Introduction
The roof is an essential part of the house and protects the valuable belongings present in the house from the severe weather. Roofs are designed by keeping the weather conditions in mind but during a severe storm, your house roof can be damaged by hail, wind, and debris. The damage can’t be seen easily. It is important for the homeowner to check the roof to see the damage. You should repair roof damage after a storm, and fix the problem soon to avoid problems. If the problems are not treated on time, then you might have to face bigger structural damages.
Recently experienced a storm? If yes, then it is the right time to inspect your roof and look for signs of damage. In case of severe weather, you might see your neighbor repairing their roofs, speaking to an insurance adjuster, or asking about professional roofing contractors. It is good for a homeowner to learn how to spot the damage so that proper action can be taken to protect the roof.
Have a question in your mind, how to identify roof damage? Below are the seven tips to guide you properly:
1-Be Safe and Evaluate Storm Damage
Before you are going to inspect the exterior of your house to analyze the damage ensure that the storm has passed away and it is safe to go outside. If you see any broken power lines on the ground, flooding, or any other electrical hazard, then it is best to keep away from the area and call relevant local authorities.
Even if the area is clear, still be aware of the potential hazards especially on or near your roof. It is one of the most dangerous places after storm damage. There might be some structural damages that you can’t see with your eyes. It is recommended to check if there are any fallen tree, loose or broken shingles, heavy debris, and ice dams in case of a winter storm.
A) How to Check the Severity of Roof Damages?
Damages will be there for sure after the storm. Most of the homeowner tries to ignore the fact that there is no need to do a roof inspection after the storm. But it is compulsory to do an inspection to find out the storm damage on the roof. Once you will identify the damages, then you can decide whether to call professionals for the roof inspection or just do the temporary repairs.
B) Ponding (For Flat-Roof Homes)
Note that the heavy and long rainstorms can lead to the formation of water ponds in uneven areas of the flat roof. If proper care is not taken, then these pools will consistently put stress on synthetic materials. Due to this, tearing and leaks will occur. Furthermore, the ponded water present on the roof will lead to rusting which is also the reason behind the leaks.
C) Check Signs of Roof Damage from Hail
Hail damage can badly affect your roof but its identification is very easy. A person can clearly listen to the hitting of hail on their roofs and windows. We can see the pellets of ice gathered on our ground. Hailing can dent your siding or can even break your windows, so hail damage roof inspection should be done properly. It can also dent your roof and can tear down your shingles.
Following are the hail storm damage repair that needs to be done for your house’s roof:
i: Missing Shingles
Check for the gaps present in the pattern or pieces of the exposed roof. There is a possibility that you might see shingles lying on the ground near your house.
ii: Damaged Shingles
Check for shingles on your roof that are curled, buckling, dented, or cracked.
iii: A build-up in Gutters and Downspouts
Gutters and downspouts might have collected loose asphalt granules.
D) Bruising
Hailstorms will develop bruises on all types of roofing material. These bruises can be compared with the soft areas of fruit skins. Remember that if any part of your roof feels softer than the other part, mark that area with chalk for highlighting the area of damage.
E) Cracking
There is a great possibility that roofing materials will be cracked due to the heavy-hitting hailstones. Cracks present on the asphalt, metals, shingles, tar, or on gravel roofs need temporary storm damage roof repairs until the proper roofing inspection is performed by the experienced roofing contractor.
2-Inspect Roof for Wind Damage
Wind damage on the roof can’t be ignored! The high wind speeds are having the ability to knock down trees, damaged roofs, and shatter windows. If the shingles are blown away, then the roof deck or underlayment is left exposed. This condition will leave your house at risk of water damage
In case of heavy windstorm, it is better to check the following exterior element of your house:
(i) Damage caused according to your roof type:
- All Shingle Roofs will be having damage that includes missing, cracked or curling shingles
- In the case of composition Shingles, there will be granules buildup in gutters
- For the wood shingles or shakes, there will be a problem of rotting and mold
- If you are having a flat roof, then there is a possibility of cracks, tears, or surface bubbles/wrinkles
(ii) Damage caused to roof support or accents (how to repair roof damage)
- There will be chances of tears or buckling in your roof flashing.
- Might be the possibility of loose or crumbling cement
- Homeowner might see the problem of rot, rust, missing, and dented sections in gutters and downspouts.
- Possibility of loose or crumbling brick in case of chimneys.
3) Inspect Water Damage on Roof
The next important thing to check after the storm is the water damage on your roof. Missing or broken shingles due to the hail and wind damage can be easily identified, but the effects of water damage might take more time for the detection. If water damage is not treated properly, then leaks will lead to mold that will affect your home’s structure and foundation. It is better to call professionals for water damage roof repair.
