The Wind Can Damage Your Shingles

With all the strong winds we have seen in the past few weeks, you may need to inspect your roof for damage since strong winds can cause shingles to blow off the roof, and tree branches and other large debris can land on your roof causing damage to the shingles.

Wind Damage

Missing shingles can lead to leaks and other interior damage. Other wind damage may not be easy to see, especially if the adhesive seal that prevents wind damage is broken. This can be determined by gently lifting the bottom edge of the shingles to see if they can be easily lifted. (They should be stuck to the shingle below) Always be safe when checking for roof damage.

Potential signs of wind damage:

• Missing shingles.
• Holes or impact points from falling branches or pine cones.
• Thin horizontal lines where granules have been worn off about 1-2 inches beneath the shingle above; could indicate that the shingle seal was broken, and the shingle was flapping in the wind rubbing against the shingle above it. To be effective against the elements, shingles must be sealed to each other as one water-tight roof deck.
• Visual identification of debris on the roof deck.
• Cracked shingles.
• A large pile of granules at the end of your downspout; a small amount is normal, especially for new shingles.

All manufacturers publish a wind warranty on their shingles. In past years, the standard was a gale-force wind (39- 54 miles per hour) Modern shingles have much better wind ratings, and 130 MPH coverage is not unusual. It is important to compare the wind coverage when making your shingle selection on a new roof. If the winds that caused the shingle damage were above the manufacturer’s wind coverage, you will need to file an insurance claim. If they were not, contact the shingle manufacturer to file a claim.

Byers is a certified roofing contractor for Owens Corning; our clients can take advantage of extended coverages that include 50-year warranties on not just the shingles, but the entire roofing system and labor as well.