Storms can wreak havoc on your roof, and you might not even notice before it gets too bad. Having a guide can help you know the sign of roof damage to look for, enabling you to take action right away. That is what we will cover today; what will help you detect roof damage from the storm, allowing you to repair it and preventing severe damage.
Detecting Roof Damage
You first need to ensure that the storm has passed before checking for damage. Doing it with the risk of a storm puts you in danger. Other things, such as electrical hazards and fallen power lines, could be dangerous. Call the authorities to fix this if you see any potential hazards.
You should still be careful when inspecting your roof, even when it seems like everything is okay. There could be structural issues that you cannot see yet that put you in danger. Ensure there is no heavy debris, ice dams, or broken or loose shingles on or around the roof.
Wind Damage
Strong and high-speed winds can damage your roof. They can blow away the shingles, exposing the rest of the roof to the elements and risking further damage. Some of the things you should look out for when doing your roof inspection include:
For roof accents or support, check for:
- Broken or loose chimney bricks
- Crumbling or loose roofing cement
- Rotting, rusted, dented, or missing gutters, siding, and downspouts
- Buckling or torn roof flashing
Depending on the type of roof, check for:
- Signs of rotting or mold on wood shingles
- Missing, busted, or curling shingles on all shingle roofs
- Surface wrinkles, tears, or cracks on flat roofs
- Buildup of granules in gutters for composition shingles
Water Damage
It can be hard to detect the toll water damage had on your roof. The damage can take more time to show itself, which can affect the structure and foundation of your roof. Checking the places below can help you check for the areas that are most affected by leakage, flooding, or other forms of storm damage:
- Look for fog or moisture buildup in the glass panes in the windows
- Cracked or curled roofs; also check for missing shingles
- Look for discoloration or water spots on the ceiling
- Curling floorboards, gaps, sagging, or expanding wood can indicate damage to the flooring.
- Inspect your gutters for water buildup that accumulates because of poor drainage. This can lead to mold formation and compromise the gutter’s structure.
- Don’t forget to check any crawl spaces for damage. Do the check for the basement and attic as well. These areas can have wood rot, mold, and leaks which can present themselves as a dank, musty smell.
- Inspect your walls for signs of peeling, cracking, or bubbling wallpaper or paint.
Hail Damage
This is the easiest to detect, as you can both hear and see the hail pellets. They can cause dents on the siding or shatter windows and tear shingles. Some of the hail damage you might notice includes missing or damaged shingles. Inspect the shingles for any gaps, buckling, cracking, curling, or denting that could be from the hail pellets.
You should also check for any buildup in the downspouts and gutters as well as dented, missing, or hanging downspouts.
Repairing Roof Damage
Your next step after detecting any roof leaks or roof damage is to get a roof repair. Contact your roofing contractor to come to fix the problems as soon as possible. Ensure you reach out to your insurance company to cover the costs.
Work with a professional roofing contractor to ensure you get the best roof repair. The contractor will do a roof inspection to determine the areas that need fixing, give you a quote, and proceed to fix the roof. Doing this as early as you can will save your roof and prevent further damage.
Contact Absolute Roofing for Your Roof Inspection and Repair
Do not let water or storm damage ruin your roof. Contact us at Absolute Roofing to handle your roof’s needs. We do commercial roofing, roof replacement, roof maintenance, and other roof repair services you might need. Contact us today or schedule a free roof inspection to know what your roof needs.