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How Can You Tell if Your Roof Has Been Damaged by a Storm?
When the outer layer of your roof – the shingles, tiles, shakes or blocks – are damaged, water can get in. If water seeps into your roofing materials, mold can grow. Leaks only become bigger with time.
Water damage is expensive to repair, but even worse, it can compromise your home’s structural integrity. Your roof may sag, you may see visible leaks inside your home, you may experience electrical problems in your house, and your drywall can begin to crumble.
What to Look for on a Residential Roof
Check out the signs that your roof has storm damage so you know when to call a professional for help:
- Missing, cracked or broken shingles
- Shingles on the ground near your home
- Water leaks inside your home
- Dented or damaged gutters
- Debris on your roof, including broken tree branches that are still attached to trees
- Exposed nails
What to Look for on a Flat Commercial Roof
These are some of the signs that your commercial roof has been damaged in a storm:
- Roofing materials have partially or completely blown off
- Insulation has detached or shifted
- Exposed fasteners
- Perimeter metals have lifted or creased
- Leaks inside the building
If you don’t see any damage from the ground after a storm, that’s a good sign. However, you should also check your gutters and downspouts. That’s the easiest place to check; it’s where you may find fragments of your shingles or evidence that large pieces of debris that have hit your roof.
A good rule of thumb: If you notice damage to your gutters, including minor dings and dents, the roof has almost certainly been affected by the storm, as well. You’ll also want to clean your gutters after a storm to prevent debris from causing a water back-up.
Check your siding and deck, as well. If those are damaged, there’s a good chance that your roof may have been damaged, too.
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How Hail Damage Can Compromise Your Roof’s Integrity
When it comes to hail, size matters. Small pieces of ice – typically those about an inch in diameter – can cause damage to a roof.
When hail is the size of a walnut (about 1.5 inches in diameter), it can cause severe roof damage and even dent wood. Hail the size of a golf ball, which is around 1.75 inches in diameter, can dent and knock off shingles, damage metal components on your roof and break glass in skylights.
Wind speed and direction can also play a role in how much damage hail does to a roof.
Hail can cause significant damage, but even minor damage can have long-term consequences. One small leak can cause major issues, including mold growth, wood rot and damaged drywall inside the home. Even issues that appear cosmetic – like granule loss on shingles – can be more serious than you think.
Granule Loss on Shingles
Granules on your shingles are your roof’s first line of defense. They help your roof shed water and protect the asphalt coating beneath. When the asphalt coating is exposed to the elements, your roof ages faster – and that means it won’t last as long. If you notice granules in your gutters or downspouts, you should have a professional inspect your roof, even if your roof hasn’t been damaged by a storm or hail.
Cracked, Broken or Missing Shingles
Shingles direct water off your roof and into gutters. When they’re cracked, broken or missing (or even curling up at the edges), water can’t flow off the roof properly. Shingles redirect water to protect the underlayment – the materials beneath them – that make your roof sturdy, weather-resistant and safe. Water can seep into the materials that make up your roof, leading to mold and other problems. You may even see visible water leaks in your attic or elsewhere in your home if your shingles are cracked, broken or blown off during a storm.
Exposed Roofing Materials
Impact from hail can shatter the surface coating on shingles, which makes it more likely to break away from the mat it’s attached to. If that happens, water can get in, and so can other unwelcome additions, such as pests.
If you suspect that your roof has been damaged by hail, the best thing you can do is get a free roof inspection from Brotherhood Roofing. Our team of professionals can check out every aspect of your roof – we know what to look for – and let you know how it’s holding up.
Do You Suspect Hail or Storm Damage to Your Roof?
The best thing to do after a storm is to have a professional come to your home for a free roof inspection. Your inspector will look at every inch of your roof, and, if necessary, check out your attic to look for signs of damage. Call us today to schedule your free roof inspection.