Below are the important places to check for the signs of flooding, leakage, and general storm damage:
A) Gutters
If the water is not being redirected well inside the gutters, then it will pool next to your home and mold will be developed. This will ultimately damage the structure.
B) Ceilings
Inspect water spots. There will be yellow, copper, or brown discoloration.
C) Walls
Look out for the signs of cracking, peeling, or bubbling in the paint or wallpaper.
D) Inspect your basement, attic, and crawl spaces
Do check these places for mold, wood rot, and leaks. This can be identified due to the musty smell that will occur after 24 to 48 hours after a storm.
E) Flooring
There might be gaps or curling floorboards and sagging wood that feels very soft to the touch. There is a chance of expansion in wood and laminate floors. For your information, expansion happens when the materials become waterlogged.
F) Roof
There will be cracked, curled, or missing shingles.
G) Windows
Do check the moisture buildup (fog) between the glass panes.
4-Problems Due to Roof Damages
Storm, water, and hail damage will affect your roof’s durability. There will be damages that need to be fixed on time to maintain the structural ability of your roof. Once the roof structural ability is compromised, then there will be the following drawbacks:
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Reduced Durability
Heavy, windy rainstorms and hailstorms cause bruises and cracking. This easily reduces the durability of any roof. The next storm will cause structural damage and a severe leakage issue in a house.
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Short Roof Lifespan
Due to the reduced durability, the roof will be having a short lifespan. Roofing materials like asphalt shingles, rubber roofs, and other materials estimated service length will be reduced by about 30-50% permanent repairs. This will reduce the roof life up to 5-10 years.
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Low Property Value
Holes, cracks, and bruises can be easily seen from the pavement if proper repair is not done after the storm damage. Remember that if you are having any plans to sell your property, then the damaged roof will affect the overall look of your house and it will lower your property value.
To get the repair done on time, homeowners should contact professionals without wasting any further time. Remember that if your roof is having severe damage, then the roof might not be able to stay in its place in the next storm. To get an instant repair for your house’s roof, contact Corey & Corey for hiring professional roofers on Cape Cod. The experts will ensure that your roof remains intact even in storm conditions. They will do proper installation and replacement of all the damaged parts.
5- Repair Roof Damage After Storm
For proper roof repairs, homeowners should hire professionals who can take a closer look at the roof damages. Repairs or replacements done by the professionals is essential for avoiding further damages to extend the life of a roof.
Some of the important roof repairs that need to be done after the storm damage are as follows:
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Shingle Repairs
The first repair on the list is the shingle spot repairs. This will be done by replacing damaged and missing shingles. The addition of materials will be blocking the leaks and any penetration. Professionals will be replacing all the broken and missing shingles.
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Water Removal
Water accumulation is another problem that needs to be addressed. Homeowners before the arrival of professionals can use a hand or motor-driven siphon for removing the excess water in the form of ponds on flat roofs or clogged on drains and gutters. If the water is not removed, then this causes severe damage due to the weight of water and this can lead to expensive repairs. Once the professionals will reach they will inspect the root cause of water leakage will use effective ways to stop the leakage issue and will remove all remaining water.
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Sealing and Boarding Leaks
If the recent rain or hailstorm have created openings through crawl spaces or any other areas of the home, then wooden planks sealed with the help of exterior tarpaulin will assist in improving the house’s insulation This will also keep out the unwanted small animals and eliminate the chances of moisture build-up in these areas. Professionals will identify all the leaks or openings and will fix them soon to avoid the problems.
6- Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you are aware of all the damage, then you should contact your insurance company to get your claim. Before you contact your insurance company, do the following:
- It is important to document all the damages. Take detailed notes, take photos of the damaged interior and exterior area. These documentations will help you to submit your insurance claim.
- Cover the windows that are having shattered or jagged glass. Next, don’t go to the area that is having the potential of danger.
- Report all the damages to your insurance company as soon as possible because there is a specific time to file the claim after the damage. Contact your insurance company by phone and via email.
- Make an appointment with an insurance adjuster. The insurance adjuster will visit your property to assess the damage.
7) Contact Professional Roofing Contractor
Once you know about all the damages and have got your insurance claim, now it’s time to contact expert roofing contractors. The professionals will do all the repairs. They will do the replacement of all the broken things if needed. They will carefully inspect all the things so that the client can be satisfied with the work done and there are no more roof damages present in your roof.
Get The Best Roof Installation Service in Cape Cod
This was detailed information about the things that a homeowner should do to repair roof damage after a storm. A proper inspection by the expert and timely repair will help you to save your money by avoiding costly structural damage repair.
For on-time roof installation and repair by the experts, call 508-775-8240.
