High winds, torrential rain and even tornados are occurring more frequently in the U.S. and especially in the Great Lakes region. In the period from 1901 to 2015 the Great Lakes region saw an almost 10 percent increase in participation while the entire U.S. saw only a 4 percent increase.1
After a storm it is always a good idea to survey the outside of your home for damage which may include loose or missing shingles on the roof, loose vinyl siding or trim, and debris on your roof such as leaves or tree limbs.
If you see damage, it is important to fix the damage as soon as possible to prevent bigger issues in the future.
Don’t assume that a new roof is immune to storm damage.
If the roof was not properly installed, or if there is some defect in the shingle seal strips, even newer roof shingles can blow off in a storm. If your roof is older, those seal strips which hold the shingles together, may fail. When this happens the shingles start to flap in windy conditions and eventually may snap off.
When shingles are missing on your roof it allows water to penetrate the roof deck and anything below the roof deck, such as an attic or ceiling. In this case, not only do you have to repair the roof, but you also have to repair the water damage caused by the leaky roof, adding to the initial repair costs.
If you have an older roof that has lost shingles it is a good idea to have the roof evaluated by a roofing professional to determine the root cause of the missing shingles.
The most common type of roof, an asphalt shingled roof, has a lifespan of about 15 to 30 years, depending on the quality of the shingle purchased and the quality of the installation.2 If the shingles were installed improperly they will ultimately fail. One common problem is when the nails are not fastened to the nailing strip, but are placed higher up where the shingle is more prone to tearing.
Loose shingles can also be a signal that the deck of the roof has been compromised.3 The roof deck is usually made of OSB board or plywood sheathing which can rot or warp when exposed to water. When rotting or warping occurs the shingle nails can pop, causing the shingles to become loose and blow off the roof.
Homeowners insurance will generally only cover the replacement of a roof or roof shingles when there has been a significant event such as fire or lightening, windstorms or hail, explosions, riots of civil unrest, damage caused by an aircraft, damage caused by vehicles, smoke, vandalism or malicious mischief, theft, volcanic eruption, falling objects, or weight from ice.4
Once a roofing professional has inspected the roof and found no structural issues, the missing shingles can be replaced without having to replace the entire roof. The problem with replacing missing shingles is that it most likely will affect the curb appeal of your home. Depending on the age of the shingles, it may be hard or almost impossible to match the color and the pattern, as roof shingles fade when exposed to the sun and other elements.
Having a new roof installed is a costly home improvement, with prices on construction materials having jumped more than 25 percent in the last several years.5 Surveying your roof after a storm only takes a few minutes, but if you find damage, those few minutes may save you from unnecessary repairs, and unnecessary expense, in the future.
Excel Home Improvement in Romulus specializes in roof repair and installation as well as siding repair and installation, gutter systems and more. Our team is dedicated, experienced, and skilled in exterior home improvement services that will not only last but leave a lasting impression. Keep your home in top shape year round with home improvement services you can depend on. Call for a no obligation quote!
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1 Severe Storms are Michigan’s New Normal and our Infrastructure Can’t Take It by Keith Matheny, 8/27/2023
Link: https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/other/severe-storms-are-michigan-s-new-normal-and-our-infrastructure-can-t-take-it/ar-AA1fPXe3#image=1
2 Solved! This is How Long You Can Expect Your Roof to Last by Glenda Taylor and Bob Vila, 1/25/2022
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/how-long-does-a-roof-last//
3 What Causes Shingles to Blow Off? Do I Need to Worry About It?
4 Solved! Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Repair or Replacement? by Michelle Honeyager, 1/19/2023
Link: https://www.bobvila.com/articles/does-home-insurance-cover-roof/
5 2022 Inflation Roofing: Why Roofs Cost 20-40% More? Will they go down? by Eric Hernandez, 6/13/2022