It’s no secret that the weather in Colorado can change in a second. A calm sunny day can turn into high wind and thunderstorms in a matter of minutes. For those of you in the Denver Metro and Front range areas, you may remember the gusts in May of 2016 exceeding 80mph? Perhaps the 90mph winds that closed the Denver airport in 2018? Or how about just recently in early June 2020 were the rare derecho produced wind gusts hitting 78mph?
Homeowners are often surprised to learn that wind can cause damage to their homes. However, high winds can cause damage to your roof, even without hail or other harmful weather. Roofs are very susceptible to wind damage, in part because high winds do not hit roofs uniformly. Damage to your roof can begin at around 50 mph, with the corners, edges, and ridgeline being the most vulnerable.
When high winds hit a roof, the gusts get under roofing material, stressing fastenings and lifting off pieces. Other wind damage to roofs include damage caused by falling objects and debris such as tree branches and downed powerlines. Punctures, scratches, and dents in all roofing types is often more damaging than the wind itself.
Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether the damage is substantial or minor. Furthermore, initial damage that may look minor can lead to more serious issues in the future, such as corrosion or water infiltration.
When your roof becomes damaged, you’ll need to seek out wind damage roof repair or replacement services. First, you will need to either do a preliminary wind damage check yourself or schedule a Free Inspection with an expert.
Some of the most common types of roof wind damage include:
Wind Damage to Asphalt Shingles
Wind damage to asphalt shingles most often occurs in four main forms. Curling shingles are found at stress points on the roof such as edges, corners, ridge lines or near the chimney. “Lifting” shingles are difficult to spot as they often look intact from the ground. However, winds gusting up from the ground loosens the nails and lift the shingles up, potentially breaking the sealant between the layers causing leaks. Granule loss occurs when wind pushes the sandpaper like part of the shingle off. Finally, the most obvious is the loss of entire shingles.
Wind Damage to Tile Roofs
Wind damage to tile roofs typically begins with the removal of ridge and rake tiles especially where they are not well anchored. Tiles that are not fastened or bonded to the roof are most prone to being uplifted by wind, especially in strong gusts.
Wind Damage to Metal Roofs
Metal Roofs are the most resistant type of roof to wind damage. However, a metal roof can become a major hazard if conditions become too severe. Metal roofing panels can become deadly flying objects when the winds are high enough and the installation was not done properly or if they have loosened over time.
Wind Damage to Wood or Shake Shingles
Wind damage to wood or shake shingles is not common and is most often due to inadequate fastening or installation, or an incorrect selection of shingles. However, your roof can suffer from splits or punctures resulting from falling debris.
Not sure if you need a new roof? Ask yourself these questions:
Are your window screens damaged from the last hail storm?
Is the answer is yes, there’s a pretty good chance your roof took the brunt of the storm as well. Depending on the kind of roofing materials used on your house, hail damage to roofs in Denver can range from minor cosmetic issues to serious problems with structural integrity. Sometimes it can be hard to tell whether the damage is substantial or minor. Furthermore, initial damage that may look minor can lead to more serious issues in the future, such as corrosion or water infiltration.
Are there hail granules in your driveway or in your yard?
If so, hail probably bounced off your roof. When your roof becomes damaged, you’ll need to seek out hail damage roof repair or replacement services. First, you will need to either do a preliminary hail damage check yourself or schedule a Free Inspection with an expert.
Do you see splatter in wood siding, dents in metal siding, cracks or chips in plastic siding?
If yes, then you may want to have your roof inspected for hail damage. Hail capable of damaging siding is likely between one and two inches in diameter, or roughly the size of a walnut. A piece of hail this size has the ability to damage not only your roofing material, but also the wood under your shingles.
Do you see coffee stains in your ceilings or have leaks when it rains?
Coffee stains on your ceilings are a sure sign of a leak. While this could be a leaky pipe, it is far more likely that you have a hole in your roof. An free inspection will find the leak and determine the best plan of action going forward.
Have your neighbors started replacing their roofs?
If yes, then your roof may be due for replacement. Most neighborhoods tend to be on a similar replacement cycle meaning when one neighbor is due for replacement, so are others. Don’t get stuck with the oldest roof in the neighborhood! Give use a call to see if it’s time for a new roof today.