The arrow of time almost always seems to work against us, hurling us into the future without ever looking back. Unlike fantasy movies, we cannot turn time’s arrow around and back up into a time before, say, a storm damaged our home’s roof. But we can read the signs afterward, the signs telling us a storm has wreaked havoc with our roof. So exactly what are some signs of roof storm damage to look out for?
Fortune Teller
Despite what some folks may believe, nobody can accurately predict the future. We are left having to read the signs after the storm has passed. But if we overlook those signs, we may spend a small fortune on larger roof repairs.
Prompt roof repair after a storm can prevent one tiny leak from developing into full-blown rot. It can keep a few missing shingles from turning into a whole roof replacement. So save yourself a fortune in future costs by acting immediately after a brutal storm. From the safety of your yard, scan the roof for these indicators:
- Missing shingles on your roof
- Shingles or pieces of shingles in your yard
- Granules in your yard at the bottom of downspouts or, worse, scattered on the landscaping
- Noticeable, dark lines on shingles, indicating wind uplift (your shingles were stressed and curled upward, cracking the surface)
- Visible holes from branches falling on your roof
- Dents in gutters, on outside furniture, on your HVAC system, or your vehicles (hail hits and damages everything, including your roof)
Some signs of storm damage are detectable only by the trained, experienced eyes of a professional roofer. Indicators like missing flashing, hardened caulk, cupped or curled shingles are all types of damage which require close-up inspection.
A residential roof of any pitch (steepness) is no place for untrained amateurs. Save yourself a trip to the ER by staying off your roof! Contact your helpful residential roofer for a complete storm damage inspection.
In the Cards
After big storms, you may find a business card stuffed in your mailbox or tucked inside your screen door. Some storm chasers prowled your neighborhood and left a calling card.
Stay away from storm chasers! Dan With a Van is not “here to help you.” Chuck With His Truck is only looking for a quick payout on an initial insurance claim. Why are storm chasers a problem? Consider:
- They have no local physical address
- They often use “leftover” materials
- They hire day laborers with little or no roofing experience
- They usually lack licensing, Workers Compensation coverage, and liability insurance
- They do substandard work just to get the insurance claim check, then disappear
- You have no way to call them back to deal with installation problems, and you will have problems
What should be in the cards for you is a working relationship with a local, dependable residential roofer. This way, if something does go awry, you have a local telephone number and address available.
Crystal Ball
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tells us seven-day weather predictions are right 80 percent of the time. But not even weather folks have perfect crystal balls. You may be helpless ahead of a storm, but when an unexpected storm hits, know what to do immediately afterward:
- Call your local roofer to schedule an inspection, get an estimate for repairs or full roof replacement, and make sure to get a Scope of Work.
- Call your insurance company to arrange a visit from an adjuster.
- Connect your roofer with your adjuster, and (no offense here) let them do their jobs.
After a storm, the two worst possible moves you could make are:
- To try to repair your roof yourself
- To ignore potential damage and “wait to see”
No roof heals itself, so waiting only makes storm damage worse. If the damage is already visible, that structurally compromised roof could become dangerous, risking your entire home.
Some people ignore roof storm damage because of money, but the longer you wait, the more costly the repairs. Act promptly by contacting your roofer and your insurer.
Waiting for time’s arrow to turn around and “undo” the signs of roof storm damage only leads to more significant problems:
- Water can infiltrate your attic, destroying your insulation and driving up energy costs
- Water can seep into your drywall, ceilings, and between walls
- Mold and mildew can spread quickly
- Your home’s interior air quality can degrade, putting family members and pets at risk
After a storm strikes, where do you turn for help? To your local, reliable residential roofer. Contact us today at Red Diamond Roofing right away. We always show up, we know the neighborhoods of Denver and Fort Collins, and we stand ready to help you through storm damage roof repair.
