No matter the time of year, southeastern PA can be vulnerable to heavy winds and wind storms. Who hasn’t seen some trees that get uprooted after a storm? If wind is strong enough to knock down a tree, it makes sense that it would be able to damage our homes, right?
Even though Bucks, Chester and Montgomery County aren’t known for having high winds on a regular basis, roof wind damage can be a real issue whether in spring and summer thunderstorms or during winter snow storms.
When it comes to spotting roof wind damage, some damage signs are obvious, but some can be hidden. We have created the list below to help you determine what to look for when you access your roof.
Note: High winds and storms can make using a ladder unsafe even for professionals. Wait until the storm is over before climbing on your roof. Not comfortable with being on your roof? Let us do the dirty work. Call for a free roofing evaluation and one of our project consultants will be happy to evaluate your roof for any damage.
Wind Damage Sign 1: Missing Granules
Something that isn’t easily noticeable is missing granules on your shingles.
Have you ever gone up to clean your gutters and found little pebbles in them along with leaves? Those are the granules from your shingles. Beyond looking in your gutters, you can also try to look from distance at your roof. You might be able to see some patches (depending on how bad the damage is) where the granules are missing.
Wind Damage Sign 2: Raised Shingles/Nails
Raised shingles can be hard to spot, but can potentially be just as harmful to your roof as a missing shingle. Think of them like having an umbrella open on a windy day. If wind gets under a raised shingle, it can remove it entirely from your roof. It could also pull up other shingles in that area, creating a big spot for damage to happen.
As shingles come up, they can pull up the nails that hold them onto the roof. This can also loosen up other shingles, making the effected area even bigger than before. These openings are volunerable to water leaks, so it’s important to get them repaired right away.
Wind Damage Sign 3: Missing Shingles
This brings us to our next point. Missing shingles are a big indicator of wind damage on your roof. Sometimes you’ll find the shingle itself when walking around your home, or you’ll see that there is a dark spot on your roof when you’re looking at it from a distance.
Unfortunately, simply replacing the missing shingle won’t necessarily do the trick. There can still be gaps, holes, or mistakes. The best course of action is to always have an expert come to inspect your roof and gauge the next step to keep your home fully protected.
WInd Damage Sign 4: A Leaking Roof
While it may seem odd that wind damage can cause leaks, this is something to look out for. The wind can remove key structural components of your roof like the granules, which has long term effects. You may not notice wind damage until the next storm, when it appears as a leak.
Repairing Wind Damaged Shingles
Did you know that your homeowner’s insurance may be able to help with the cost of repairing or replacing wind damage on your roof? While regular roof damage with age is rarely covered, storm damage is often covered by certain insurances. Here are some tips to working with your insurance company for a storm damaged roof.
More information on handling storm damage.
Roof Wind Damage? Call The Pros
We hope that you found this list of potential signs of roof wind damage helpful! But keep in mind, while these are some simple ways to check on your roof, your best bet is to always call an expert to inspect anything that you think might be wrong. Your roof is supposed to protect your home, it’s not worth it to have a quick fix that will continue to get worse over time.
Visit our roofing services page to learn more, or give us a call at 610-539-6730.
Volpe Enterprises, Inc offers comprehensive roof repair services. We are some of the most experienced roofers in the country! Find out more at Roof Repair.
