High Winds can stem from Hurricane Storms, Hail and Wind Storms, and Tornadoes.
High winds can cause extensive damage to your roof and home and business, even without a hail storm. Roof Damage is usually where a wind created open is made allowing water damage into your home.
There are several types of damage high winds can cause to your roof, including leaks, missing shingles, damaged flashing, soffit damage, and gutter problems.
Damage to your roof can begin at around 50-55 mph, so you should know how to check your roof for damages.
What Is Wind Damage?
High winds will never hit your roof evenly across the surface. The corners, the edges of the roof, and the ridgeline are especially susceptible to damage from high-velocity winds.
Another danger of high winds to your roof is “lifting.” While the shingles may look intact from the ground, high winds coming up over a roof can create a suction effect and “lift” the shingles upwards, loosening the nails which are holding them down
The wind can get under a corner or small piece of the shingle and curl it, or rip it off completely.
When the shingles lift, the sealant between each layer can be broken which will cause leaks and in most cases mold inside your home.
Additionally, high winds can blow debris around and cause trees and limbs to fall on damage and fall on your roof. Falling limbs can penetrate the roof, or destroy your shingles, so be sure to have your trees trimmed back so that you can limit your risk of damage.
Wind Damage to Asphalt Shingles
The sealant strip detachment can be observed on the insured’s property is accompanied by the granule loss and visible creasing which has exposed the asphalt coating directly to the environment. The granule loss will result in accelerated deterioration of the shingles due to the oxidation and erosion cycle.
Wind Borne Debris Impact Damage
The granular loss due to scrapes and scuffs observe policyholders’ property’s roof covering are consistent with impacts from wind-borne debris. Wind-Borne Damage can dent ridge vents, shingles, exterior paint, windows, doors, soffits, fascia, and more.
How To identify Wind Damage
- Missing Shingles: Strong winds, heavy rain, or falling tree branches can pull off and blow off your roof’s shingles
- “Lifting” Shingles: Difficult to see unless you’re actually looking for them, the shingles look intact from the ground. However, the nails have loosened, “lifting” the shingle up, and potentially breaking the sealant between each shingle layer, leading to an increase in the likelihood of a leak
- Chimney Flashing: Look to see if the chimney flashing is missing or split. This is a stress point for high winds, which can easily be lifted by a strong wind hitting at just the right angle
- Roof Leaks: These are perhaps the easiest to find, simply there is water coming into your house where it shouldn’t. Look in your attic for water damage on the sheathing or on your top floor for wet spots or water dripping from the ceiling. Be sure to call an Experienced Public Adjust immediately!
- Curling Shingles: Curling shingles are most often found at stress points on the roof, i.e. the edges, the corners, near the chimney, at the ridge, etc. When shingles are curled, they can no longer keep water from leaking through the roof, although these are harder to find than a shingle which is simply missing.
- The Gutter: High winds and heavy rains can wash away the granules from the shingle, and load them into the gutter. Look for excessive shingle granules in the gutter, and if you find them, call a reputable roofer to come out and check your roof for repair.
Conclusion
As with any wind-borne damage in general, a well-built home needs to be repaired by a licensed General contractor or a few subcontractors if you don’t mind managing the project. First, you need to hire a Public Adjuster so you can make sure you are paid properly in order to fully recover your property to pre-loss condition.
Getting the settlement you deserve by calling and Experienced Public Adjuster
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