How Do I Know if My Roof Has Storm Damage?

The purpose of your roof system is to protect you from the outside elements, especially when it comes to extreme weather. However, as it protects you, it also experiences damage. Determining how serious the damage is and following up with proper precautions can help you avoid costly storm damage repairs or replacement down the road. In this blog, we discuss how to tell if your roof has been damaged by a storm.

As a homeowner, one of the first things you should do after a storm passes is check on the health of your roof. It’s best to do this from the ground level—leave the ladder climbing to a professional. Observing from the ground should still provide adequate details on the condition of your roof. Sometimes the damage is easy to spot, like missing shingles, broken gutters, or even holes caused by fallen debris. At the same time, some signs of damage can be a little more difficult to spot. If you suspect something is wrong with your roof, get in touch with a roofing company like New Image Roofing to perform a free roof storm damage inspection. Without further ado, here are some signs to look out for when you assess your roof.

Normal rain isn’t usually enough to cause serious damage, but hail is a different story. Hail damage is one of the more difficult types of disturbances to identify. You may notice certain things like dark spots where roofing granules have been knocked off. This can be problematic as it can lead to the development of more advanced issues like cracks and leaks. Other signs of hail damage include:

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  Missing or hail damaged shingles: If the impact is hard enough, shingles could be dented or knocked off the roof entirely.
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  Clogged or broken gutters: Although the ice will melt, it may keep water from draining off of your roof properly. It may also erode the foundation and make the structure unsafe.
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  Ice dams: An ice dam is formed when snowmelt freezes on the eaves and prevents water from flowing off the roof. Poorly maintained shingles are susceptible to ice dam formation.

Your roof is strong, but powerful wind gusts can quickly bring it to its knees. If the wind is strong enough, it can lift shingles off the roof and cause cracks to develop. Additionally, strong wind can pick up debris and smash it against your system. If this happens, you are likely going to see damage in the form of cracks or holes. Other damage you should keep an eye out for includes:

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  Curling shingles: Shingles that are curled mean they are partially detached from the roof, which is not good.
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  Stone grit in gutters: Heavy winds and rain can wash the stone grit away from asphalt shingles, which may expose the tar holding them.
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  Damaged flashing: It may be difficult to see from the ground, but check the flashing around the chimney and skylights.

The most troublesome of the bunch is water damage. Water not only can compromise the structure of your roof, but it can also pose certain health dangers. Even a small amount of standing water from a storm can result in serious consequences. A common sign of water damage is water leaking into the interior of your home. You may also notice:

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  Mold and mildew growth: This is a byproduct of moisture-related roofing problems. It can potentially be hazardous to your health.
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  Pooling: If there are any areas where water is able to stand, it can result in bigger problems.
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  Damage to accents: Same with wind damage, check roof flashing to find any damage to supporting elements.

For a thorough water, wind, and hail damage roof inspection, turn to Atlanta’s most trusted roofing service provider, New Image Roofing. Our team does roof inspections for all types of roof systems. With our Storm Watch Program, we send an inspector to your home after any significant storm to assess your roof’s condition. Contact us today to learn more about our roofing services.