Storm Damage to Your Roof

Harsh storms, like the ones that we have seen recently in Western Pennsylvania, can cause all sorts of damage to your home, especially the roof. Some problems with your roof can be pretty easy to spot, but some damage isn’t so simple to see.

Whether you can see these problems or not, fixing any of these issues that appear in the wake of a storm can help keep your home safe from any further harm. These strong storms can have sharp winds, heavy rain and even hail that can damage shingles, gutters, flashing and other areas around your roof.

These are some of the most common signs of storm damage to look out for:

1. Damaged or Missing Shingles

Your shingles are one of the first places you should look when spotting storm damage on your home. Sharp winds from these storms can cause shingles to blow away or loosen from your roof. Hail or even flying debris such as tree branches can crack or dent your shingles if it hits your roof. Also, shingles may curl upward after being damaged in a storm.

When shingles on your roof are missing or damaged, the material beneath it becomes at risk for early deterioration without having the protection of the shingles. These fragile areas need an urgent fix. By calling a roof contractor as soon as possible you can prevent disasters before another storm hits.

2. Water Leaks

Unwanted moisture inside your home after a storm can be a clear indication of storm damage. Wind-driven rain will quickly get into your home from openings in the roof, especially if there’s no leak barrier installed with your roof.

Water damage that comes from these leaks may cause water staining on your ceilings and walls. This can also lead to a musty odor around your home as well as the drywall can crack due to excessive moisture and bulge out. Wet spots could also form around the toilet or pipes, which can be incorrectly associated with a plumbing issue.

3. Granule Loss

Roofing manufacturers add granules to shingles to help protect your roof against the sun's harmful UV rays. Unfortunately, harsh weather, mainly hail, can cause significant granule loss across your roof.

When you look for granule loss, check for areas of discoloration or dark spots on your roof. It is very difficult to spot missing granules when looking up from the ground at your roof, but you can often see the evidence of granule loss by looking at the ground directly beneath your roof. You can also check your gutters to see if there is an accumulation of granules in them.

A roofing contractor can identify granule loss by climbing onto the roof and performing a closer inspection.

4. Broken Downspouts, Gutters and Flashing

Shingles aren't the only thing that can be damaged by a severe storm. Downspouts, gutters and flashings can also take a beating from a storm. If hit by large pieces of hail, metal gutters and downspouts may dent while ones that are plastic can crack or break. Flashing can come loose from the winds or dent and break if impacted by hail. Meanwhile, debris such as leaves and dirt will clog your gutters.

Damaged gutters and downspouts are very easy to find, but flashing is a bit more difficult to spot for someone not experienced with roofing. Flashing is crucial to your roof with any cracks or openings leading to water leaks.

5. Damage to your Attic

Your attic is one of the most critical places to inspect after a storm for damage. Any dark spots on the attic walls and underside of the roof deck can indicate that moisture is present. Also, take note if any of the insulation in the attic appears wet. Water leaks will create wet insulation, causing the insulation to stop working correctly. This could possibly require an expensive replacement of your attic insulation. You also need to take into consideration that excessive water can cause mold to grow quickly in your attic as well.