Understanding Roof Damage from Wind: Prevention, Detection, and Repair

Did you know that wind roof damage is behind 25% of all claims for roof damage according to the Insurance Information Institute? This shows just how vulnerable the roof over your head is.

And while some roof wind damage will be obvious—fallen shingles or indoor leaks—other roofing wind damage like granule loss can be hard to spot.

That’s why it’s important to understand the effects of wind on your property. You should also know how to prevent wind damage to roof, spot the signs and know what to do if this happens to you.

We’ll cover all these topics in our latest homeowners’ guide. It’s designed to help you identify issues, take action fast in the event of a storm damaged roof, and prevent further damage. Keep reading to know more.

The force of nature: Understanding how wind damages roofs

It may surprise you to learn how much wind can damage your roof. When you picture a wind damage roof, you might imagine a fallen tree crashing onto your roof during a storm. Of course, this scenario can cause severe wind damage on roof.

But damage from fallen objects and flying debris is not the only harm that wind can cause. Strong winds can loosen and dislodge shingles or cause them to crack or break. This exposes the underlying material and structure, which can also become damaged and let water inside your home.

Sudden gusts of wind may lift shingles, causing them to curl up. This breaks their watertight seal, leaving your home vulnerable to leaking and even flooding.

High winds tend to cause damage to the edges of your roof or areas that are already weak. So, you may experience damage to the shingles right at the very edge of your roof or tiles that have been previously damaged becoming loose and falling off.

Even if your shingles stay intact, they may also lose granules, making them less effective at keeping your property protected.

To understand the likely scope of problems you may encounter after adverse weather, check out this wind damage chart by the National Weather Service:

Fortifying your fortress: Proactive steps for wind damage prevention

So, how can you avoid a wind damaged roof? Be assured that there are several simple things you can do to prevent wind damage to roof:

Keep trees close to your property trimmed to remove weak branches. This will reduce the risk of wind damage to roof because of falling branches.

Secure any outdoor furniture or other garden items such as grills or chimeneas. Even better, move them inside. If dislodged during high winds they can cause extensive wind damage on roof.

Carry out checks to your roof periodically. When you spot weak areas and make repairs in a timely manner, you’ll be less likely to experience a wind damage roof. If you’re unsure about what to look for or don’t feel confident about inspecting your roof safely, call us here at Plum ProExteriors. We can assess your roof and guide you through any work that needs doing to strengthen it ahead of stormy weather.

Get wind-resistant shingles, designed to withstand extreme weather conditions including high winds. Strong adhesive keeps them in place and robust materials mean they are less likely to get damaged.

Spotting the signs: Detecting wind damage to your roof

If you’ve experienced high winds, it’s a good idea to get outside and look for signs of a storm damaged roof.

But remember—safety comes first:

• Only go outside once the storm or high winds have passed.
• Inspect your roof from the ground, using binoculars if necessary.
• Take care around any debris or material that could fall on you.
• Do not attempt to climb onto your roof.

From a safe spot, here’s what you should be looking for:

• Missing or wind damaged shingles. This is one of the most obvious signs that wind has wreaked havoc on your roof. You’ll notice gaps where shingles should be or shingles scattered around at ground level. Shingle damage from wind can include cracks and chips where debris has collided with your roof’s surface or you may notice wind creased shingles that aren’t sitting flush to your roof’s surface.
• Discolored or patchy shingles. This can indicate that some of the granules that make up the coarse surface of shingles have been worn way. You may also notice deposits of granules piled up in your gutters.
• Distorted roof edges. The edges and other heavily exposed areas of your roof are most vulnerable to wind damage. You may notice that the shingles are not laying flat and appear to be curling away. This means that they are not keeping rainwater out of the roof, and you could risk leaks and water damage inside your property.
• Cracks and tears in flat roofs. If you’ve got a flat, rubber roof you may notice cracks and tears in the material. This can allow water to seep through and also opens up an entry point for pests such as insects and rodents.

• Metal roof wind damage. Metal roofs may sustain distinctive signs of wind damage, including displaced, warped or dented panels and missing fasteners.
• Damaged soffits or fascia boards. The soffits are located on the underside of your roof’s overhang, while the fascia boards are situated directly under the lower edge of your roof. Both play an important role in keeping water and pests from penetrating your roof, so it’s important to inspect these for breaks, cracks, or looseness.
• Crooked chimneys. When high winds get going, they can break the sealing around chimney stacks leaving them looking misaligned. This means that water can get into your home and cause damage.
• Inside leaks and other signs of water damage. Once you’ve finished your exterior inspection, carry out a thorough examination of the inside of your home. Look out for pools or trickles of water, discoloration, mold or mildew growth, and peeling paint or wallpaper. All of these can be signs that your roof is damaged and water has been able to seep into your home.

Of course, there is only a certain amount of information about wind damage roofing that you can gather from the ground. For a safe and thorough wind damage roof inspection, it’s best to call in the experts. That’s what the team here at Plum ProExteriors are here to do. We can come out to your property and carry out a professional assessment of wind damage,

We’ll also answer questions such as how much wind damage to replace roof or should I opt for a repair instead of a full replacement and advise on the best course of action for you.

Taking action: Repairing wind-damaged roofs

Now that you’ve spotted the signs of wind damage, what to do next? We’ll take you through the process step-by-step:

Check your home insurance policy. Most homeowner policies do cover wind damage to roofs, but it’s best to check the small print to understand the details, such as any exclusions and the amount of the deductible.

You should also check whether you have ACV (actual cash value) or RCV (replacement cash value) coverage. ACV will only cover the cost of the depreciated value of your roof, in other words, how much it’s valued at the time of the claim. RCV coverage will pay for the cost of replacing your roof entirely, if this is required.

Reach out to your insurance company. Once you’re up to speed with the conditions of your coverage, get in touch with your insurance company. They can advise you of their process and the next steps to take.

Get a trusted and experienced roofing contractor like Plum ProExteriors to carry out a professional wind damage survey and customized quote. While the insurance company will send their own adjuster to assess your situation, it’s always good to have an accurate idea of the extent of damage to your roof.

Once your insurance company has processed your claim, you should be able to go ahead with the repairs or replacement. Having a personalized quote ready makes this part of the process quicker and simpler!

Your roof is in safe hands with Plum ProExteriors!

Wind damage to your roof needs to be managed swiftly to ensure that the rest of your property isn’t affected by water leaks, pests, and loss of structural integrity.

Knowing the signs, from wind creased shingles to leaks inside your home, will enable you to get the help you need sooner rather than later.

Turn to Plum ProExteriors, the roofing experts for Massachusetts and New England, for wind damage inspections and a quotation for repair or replacement. Our years of expertise and dedication to quality and customer service means your roof is in safe hands! Give us a call today!