In the event of severe weather conditions, there is a good chance of damage occurring on your home and roof. Many homeowners would take precautions for things like hail, rain, or snow. But not many homeowners take into consideration how damaging the wind can be to your home. At Roof Right, a residential roofing company in Maryland, we provide service for all types of residential and commercial roofing repairs. Let’s take a look at what the wind can do to your roof and what you can do to prevent further damage.
How strong does the wind have to be to cause damage?
When we talk about wind damage, we don’t normally think about a nice calm breeze on a sunny day. Typically, when we talk about wind damage, we are referring to anything above 45 mph. This is the speed where a majority of the wind damage would occur and cause significant damage. Now in terms of anything around 25 mph – 45 mph, trees and large branches would start to move and maybe some small twigs and branches will break. In this case, there’s hardly any severe damage occurring but you might notice something looking out of place the next day.
Flying Debris
Strong winds are capable of carrying debris off the ground and into wherever it wants to go. The debris can end up on your roof and puncture it or it could hit the side of the house and do some damage there as well. So if you ever wondered how that random tree branch on the ground managed to hit your window on the third floor, you could blame it on the wind. To avoid this, we suggest that you trim the surrounding trees and any overhanging branches. This is highly recommended in areas that have bad storm seasons, so it’s best to get this done beforehand. We also recommend that after the extreme weather passes, you have a roofing contractor inspect your roof and gutter for any debris damage and have them repaired.
Curling & Lifting
Curling is when the wind blows beneath the shingles, causing it to curl and completely tear off from the roof. This usually happens around corners, edges, and ridgelines of the roof. This is due to the wind itself not hitting the surface of your roof equally. Some sides might experience more wind damage than others and that’s primarily because of the nature of wind. Another thing to look out for is if the shingles are lifting. They’re relatively hard to spot unless you look carefully or if you notice the nails are loosening. Luckily these are simple fixes for a professional contractor. Most likely, they would replace the shingles for new ones and have them nailed down.
Gutter Damage
Gutter damage is usually easy to spot on your home. Be on a lookout for any loosening, dents, or if anything has fallen off. You could also have the gutters indicate any signs of roof damage. Keep an eye out for excessive amounts of granule in the gutter. If you do, there’s a good chance that you have roof damage. The only case where having excess granule in the gutter is normal is if you recently installed a new roof and shingles. The shingles normally shed excess granules due to how they’re manufactured, but it’s not a lot.
What to do after wind damage?
A good rule of thumb is to check your property for any visible damage and safely remove any debris around the area. Check for signs of water leaks or discoloration on your walls and ceiling. Contact a roofing contractor afterwards for an inspection and be ready for any repairs if needed. It’s also a good idea to take photos of any damage you find for insurance claims and to make the contractor’s job a little easier. If you want to be proactive about your roof, we suggest that you have your roof inspected at least twice a year to prolong the life of your roof.
Ready to wind proof your roof in Maryland?
We are sensitive to the fear many homeowners may have when selecting a roofing contractor and understand that trust is something that has to be earned. We work hard to earn the confidence of each and every customer every day. Our company is dedicated to homeowners and their service needs, and we offer one of the best warranties in the industry.
Call us today at 410-374-5923 or email us at info@roofright.com