After a severe storm with hail, heavy rain, and high winds, what do you check first? Your vehicle to determine if it sustained any damage? Do you look for felled trees or torn up yards? How about your roof?
When it comes to severe weather, the roof of your home may be the last thing on your mind, but it should be the first.
A roof is one of the most critical components of a home, providing protection from the elements while ensuring the comfort and safety of you and your family. As the roof as well as the rest of your home protects you from severe weather raging outside, it is critical that you understand how these weather patterns could affect its ability to do so in the future, addressing and repairing any damage that occurs.
In this blog, we will go through the damaging effects that severe storms and weather conditions can have on your roof so you can be prepared to fix the situation before it causes a larger problem.
Heavy Rain and Flooding
While roofing systems have gutters and downspouts to remove excess water, sometimes heavy and constant rain fall can still have a dire impact. This is especially true for roofs with gutters clogged by leaves and twigs. Heavy rains typically come at such speed and velocity that gutters just can’t keep up, leading to ponding (small pools of water) on flat and slightly angled roofs. As the roofing materials become soaked, this could weaken the materials and lead to leaks.
Strong Winds
Strong windstorms can often cause shingles, gutters, and other roofing materials to fly off or crack. In extreme cases, high winds can even cause structural damage to your roof.
It is a good idea to take a walk around your property after the winds have died down to determine if any shingles are lying in your yard, missing from your roof, or if you notice any other damage.
Hailstorms
If you have ever experienced a hailstorm, you know that this weather phenomenon can cause untold damage. Whether the hail is the size of a golf ball or a pebble, it can still damage your roofs protective layer, causing shingles, tiles, or metal roofing to crack and dent. This damage compromises the integrity of the roof and can cause future storms to have devastating effects, like allowing rain to penetrate deeper into the roofing system and cause leaks.
Snow and Ice
Snow may fall nice and fluffy, but when it settles, it weighs significant amounts. This weight on your rooftop can lead to cave ins and structural damage if it is heavy enough. Even when snow melts, the water runoff can then refreeze at the edge of the roof, creating what is called an ice dam which then puts additional weight on the roof and can create leaks when it melts.
Extreme Heat
Excessive heat during the summer months and lack of rain can also be detrimental to your roof. When the temperature is high and rain is little, this can cause roofing materials to become brittle and dry, leading to warping, buckling, cracks, and breakage. This type of damage compromises the integrity of the roof, which can make future weather conditions even more devastating.
Can Insurance Help with Roof Damage?
When your roof suffers the detriments of extreme weather conditions, it can mean costly repairs. But not to worry, all is not lost! Homeowners insurance does provide aid to those whose roofs become damaged, helping to lessen the financial burden. It is important to note that many insurance policies do not cover all damage due to weather, such as flooding and earthquakes. Typically, these weather phenomenon require additional coverage due to their high level of risk.
Traditional homeowners insurance policies cover damage that is sudden and accidental, including destruction caused by windstorms, snow and ice, lightning strikes, and hail. Speak to your insurance agency to find out exactly what is covered under your policy and be sure to file a claim as soon as you notice the damage after a storm.
Overall
Unfortunately, weather damage to roofing is not avoidable. Sudden storms take shape, winds unexpectedly pick up, and lightning strikes come with no warnings. Homeowners merely have to sit and wait out the storm – literally.
If your roof suffers from unexpected weather trauma, don’t wait to get it repaired, giving future storms the opportunity to wreak havoc. Rely on the professional roofing contractors at Excel Home Improvement in Romulus to get your home’s roof back to peak weather resistance. We work with all insurance companies and handle the details of your claim, so you don’t have to. Roofing services, siding installation and repair as well as gutters, soffits and trim, we do it all!
Contact us today to schedule a roof inspection and Free quote.