Storm Damage to Roof

How to Assess Storm Damage to Your Roof

Most roofs are designed and installed to be impervious to severe storm damage and weather. However, particularly strong winds, snow/ice/hail, falling debris, or drainage issues may cause extensive storm damage to roofs and associated systems.

Types of Roof Storm Damage

 

  • Wind damage: Following any particularly bad New England storm, we frequently see widespread cases of storm damage to roofs due to winds in our area, such as Arlington or Newton. Since wind does not adhere to a uniform path, it can pull and push your shingles in many different directions. Wind damage is unique as there are often no patterns to the damage which makes repair more tricky than wind sheer.
  • Hail/Snow/Ice damage:  Storm damage to your roof due to hail, snow, or ice is detrimental to the strength and function of shingles, metal flashing, and gutters. From hail-derived dimples to cracks, breaks, and leaks, these signs of storm damage must be investigated; otherwise, the storm damage to your roof may ultimately downgrade the overall lifespan on your roof.
  • Debris impact: Debris, like broken branches or even items from your yard, may result in broken shingles or, upon impact, may cause cracks in the roofing or damage to the metal flashing.
  • Drainage concerns: Issues with clogs or leaks may negatively impact anything from shingles to inside walls and rooms.

As a whole, severe weather can wreak havoc on Northeastern roofing systems and cause extensive and expensive storm damage as a result. After a storm is over, make sure you are identifying any worrisome issues before they become worse. The list below includes a few of the most egregious signs that a storm has negatively impacted your home.

Signs of Storm Damage to Roof

 

Sign #1. Damage to Shingles

High winds can cause storm damage to a roof in terms of how the shingles lay and adhere to your roof deck. When assessing storm damage to your roof, identify any problem areas with your shingles, such as broken shingles, detached shingles in your yard, or shingles that are curling, whether in the middle of your roof or along the edge. As the shingles are meant to shed water, lifted or curled shingles may allow water to enter the core of your roof if not addressed.

Sign #2. Downed Branches and Other Debris

From the ground, a stick or branch on your roof may not look like much. Since clearing these objects off of your roof is important for roof health in general, it is also a good time to check what is actually on your roof and look for any other cracks or storm damage that may have resulted from the falling debris. To conduct this evaluation, contact a roofing expert who can ease the post storm assessment process, as it often unsafe to climb onto your roof by yourself. An expert can aid in removing debris and identifying shingle issues before they become worse.

Sign #3. Hail, Ice, Snow, and Compromised Drainage 

Storm damage on your roof due to hail, snow, ice, or drainage issues can take several forms, most commonly cracked shingles, shingles that have lost their granules, negative impact on the underlayment and roof deck, leaks, or issues with metal flashing.

To assist in your evaluation of potential storm damage to your roof, use this helpful checklist to aid in your after storm roof assessment. This tool from Owens Corning, a leader in roofing products, will help refine your investigation of additional signs of storm damage to your roof and consider whether or not roof replacement due to storm damage may be necessary. After your initial post-storm assessment, contact a roofing professional as soon as possible to further review signs of storm damage to your roof. Our experts are standing by to address your concerns and support any next steps with your storm damage or roof replacement needs, so contact us today.

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