While your roof has been designed to withstand the elements, weather can often be a destructive force, and intense storms can cause damage even to a newer roof. Damage caused by storms, even if small, could lead to worse damage over time as water damage and leaks could become increasingly worse with every subsequent storm you encounter. Read this article to learn about three ways your roof could be damaged by a storm, and what you should do when the weather has calmed.

Wind

Strong winds are often found accompanying severe storms, especially in the summer season. Wind during a storm can cause shingles to blow off a roof, and the missing shingles can easily lead to leaks and further interior damage. It is is also dangerous because not all wind damage is visible. Some types of damage could include damage to the adhesive seal that provides your roof with a water-shedding surface.

Some signs that your roof has been damaged by wind include:

• Missing Shingles
• Thin Horizontal lines where granules have been worn off, approximately 1-2 inches beneath the shingle above (this could indicate the shingle seal is broken)

Hail

Hailstorms can also cause significant damage to your roof, and are one of the most common forms of storm damage. If you notice damage to other property around your house such as dents in cars or other items in your yard, you should also have your roof checked for damage. Large hailstones can bruise shingles, causing indentations. These indentations may be hard to see, but could lead to cracks in the shingles. Over time, a cracked shingle will allow water to infiltrate causing water damage.

Signs that your roof has hail damage include:

• A distinct pattern of small, round divots in the edges of your shingles
• Indentations in the shingle where granules are missing
• A large pile of granules at the end of your downspout after the storm

Falling Debris

An especially strong storm could cause debris to land on your roof. Depending on their size, this debris could cause a serious problem. While small pieces of debris won’t cause damage, large tree branches or other debris could cause damage to the shingles, or even to the structure of the roof itself. Use your best judgement if you see debris has fallen on your roof that you believe is large enough to have caused damage, and have it professionally removed and your roof inspected to prevent any further damage or injury.

Signs of damage from falling debris:

• Missing or cracked shingles
• A large pile of granules at the end of your downspout

What to do if your Roof is damaged by a Storm?

You may need to file an insurance claim. Check what your home insurance covers as well as the warrantee on your shingles to determine what your next steps should be. Many shingle manufactures do include a wind or hail damage warrantee on their shingles, but coverage can differ. It is important to compare coverage when you are redoing your roof and choosing your shingles. There is a chance you may need to file a claim with the shingle manufacturer, rather than your insurance, if the shingles fall under warrantee.

Beware of “Storm Chasers” after your area has experienced a severe storm. You may find that contractors looking to repair your roof following a storm are contacting you. While they may appear to be offering a good value for the repair, ensure that you vet these contractors properly and choose a contractor that you trust will do a good job. Many inexperienced or opportunistic contractors may end up charging you for damage that isn’t there, or cause additional damage to the area they were meant to repair.

If you believe your roof needs repairs after storm damage, Turnbull Roofing can help. As your roofing experts in the Durham Region and surrounding areas, you can trust Turnbull Roofing to repair or replace your roof. Call us today at (905) 579-7663 for all of your roofing needs.