Your roof is your first line of defense against the elements when it comes to protecting your home. Wind damage to the roof is a strong and unpredictable force that can leave lasting damage if neglected.
Identifying wind damage to the roof early is an important part of maintaining your roof's structural integrity while also preventing damage that leads to expensive repairs. In this article, we’ll show you how to know if your roof has been damaged by high winds, and our advice on the best ways to take action.
What Is Wind Damage to Roofs?
Wind damage to a roof is damage caused to your roofing structure due to high winds or strong gusts damaging shingles, flashing, underlayment, and even the decking of the roof. Unlike hail or other storm-related damages, wind generally does not create visible dents or holes in the roofing material. Instead, the wind lifts, loosens, and tears away roofing material, causing more subtle but dangerous damage.
Knowing how wind damage to roof works can help you assess the state of your roof following a storm. Wind can then push air under the shingles, which can lift them and loosen their adhesive bond.
Common Indicators of Roof Wind Damage:
Missing or damaged shingles are the most apparent signs of wind damage to the roof. If you find shingles in your yard, this is an obvious sign of wind blowing the shingles off the roof. But missing shingles aren't the only indicator of wind damage. Wind can lift or crease shingles, too, contacting iRGO ROOFING for these signs can help you prevent further damage to your home.
Here’s how to identify the most common types of wind damage to roof:
Missing Shingles — The most apparent sign of wind damage to roof is missing shingles. Shingles in your yard is a strong piece of evidence that wind gusts have blown them off.
Lifted or Creased Shingles: Shingles can be lifted or creased by wind, as well. These types of damage may not be immediately visible because the shingles haven’t entirely blown off the roof. But lift or crease shingles and you impair their ability to maintain the roof’s watertight seal.
Curling Shingles: If shingles are curling at the edges or seem out of alignment, strong winds may have been able to bend or twist them. The adhesive bond between the shingles and the roof is starting to loosen, which is a bad sign.
How Wind Damages Roofs
Even though you can’t always physically see the damage from the ground, it’s important to understand wind damage to roof.
Shingles: As mentioned earlier, wind can pick up shingles and make them lose their adhesive bond. Shingles can also be blown off in their entirety if the wind is strong enough.
Flashing and Underlayment: Flashing is used to seal roof penetrations, such as chimneys, vents, and skylights. Torn or blown-off flashing allows water to seep under. Just as it protects the house from water damage, the underlayment — a secondary layer of defense under your shingles — may be compromised or displaced.
Roof Decking: If the winds are strong enough, they can also do damage to the roof’s decking, or the wood structure that is underneath of your shingles. This could create some significant points of vulnerability within your roof, leading to leaks or structural issues that can be very expensive to repair.
Why You Should Never Ignore Wind Damage to Roof
Failure to address wind damage to roof is an act that can lead to severe repercussions for your roof. Wind damage can quickly escalate although it may not seem significant. Small gaps and cracks can allow water to get in and cause leaks that can be very damaging to your ceiling, insulation, and walls. If not dealt with, this leads to mold, rot, and added structural issues.
“Putting off repairs can also impact whether you are able to file a claim with your insurance.” Insurers typically require a timeframe for damage to be reported after a storm. Wait too long and you may lose the right to file a claim, leaving you to pay for repairs out-of-pocket.
Our team of experts at iRGO ROOFING will do a free roof inspection which will allow you to know what action to take next contact us at (915) 777-1443.
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