The professionals often come across people asking whether roof damage is caused by the wind or some other weather-related facets that the homeowner may believe are covered under their insurance.
The outbreak of a storm that pummelled your roof with rain, hail, and wind is unfortunate and inevitable. These are the dangers that mainly depend on your property location, but for most of us, a storm or two can sweep over our homes at one point or the other. It is where having insurance proves to be efficient. Insurance, however, pays for some kind of damages that falls upon your home, but how will a filing impact your insurance policy?
How Does Filing A Claim Work?
For instance, you are grilling in your backyard while your wife is sitting on the patio going over a book or sipping a cup of coffee. Your kids are playing around the backyard in the grass. Life may appear good. You suddenly look over your shoulder to find that a tornado is busy ripping off the shingles from your roof or maybe something more disastrous like a twister. Filing for a claim to meet the damage is the initial step in getting your roof fixed.
You can contact your insurer to start the process and record your losses. Soon an assessor is sent to your property to assess the extent of the damage and report it. If everything goes smoothly, then the insurance company will help you cover a massive cost after the deductible is paid off, along with a professional team who can start with the repairs.
Selecting Roof Replacement Services after Storm Damage
Hiring a professional roofer for wind damage roof repair is initially the most vital part of filing a claim. Your insurance policy will only be covering a minimal amount, and it can be pretty tempting to select the cheap option. However, it is important to research to locate a high-quality service provider.
The team will be entirely responsible for repairing your roof, and they should be reputable and qualified to offer your home the best repair option. The roofers whom you hire should be the best fit for your home, and there are a few great options available at your disposal.
Closing Thoughts
It is a frustrating endeavor to deal with storm damage; however, taking significant measures to deal with the issue will make the process seamless. It is also vital to understand the way filing for a claim will impact your insurance policy and the requisite steps for preparing for it.