Roofing Contractor: Everything You Need To Know About Wind Damage
Did you know that wind can exceed 100 miles per hour in both thunderstorms and regular conditions? There are all kinds of different winds, and they don’t all come from tornados.
Homeowners find themselves baffled when what they think is ‘standard’ wind causes roof damage. But, the truth is that any wind has the ability to cause wind damage.
If you’re not sure how to detect wind damage on your roof, it’s time to learn. One day, you may need to know when to call your roofing contractors before your roof caves in.
How Wind Damage Happens
Many of us underestimate how powerful weather is. We may be stuck inside, but we can’t feel what’s happening outside.
Weather, especially wind, has the ability to cause a lot of storm damage. One of the last things we may be worried about is our roofs. Generally, homeowners can’t see roof damage, so they don’t think about it after the storm.
However, we should be wary of what wind can do. It’s a unique type of phenomenon that occurs via convection. And, it seems to be getting stronger.
The wind is a rush of air that moves from high-pressure areas to low-pressure areas. This movement can cause wind uplift and downdraft as well.
Wind causes a variety of air streams that move in varying directions with different strengths, speeds, and durations. Because of these variables, wind can be inconsistent and unpredictable.
Wind can be a soft breeze on a hot day, but it can also be associated with a hurricane or a tornado.
Some wind occurs without the presence of other weather. It may take on the draft of a mountain peak or swing into the dip of a valley. These places are at an increased risk for windy days that can lead to damage.
The thing that determines whether wind damage occurs to your roof is the magnitude of the wind itself.
What Wind Damage Looks Like
Wind damage on roofs has two categories: direct and indirect.
Direct wind damage occurs when the roof has missing, damaged, or misplaced materials. On the other hand, indirect wind damage occurs when damage to the roof occurs from debris that the wind knocks into the roof. Debris may include gravel, tree limbs, or any other object that the wind picked up along its course.
The potential for wind damage on your roof depends on what kind of roof you have and what damage may already exist. Cheaper roofs may incur damage more easily than high-quality roofs.
If you’re unsure what kind of roof you have, you should consider getting a free roof inspection from a certified roof inspector. We can help you determine the kind of roof you have while identifying any existing issues your roof may have.
The shape and slope of your roof system also affect how much damage wind can do. If your roof puts up a lot of angled resistance against the wind, there is a greater potential for storm damage as the wind moves against the slope of the roof.
In most cases, the shape of a resistant roof causes wind uplift that can destroy shingles and other roof parts. However, not putting up enough resistance can cause the entire roof to come off.
In either situation, you may need a complete roof replacement. This is a costly and timely procedure that involves replacing each part of the roof. Rather than worrying about replacement, you should make sure your roof is strong against the wind in the first place.
If you live in Maryland, you should try Owens Corning TrueDefinition Shingles. They’re wind resistant and made for homeowners in Maryland.
Signs of Wind Damage to Your Roof
Now that you know what wind is and how it causes damage, you should consider what some signs of wind damage are. We imagine that you don’t hang out on your roof often, but you may be able to see some signs from the outside or inside of your house.
Once you notice any of these, you should call your roofing company as soon as possible to assess and repair the damage.
Loose or Missing Shingles
Aging shingles don’t loosen themselves. The wind is the number one culprit for loose or missing shingles.
Roof shingles become brittle over time, which makes them weaker against windy weather. This is a part of the roof lifecycle, but it can become dangerous during serious weather.
If you notice that you have any loose or missing shingles, you should get this fixed as soon as possible. Your roof is a liability until this issue is resolved.
Peeling or Curling Shingles
Curling or peeling at the edges of your shingles is another common sign of wind damage. As the wind uplifts, the shingles of your roof can incur damage.
A certified roof inspector can see evidence of curling and peeling during an inspection. If you haven’t had a roof inspection in a while, you may need to get one before the next storm rolls through.
Existing damage can make your roof weaker before the next storm. So, you may be at risk of getting even more damage.
Granule Loss
The most common sign of roof damage comes in the form of granule loss. These granules come from an asphalt shingle roof, but the asphalt does not stick to the roof forever. This is especially true if your roof is starting to age.
Wind can blow the asphalt granules away if they aren’t sticking to the roof anymore.
Before large storms come through, you should get a roof assessment. A certified roof inspector can look at the extent of any bare parts of your roof. These bare spots are at a higher risk for wind damage.
If your roof inspector finds any of these, they may need to perform a quick roof repair to protect these areas before they incur wind.
