Roof Wind Damage: A Guide For Homeowners
Do you have roof wind damage? It’s unfortunate but it does occur. Here is a helpful guide to follow.
Your roof is what stands between you and the elements, so of course, it’s going to take a lot from the weather. One of the most common ways it gets damaged is from high winds. What does the wind do to your roof, and can you avoid roof wind damage?
Here’s your guide to help you minimize the wind’s effects.
How Strong Do Winds Need To Be For Roof Damage?
Firstly, it’s a good idea to understand just how strong the winds need to be before they start damaging your roof. What you’ll find is that they do need to be fairly high before your roof starts seeing the effects. At 45 mph or below, you shouldn’t see any damage to your roof. It’s a strong wind, and it will impede you if you try to walk through it, but your roof should hold strong. Even though you can hear the wind outside, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.
However, once winds hit around 55 mph and above, that’s where you’ll start seeing structural damage. If you have a shingled roof, the shingles can start to lift off at this speed. When winds get faster, the damage to your roof will mostly come from debris hitting it. For example, loose branches from trees can come off and hit your roof, causing damage.
What Damage Can You Expect From High Winds?
Once a storm has passed, you can inspect your roof if it’s safe to do so. You’ll need to check for any downed power lines or loose items on your property that would make inspection unsafe. Look for the following, as the sooner you catch the damage, the sooner it can be repaired.
Missing shingles:
This will be common if you’ve had severe winds and have an asphalt shingle roof. If they’ve been lifted off, then they’re leaving gaps in your roof that water can get through. That can lead to leaks over time, so have the shingles replaced ASAP.
Lifting or curling shingles:
The shingles may not be missing, but they can take damage during a storm. Most commonly, they can start lifting up or start to curl. Either way, they won’t be protecting your roof anymore, so you’ll need to replace these, too.
Leaks:
If there was rain during the storm, take a look for any leaks in your home. These can show up in a variety of different ways. For example, you may see water stains on the ceiling, or water dripping from wet spots. Get into your attic and check for wet spots, as that shows that there’s some damage to the structure of the roof.
Damaged gutters:
This is something that should be easy to spot from the ground. High winds can pull gutters away from the building, That will, of course, let water run down the roof and the sides of the building, which can lead to water damage.
Even if the gutters themselves aren’t damaged, you’ll want to take a look at them. If there’s a large number of granules in them, that’s another sign that the roof is at risk of leaks and further damage. If you do see this, you’ll need to get help as soon as possible.
Damaged flashing:
Flashing is what protects the joins in your roof, but it can take damage in strong winds. This is especially true around the chimney, which is a high-stress point during high winds. Look for flashing that has separated or started to crack. It won’t be able to protect your roof if another storm comes through, so it needs to be replaced.
What To Do If You’ve Had High Winds
What should you do when you’ve had a storm come through your area? It’s important that you check your roof as soon as you can while still being safe. Firstly, go out and check the area is safe, as described above. Inspect the roof from outside, on the ground. You can pick up on most damage this way. While you’re outside, pick up any debris you find.
Go inside, and look for any signs of water damage. If you do find signs, take photos of them. Then, call on professional roofers to take care of it for you. The sooner you do this, the better.
How To Minimize Roof Wind Damage
If you do get regular storms, you’ll want to minimize the roof wind damage during them. There are some steps you can take to ensure that these storms won’t cause overt amounts of roof wind damage:
Select your roofing material carefully:
If you’re having your roof replaced, think about the material you use. Asphalt shingles are great because they’re a budget friendly option, but they’re not great when pitted against the wind.
Instead, you can pick a material such as metal roofing. These are installed in large sheets, so there’s less place for the wind to get under them and cause damage. You can have metal roofs that are made to look like tiled roofs, too. They have a lot of other benefits, so it’s something to consider.
Remove and trim trees:
Trees can do a whole lot of damage when there are high winds. If the storm is severe enough, the wind can still blow tree branches onto your roof, but you can still minimize the damage. Remove any trees close to your home, and trim back branches. If you’re removing the loose branches before a storm, there should be less that blows onto the roof.
Protect your gutters:
Finally, it’s a very good idea to protect your gutters from storm debris. It can build up and cause blockages, leading to overflowing water and ice dams in the winter. You can insert gutter guards onto the gutters, which will stop the debris in its tracks.
Conclusion
With this guide, you’re now ready to protect your roof against high winds. Choose the right materials, and correct any damage to your roof as soon as you see it. If you’re prepared, roof wind damage can be kept to a minimum.