High winds can be a huge concern for homeowners, especially those living in areas prone to hurricanes and severe storms, like the East Coast. Rainstorms, hailstorms and hurricanes can tear shingles from your roof, penetrate roof’s surface, and even lead to structural damage. Not to mention the beating your roof might endure with falling tree branches.
Roofing repairs related to high wind damage are among the most common types of repairs you will encounter as a homeowner. To mitigate this kind of damage, schedule a roof inspection and appropriate repairs for your home immediately after a major windstorm.
Common Roofing Repairs: High Wind Damage
According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), approaching wind speeds can more than double as the air currents pass over your roof. The increase in wind speed can easily dislodge shingles and shakes from the roof, starting around the roof’s perimeter and quickly progressing further toward the center of the roof. The higher the winds, the more damage your home is likely to sustain.
Dealing With High Wind Damage: Post-Storm Inspection
Immediately after the storm passes — and only when the winds have subsided enough — assess the condition of your roofing, siding, and gutters. A thorough inspection is highly recommended, preferably by a roofing contractor trained to spot all signs of damage, including those less obvious.
High wind damage inspection checklist:
- Inspect your attic for leaks or water damage.
- Check for broken, cracked, curled, or missing shingles, and any signs of a loss of granulation
- Look for split or curled shakes or shingles
- Check for blisters, cracks, and tears around the edges of the roof
- Inspect damaged chimney bricks and buckled or torn flashing, cracked or worn caps and joints
- Assess the condition of exhaust pipes, valleys, outer edges or angles where the roof meets the walls.
- Check for bent, loose, or missing gutter sections
- Look for any signs of siding damage
Keep in mind that over time, missing, broken, or bruised roof materials can lead to a variety of problems in your home, including:
- Water damage
- Mold and mildew
- Loss of insulation, leading to higher energy bills
Regular roof inspections in the fall and spring can help you identify potential roof repairs related to high winds.
Dealing With High Wind Damage: Contacting Your Insurance
If your home suffered any damage, contact your insurance agent to determine whether you should file a claim. Coverage will often depend on the age of your roof, the area you live in, and many other factors, so it’s important to know the specifics of your policy.
At this point, all your damage should be determined and well documented, and you should be proceeding with emergency repairs to stop further damage.
Dealing With High Wind Damage: Handling Repairs
Once you identify the damage and contact your insurance company, handle repairs as promptly as possible to minimize the damage to your home. Putting off an affordable repair leaves your home vulnerable to more damage, leading to more costly and extensive work later on.
We’ve written extensively about roofing repairs. Here are step-by-step guides on various roofing repairs:
- tips on replacing damaged shingles
- patching roof leaks
- 4 steps to chimney flashing repairs
- handling gutter repairs
- when repairs aren’t enough – when to consider replacement
Keep in mind that not all roofing repairs are easy. If your roof has suffered serious damage, or if you’re experiencing leaks or other problems you’re not able to fix yourself, you should consider hiring a professional contractor.
Have a Leak? Hire a Repair Contractor
A family owned & operated DE/PA roofing contractor, All Roofing Solutions has been serving Delaware and Pennsylvania for nearly 20 years! We’re ready to assist your with your emergency roofing repair, large and small.
To schedule your free consultation, call 302-725-ROOF (7663) in Delaware or 610-551-ROOF (7663) in Pennsylvania. Contact us today and receive a discount of 15% off any roofing repair job.
Why Choose All Roofing Solutions
Family-owned and operated contractor- Fully licensed and insured for your protection
- Over 25 years of experience with roofing & siding installation and repair
- A+ rated BBB member
- Complimentary Extended Material warranty
- 30-year workmanship guarantee on full roof replacements
- Lien Waiver to protect the homeowners from material liens
- Own crew—no subcontractors!
- Full-service roofer handling all types of residential and commercial roofing, windows & siding projects.
- Most re-roofing projects are completed in one day.
- Because we are efficient we are able to offer very competitive prices compared to large contractors with bigger overhead.
- Each roofing/siding project includes a meticulously performed, post-roofing inspection. We want to make sure that your roof replacement is done correctly and that it meets your complete satisfaction.
- The company owner supervises all projects to ensure high-quality workmanship.
- Customer Satisfaction Guaranteed!