Storm Damaged Roofs: What To Do Next?

When a storm strikes, it can be hard to tell if your roof sustained damage & but the signs are easy to look out for. Damaged shingles, nail pops, missing granules, and peeling paint around vents and skylights are all indications that repairs may be necessary. If you wait too long to address these issues, they can lead you to bigger headaches & like mold growth, roof rusting, or leaks in your ceiling.

Homeowners need to check for storm-damaged roofs before it becomes a problem. Roofs are an essential part of the home, providing protection from the harsh weather and covering up any other structural damages within the walls.

Signs Of Storm Damaged Roofs

Wind Damage

Missing Shingles: The first sign of roofing damage is missing shingles. Shingles are generally made from asphalt, and they can be damaged by hail, wind, or normal wear and tear. If you notice any missing shingles, it’s wise to have your roof inspected. This is especially important if you live in areas where tornadoes or hurricanes are common.

Broken Flashing: After every storm, we see hundreds of homes with flashings that have been ripped right off roofs. If you’ve got a flashing coming off your home, it’s best to have a professional inspect your property ASAP. Flashings are designed to keep water from the joints between your roof and exterior walls. They’re an essential part of any roof and should never be left exposed.

Loss of Granules: A weather-worn shingle will have thin horizontal lines, which indicate where the granules are wearing off. This will leave a small gap between the shingles below & and cause a flapping sound against the shingle above. This can be prevented by avoiding putting new shingles over old ones, as the seal will be broken after some time. Instead, replace all your shingles when you notice that they’re worn out.

Hail Damage

Dents: Hail can cause severe damage to your roof, so you should look out for hail damage on your home. Hail can cause indentations that are concave in shape and dents that are similar to small divots on the edges of the shingles. Hail can also damage the flashing — paying close attention to this part of your home will help you figure out if there has been any hail damage.

Loss of Granules: Missing granules or large piles of granules near your downspout. The missing granules are easy to explain away, but the large piles of granules are a sign of a more severe problem.

Steer Clear Off Falling Debris

When storms hit, natural debris often causes problems for homeowners. If your roof is damaged, it’s essential to take precautions. Debris can fall and cause cracks in your shingles. This can eventually lead to leaks. If you see debris on top of your roof after a storm, either check it yourself or call a professional to inspect the damage.

If you notice any signs of possible storm-damaged roofs, it is best to act as soon as possible. The longer you wait to check your roof, the longer you are putting yourself, your family, and your property at risk.

If you live in Illinois or a neighboring state, you’re probably aware of the damage hail can cause to structures. Hailstorms can break windows, damage the structure’s exterior, and, most significantly, destroy or damage the roof.

Specifically, if you have got a commercial building in the Midwest, you’re most likely to be in a hailstorm at some point, and when that happens, damages are prone to occur. But how can you be ready for all of it?

The best way to protect your building is by maintaining your commercial roofing system with scheduled repair and maintenance. At times, hail damage can be simply unavoidable. In those cases, it’s important to know how you can minimize the damage and get your roof repaired as quickly as possible.

 

Inspect your commercial roof

 

A post-hail inspection is crucial if your property has been affected by a storm. If you’re not prepared, severe storms can cause serious property damage and even affect your bottom line.

The damage from hailstorms can have long-lasting effects on your building. It can potentially lead to leaking ceilings, wall discoloration, or water dripping from hidden cracks and leaks, so inspection becomes essential.

 

Beware of long-term damage

 

Even if there is no visible leak, once a membrane is hit by hail, the impact causes the membrane to become weak. This damages insulation and shortens its life expectancy. The impacts on damaged insulation cause dents and separation of facers from their inside and affect the roof’s strength and ability to sustain for a long time.

 

What are the signs of roof hail damage?

 

Hail damage is not always easy to spot, but there are a few telltale signs that you can use to find this kind of damage.

Hail will often leave small dents and nicks on your roof that can look like coloring from a marker or paint pen. It also cracks your shingles or tiles that will look like lines. Other than the typical lines, you might expect other kinds of damage.

Hail smashes through your roof and damages the surfaces around it. You’ll also see tears or cracks in your roof membranes and granular surfacing.

Hail storms also cause damage that you might not notice right away. So check your AC unit and other metal contents like coping and flashings for dents. This could be a sign of significant hail damage that’s hard to spot at first.

If you notice these signs on your commercial roof, it needs to be repaired immediately before long-term problems arise.

 

When does hail damage mandate roof replacement?

 

When your commercial roof is damaged by hail, the first step is to determine if it needs to be replaced or repaired. The age and condition of the roof can affect how severe the damage is and how much it will cost to repair. Generally, replacing an older roof with a better one is more economical than repairing the existing one if it suffers heavy hail damage.

In the event of a hail storm or any other weather-related damage, Illinois residents can rely on their trusted roofing company, ROOF TIGER.

ROOF TIGER has helped many Illinois residents with their commercial roofing needs through storm damage. Whether the roof suffers from wind or hail damage, ROOF TIGER can help you get it back up and running smoothly. We will assist you with your insurance claims and provide you with free quotes for your roofing projects.