Common Roof Problems After Hail & Windstorm Damage

Many factors enter into the equation when it comes to how long your roof will protect your home. The materials used, the expertise of the workers who installed it, and the degree of punishing weather you experience are probably the top three.

Assuming that your roof was indeed installed by experts who use quality material, we face the third factor – Mother Nature. High winds and hail are the two most common roofing problems homeowners and business owners face today, but there is something you can do to remediate the damage.

Illinois ranked among the top states for hail damage claims

In 2015, State Farm reported that Illinois came in second in the number of hail damage claims (43,821), and that’s just one insurance agency. The Insurance Information Institute reported that in 2015, hail caused $719 million in damage nationwide.

From 2000 to 2013, Illinois residents filed claims that resulted in more than $180 million in losses due to hail. Obviously, hail is an ongoing issue.

Following a hailstorm, residents can readily see the damage the hail has caused to trees and shrubs in their yards. Residents will often gather handfuls of the icy stones and assess the damage to their property. Invariably, they’ll look up to the roof to look for any noticeable damage. Unfortunately, it often takes a closer look than what one gleans from the ground to see if there is anything amiss with a roofing system.

Signs you need a roof inspection

Larger hailstones will leave pockmarks, dents or holes in asphalt shingles (the most popular roofing material), which is an obvious sign that a roofing contractor should be called out for an inspection.

Smaller hailstones will chip away at the small granules that protect the waterproof layers of the shingles. These granules will pile up in the gutters and/or at the exit end of the downspouts. While your shingles might be fine after some granule loss, any loss eats away at the life of your roof, which means an annual inspection is recommended, especially for roofs more than 10 years old.

What might not be as obvious of a danger to your roof is high wind, but the problems are definitely there. Wind speeds fluctuate and change direction, which can cause roofing materials to flap and ripple, leading to loose areas that are no longer resistant to moisture. It is often impossible to see without a professional inspection.

Most homeowners only know the damage is there because they experience a leak, which means they are at risk of all the issues that occur when moisture enters the home – rot, mold, mildew and bacteria growth.

Repairing your roof after windstorm damage

Homeowners who experience windstorms that fell branches need to be as concerned about assessing the damage to their roofs as they do about removing the downed limbs. Call a professional roofing contractor to get on your roof and look for the common roofing issues related to high hail and wind damage.

VIS Exterior is the go-to roofing contractor for residents in Naperville, Downers Grove, Arlington Heights, Willowbrook, Darien, Oak Brook and Hinsdale. With 15-plus years of experience serving clients in these areas, we’ve gained a reputation for professionalism. Contact us today at 630-230-8533 for a free inspection of your roof. We’ll offer you our expert and trusted opinion about repairs or replacements required.