Roof Leaks
A roof leak is one of the worst ways to find out that your roof has damage, but it’s an obvious sign that something’s wrong. One of the roof’s jobs is to have a water-tight seal. Without this, your home could flood during bad storms.
If you’ve found a roof leak inside or outside of your home, you should call your roofing company as soon as possible.
There’s no way to know how extensive the damage is without getting a licensed professional in there to look. Without intervention, these leaks will compromise other components of your home’s structure, which could be detrimental.
Chimney Issues
If you notice that your chimney looks a little different, this may be a sign of roof damage. Against a damaged roof, the chimney may look shaped or tilted differently.
The second you notice a change in your chimney, the issue has become critical. It’s time to get a roofing contractor out to your home as soon as possible. This is a sign of severe roofing issues that need resolution quickly before greater damage takes place.
What to Do When Your Roof Has Wind Damage
After your home has withstood a storm, you should call a roofing contractor as soon as possible. You should make the call to your roofing company before you try to contact an insurance claim specialist.
Insurance adjusters are more concerned with protecting the insurance company’s best interest. On the other hand, our team at American Choice Exteriors, the insurance claim specialists is more concerned with the integrity of your home.
We can advocate for you so you can get the best possible claim amount using all the code updates that Maryland requires.
The longer you wait to call us, the more potential damage can happen. Our team needs to get to work on the roof repair as soon as possible to prevent further damage from taking place.
As you’re waiting for your roofing company to arrive, you should go outside and assess the damage yourself (as soon as it’s safe to do so). You are the best person to report any changes to your home after the storm.
Your roofing contractor may be able to tell if there are problems with your roof and other areas of your property. But, they will not be able to determine whether this occurred during this specific storm.
As you walk around your property, take pictures to document any damage you find. Even the smallest details are important to note.
What Roofing Contractors Can Do to Help With Wind Damage
Unless you’re a trained roofing professional yourself, you need to hire a professional to deal with all of your roofing needs. You shouldn’t try to assess and fix your roof by yourself, especially if you’ve never done it before.
Let roofing contractors do their jobs. If you try to go it alone, you may run into several problems along the way.
Once you call your roofing contractor, they’ll head to your home and start going through their professional checklist. From assessment to treatment, your contractor can learn a lot about your roof. And, they have the training and expertise to get everything done safely.
Assess Your Roof
Roofing contractors have a variety of tools they can use to assess and diagnose roof damage. For example, they can use a wind velocity test to determine the speed and strength of the wind in your area.
A knowledgeable roofer will be able to determine any damage that your roof currently has. With this data, they can help you plan out the best roof repair plan.
Your contractor will be looking at big-picture ideas and small details. They may be able to find problems you didn’t know existed.
Maintain Home Value
Your roofing contractors should be able to maintain or improve your home’s value by repairing and improving your roof. The condition of your roof greatly affects the value of your home, and a poor roof can lead to a large decrease in home appraisal value.
Once you get your roof repaired, your home should have a value that is equivalent to or higher than its previous value. And, your home should cosmetically appear better, especially if you have extensive roof damage.
Your roofing professional should be able to conduct regular roof inspections to maintain your home’s value over time, too.
Handle Insurance Claims
As we briefly discussed, your roofing contractors have the ability to handle insurance claims. With the knowledge they have about the condition of your roof, they can help you get the most money you can from your insurance company.
Plus, your roofing contractors can help you fill out the necessary information on your insurance claim forms. The insurance company needs to know a lot of details, and your roofing team can help you fill those out.
And, they can help you apply the money that you get towards fixing your roof the right way.
Control Water Damage
If you get regular roof inspections, your professional roofer can find small problems before they turn into big ones. One of the most common problems they’ll be able to locate is water damage.
First, your roofer will be able to find small holes before they turn into large problems. Then, they can repair those small leaks immediately, preventing them from growing in size.
If these small leaks turn into big problems, your home may incur water damage, mold, mildew, breakdown, and more. The integrity of your entire home could be at stake!
With quick repairs and regular inspections, you don’t have to worry about these problems having the opportunity to develop.
Hire a Maryland Roofing Contractor Today
Whether you’ve already found wind damage on your roof or you’re looking to protect your roof against these problems, our roofing contractors at American Choice Exteriors can help.
From roof replacement and new shingles to roof repair and insurance claims, our team can do it all. When you’re ready to hire a Maryland roofing contractor, check out our services.
Our local team knows what the weather is like in your area. We can help you get the necessary protection you need to prevent storm damage.
