How do I know if my roof has storm damage?

When storms roll in, they leave roofs vulnerable to damage. While roof storm damage such as missing shingles is obvious, not all damage may be apparently. Some damage may remain hidden for months, revealing itself as leaks or other issues. After a storm, to determine if your roof has been damaged, look for the following signs.

Signs of storm damage to roof

• The condition of your shingles: While missing shingles are an obvious indication of storm damage, look at your shingles closely for signs of damage such as missing granules or divots caused by hail.
• Missing flashing: Check around vulnerable areas like the edges of the roof, chimneys, vents and skylights for missing or damaged flashing.
• Peeling or loose sealant: Check the edge of the roof and around vents, skylights, and chimneys for loose sealant.
• Water damage: Look in your attic or along the ceiling for water damage.

If your roof has been damaged by a storm and you need fast, effective storm damage roof repair in Dallas, TX, contact the professionals at Mullins General Construction. You can reach us at (972) 535-8065.

While storms can cause significant damage to your roof, another part of your home that can create problems is your foundation. If your foundation has shifted, it can harm your roof, walls, floors, or even the plumbing underneath it. If the plumbing under your foundation is damaged, it could leak and you’ll need professionals out for slab leak detection.

Roof damage from hail storm

While not all storms have hail, when hail does hit, it can be destructive. Hail can damage all kinds of personal property from cars to roofs, but in some cases, roof hail damage may not be obvious. Hail damage can vary from a few granules knocked away from your shingles, to holes punched through your roof.

The hail damage will show no discernible pattern. One area of the roof may have no damage at all, while another spot may be filled with divots and other damage. Hail damage is affected by everything from the wind speed and direction to the size and density of the hail, which can vary from pea size to larger than softballs.

The types of shingles you have will also affect the impact. Specially made impact resistant shingles will absorb the damage from even severe hail storms. Asphalt or composition shingles may have missing shingles or feel soft to the touch like a bruised apple where the hail struck it. You may also notice circular cracks in the shingles. Other areas of your roof are also vulnerable to hail, but the damage is usually much more visible. Gutters and flashing and other metal parts will usually have dents.

If a storm has passed through your area, one of the best ways to determine if roof storm damage is to have it inspected. Reliable roofing contractors like those at Mullins General Construction have the skills and training to recognize hail, wind or other storm damage.

What wind speed causes roof damage?

Storms are often accompanied by high winds, and in the North Texas area, high winds can roar in without any rain, thunder, or lightning.Roof storm damage is always possible, especially with high winds. Although most roofs get rated to withstand 90 mph winds, in some cases, 50 mph winds can begin to damage roofs. That’s because the winds rarely pass evenly over your roof. The edges, corners, and ridge line, tend to be the most vulnerable areas of the roof.

Winds can blow in under corners and cause shingles to curl or tear off, which can open your roof up to leaks. High winds are also capable of creating a suction effect that lifts shingles up, loosening nails and possibly breaking sealants. This can lead to leaks. Of course, even relatively mild winds can blow debris or tree branches against the roof, and can cause damage as severe as punctures.

Is wind damage to roof covered by insurance?

In most instances, your homeowners insurance will cover roof storm damage, including wind damage. This coverage often also covers damage caused by wind-driven rain or snow, and some policies will cover damage from fallen trees, if the tree fell because of a storm. Check with your insurance company to find out what damage is covered in your policy if you are unclear about it.

Will roof insurance fix a leaking roof?

When it comes to roof storm damage, one possible result is roof leaks. While individual policies vary, when storms cause a roof leak, your homeowners insurance will likely cover the repair. How much of the repair is covered will depend on if you meet your deductible and coverage limits. If your roof is leaking because of neglected maintenance, it is unlikely the insurance policy will cover the cost of repairs.

Storm damage to roof covered by insurance

Claiming storm damage on roof can be complicated. Much of the coverage will depend on individual policies. Roof storm damage caused by wind or hail and sometimes rain are usually covered,but the coverage may be affected by the age of your roof. If your roof is more than 10 years old, your insurance company may only offer coverage based on the depreciated value of your roof. To verify how your insurance company handles roof storm damage, you may want to call your insurer.

How do you know when a roof needs replacing?

If you have roof storm damage, depending upon the seriousness of the damage, it may be necessary to replace the roof. In general, however, whether damaged by a storm or just overall wear and tear, most roofs show common signs they need to be replaced.

The main determinant is age. If your roof is 20 years old or older, it’s probably significantly weathered and worn and ready to be replaced. Usually, you’ll begin to notice this most with the shingles. Having a few damaged shingles may just be a cause for repair, but as your shingles age,you may begin to see them cracking and curling, or you may begin to see bald spots on them as granules fall off.

You may notice moss growing on some areas of the roof, especially those that spend a large amount of time in the shade. This is usually a sign there is a significant amount of moisture under your shingles. Your roof may develop leaks or the decking and structure underneath be susceptible to rot and deterioration. This could cause enough damage over time that your roof would need to be replaced.

Call today

If you have roof storm damage in Dallas, TX, consider calling the professionals at Mullins General Construction. We offer a wide range of roof repair solutions, and can be contacted 24/7 for emergency roof repair. Call us today at (972) 535-8065 for fast, effective roof repair.