One of the most frustrating parts of being a homeowner is the ongoing maintenance needed to keep everything running smoothly. One area of the home that is often overlooked is the roof. A lot of homeowners ignore the roof until a storm happens and storm damage is suspected. Unfortunately, save for the extremely obvious signs of destruction—like missing shingles, large holes, or debris littering the roof, it can be difficult for homeowners to spot storm damage. Most damage starts off small and might be unnoticeable to the untrained eye—which is why evaluating your roof is usually a job best left to a Maryland and Virginia exterior renovation company to properly identify and address the damage.
At DreamHome Remodeling, our professionals are always ready to help our homeowners inspect, maintain, repair, and replace their roofing installations. While we highly suggest having an expert take a look at your roof periodically, especially after a storm happens—that doesn’t mean that as a homeowner that there aren’t clues to look for to get ahead of the problem.
Regardless of how severe a storm is or isn’t, it’s important to check the roof for damage afterward. A proper course of action will include inspection of both the outside and the inside of the roof. In this article, our experts will share some of the most important signs of storm damage and how to spot them.
Shingles
Shingles come in a variety of materials and all have their own unique signs of damage, aside from missing—which is the clearest sign of a problem across the board.
- Asphalt/Composition: Signs include loss of granules, cracks, curling, and overall damage.
- Wood: Rot, decay, mold, splitting, and curling are all signs that your wood shingles are damaged and need repair.
Another sign of shingle damage that applies regardless of the material is a lifted shingle. This type of damage is extremely subtle and is unnoticeable from the ground. Most homeowners neglect to inspect further due to how solid they look.
However, when the shingles have lifted, the nails holding them down have loosened. Besides being more susceptible to being ripped away during the next storm, this may also break the sealant between shingle layers. This break drastically increases the possibility of a leak.
The Roof Construction
Once you get past the shingles, there is the rest of the roof to consider. The roof is made up of multiple parts that include flashings, soffits, and gutters among other components.
- Flashing: Look for signs like roof buckling, roof penetration, and tears around where the flashings are located.
- Roofing Cement: Especially with heavy rain, any roofing cement could swell or crumble away leading to leaks that make it past the roof.
- Soffits: A trouble spot often neglected but still serious. Common signs of damage include rot and decay along with damaged vents depending on the layout of your roof.
- Gutters: The gutters are a part of the roof’s functionality and a compromised gutter system is one that results in the roof failing down the road. Check for bent, sagging, or missing sections of gutter. Also, make sure to verify if the gutters or downspout are clogged as well.
Attics and Walls
Spotting roof damage goes beyond checking the exterior of the home. When inspecting the roof, it’s important that the interior is not neglected. Walls that have peeling paint or feature moisture marks are signs that you have a damaged and leaking roof.
In addition, the attic is the best room in the house to inspect, as it is usually the first one affected by a damaged roof. It’s not just leaking that you want to check for. The ventilation system could be compromised and inspecting your attic may help you get ahead of the problem before it hits your energy bill.
At the end of the day, it’s always recommended to bring in roofing experts trained in inspection and repair. Not only do they have the training to know what to look for, but they also have the equipment needed to detect any damage not visible to the naked eye. Plus, should storm damage be present, the crew is already available to begin working on the needed repairs.
Roofing Experts at DreamHome
After nearly 20 years in the roofing industry, the team at DreamHome has seen it all when it comes to storm damage to the roof. As your roofing experts, we know what it takes to get you back to pre-storm conditions and strive to provide superior and timely service to all of our customers.
We go the extra mile for our customers by providing the following:
- Roofing Inspections
- Accurate Estimate
- Professional Roof Repairs
- Hail Damage Expertise
- Flexible Financing
Ready to see if you need roofing storm repair? Give us a call to speak with one of our agents about our professional roofing services or fill out our online form to schedule your free, in-home quote.
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