Here’s How to Respond If You Have Wind Damaged Shingles—and How to Prepare for the Future
While hail damage grabs most of the headlines, hail storms are far from the only threat to your roof. Your roof’s shingles can be significantly damaged by high winds, both from roofing materials being torn away and from impact damage due to flung debris.
If you’re left with a wind damaged roof due to recent major storms, you may be wondering what to do next. Our storm restoration experts here at Dolan Roofing & Construction have put together a comprehensive guide on how to tell if your shingles were damaged by wind, how to respond to wind damage, and what you can do to avoid future problems. Let’s get started!
Signs of Wind Damaged Shingles
Not all storms bringing high winds will cause damage to your roof. Even shingles without an exceptional rating for wind resistance are designed to stand up to some level of high winds and gusts. However, if strong winds have recently passed through your area, it’s good to take a walk around your property and look for clear signs of wind damage. Here are a few things to look for:
Missing or Loose Shingles
The telltale sign that your roof has been damaged by wind is missing shingles. In severe cases, high winds will tear shingles away from your roof, leaving the underlying sections exposed to the elements. Shingles may also be loosened, even if they aren’t torn away entirely. Look for shingles that appear to be crooked or flapping in the wind.
Dents in Shingles or Siding
Wind can also damage your roof by flinging debris against it at high velocity. When this happens, it can leave dings, dents, and cracks in shingles that compromise the integrity of your roof. Look for marks on your shingles that clearly indicate impact damage. It’s also a good idea to check your home’s siding for dents as well. If your siding was damaged, there’s a high probability that your roof was, too.
Granule Loss
Wind can also damage your shingles in more subtle ways. For instance, high winds can wear away at the protective outer layer of your shingles, leaving your roof more vulnerable. You can look for this sign of damage by checking gutters, downspouts, and the ground near your roofline for excessive amounts of asphalt granules.
What to Do If You Have Wind Damage
Once you’ve identified wind damage to your roof—or even if you’re unsure if your roof and shingles were damaged—you may be wondering what to do next. Here are a few steps we recommend taking.
Schedule a Roof Inspection
If you notice clear signs of wind damage, it’s still important to schedule an inspection from a trained roofer to assess the full extent of damage to your roof. Even if you don’t see signs of damage, a roof inspection will provide a clearer assessment of the status of your roof, including any wind damage you may have sustained as well as other potential vulnerabilities.
File an Insurance Claim
A roof inspection will also help to determine whether filing an insurance claim will be necessary. If damage is significant enough, it’s important to file your insurance claim promptly. While providers vary, most have a specific window of time in which a claim must be filed. If you miss the window to file a claim for wind damage to your roof, you may wind up paying for repairs entirely out of pocket.
Complete Repairs Right Away
No matter how major or minor the damage is to your roof, it’s crucial to schedule repairs immediately. Leaving any amount of roof damage unaddressed is a poor decision, as this leaves your roof vulnerable to further damage. Roofing issues tend to compound over time—which means failing to complete a minor repair now could lead to major (and expensive) roofing problems down the line.
Preparing for Wind Storms
While high winds are unavoidable, there are still steps you can take to better protect your home against wind damage. Here are a few ways to plan ahead and avoid wind damaged shingles on your home.
Make Sure You’re Covered for Wind Damage
First, it’s very important to know your insurance coverage—and, if you live in a wind-prone area, to make sure you’re covered for wind damage. While wind damage is typically included with most homeowner’s insurance, every policy is different in terms of the specific requirements and the type of payment you may receive after your home is damaged. Make sure you know the details of your policy, and contact your provider if you have any questions.
Use Wind-Resistant Roofing Materials
Depending on the type of roof you have, you may be able to upgrade to a more wind-resistant roofing material. For those who prefer shingle roofs, there are highly resistant products that are unlikely to be damaged by wind, such as the Duration series of shingles from Owens Corning.
You may also want to consider replacing your shingles entirely with another roofing material. Both tile roofs and metal roofs provide exceptional durability against not just wind, but all forms of damage—and these roofs can last for decades longer than shingles, as well.
Wind Damaged Shingles? Call Dolan Roofing!
If you’re faced with wind damage to your roof, Dolan Roofing is the one to call. With roots in the storm restoration industry, our San Antonio team has years of expertise repairing, restoring, and protecting roofs from all forms of storm damage.
If you’ve identified signs of wind damage to your roof or shingles, or if you just aren’t sure, get in touch with our team today to schedule an inspection!
