As winter transitions into spring, windy weather becomes more common. It’s best to start watching for wind damage to your roof shingles, tiles, or membrane at this time of year. Let’s go over what signs of damage to look for and ways you can minimize roof wind damage.
What Signs Does Wind Damage Leave Behind?
Wind damage appears differently on different roof types. Here are some common wind damage signs that appear on the roofing materials Kirberg works with:
- Shingle: When windstorms damage shingle roofs, they often remove granules from the shingles. Granule loss leaves the soft part beneath the roof exposed to moisture, which then creates leaks. Asphalt shingles also often curl, break, or fall off during or after a windstorm.
- Slate and Tile: High winds may crack slate and other kinds of tile or even knock them off. If you notice missing or cracked tiles on your roof, schedule a roof assessment as soon as possible to prevent leaks and other damage. Note that these roof types are more resistant to damage than other roof types.
- EPDM and TPO: When these flat membranes sustain wind damage, they have patches of missing membrane material. These membranes may also develop blisters or wrinkles after a windstorm occurs.
High winds also leave damage on the following roof components:
- Gutters: After high wind speeds hit your area, look at your gutters. See if they’re bent, sagging, or clogged with debris. Also look for decay, rust, and leaky seams along your gutters. If you notice these problems, schedule roof repairs to prevent this storm damage from leading to larger roof problems.
- Flashings: Check for cracks and buckling around your flashings’ roof penetrations. Both are signs of wind damage.
- Chimneys: If a chimney has sustained wind damage, it may have a torn, loose, leaning, or missing flashing. It could also have cracked joints or loose bricks after a storm.
What Wind Speeds Are Dangerous For Roofs?
Many roofs are certified to stand up to 90 mile-per-hour winds, but roof storm damage often shows up when winds hit 50 miles per hour. Other factors besides strong winds can change the severity of the damage. These factors include flying debris and precipitation. Different types of wind can also leave different types of damage. For example, straight-line winds can reach over 100 miles per hour and cause severe roofing and structural damage to a building or home. Look for wind damage after 50 mile-per-hour winds hit your area, but understand that many other factors contribute to that roof damage.
What Should You Do After You Notice Wind Damage on Your Roof?
If you see that your roof has wind damage, reach out to your insurance company to file a claim. Enlist a roofing contractor like Kirberg to assess the damage that occurred and to help you work to get your claim approved. Once the insurance company approves your claim, your roofing contractor can start making repairs.
Repairs Vs. Replacement After Your Roof Sustains Wind Damage
When your roof sustains wind damage, you may wonder whether you should have it repaired or replaced. Remember this rule of thumb: if less than 30% of your roof sustained damage, that’s localized damage, and you can have it repaired. If the damage is more widespread than 30% of the roof, you may have to replace your roof. Flat roof membranes have a third option, though: You can restore your wind-damaged flat roof with spray-on coatings that extend its lifespan. Kirberg offers all three options, and we help you choose the right option for your roofing needs.
Fix Your Roof’s Wind Damage With Kirberg
If you need to fix wind damage on your roof, reach out to Kirberg Company today. We use our 100 years of experience to determine whether you need a roof replacement, roof repairs, or roof restoration. We help you make a successful insurance claim and resolve all the roof damage. Whether you need to fix roof damage on a commercial or residential roof, Kirberg is here to help you. We have the resources and expertise to keep your roof in excellent condition, no matter what the weather does.
