How to Tell If Your Roof Has Damage From a Storm

Storms with high winds and hail can wreak havoc on your home and property. If you’ve recently experienced a storm, you may want to consider whether your home’s roof is damaged. A damaged roof can have drastic consequences, including leaks and pest invasion. There are some telltale signs that the roof is no longer sturdy and secure. Sometimes a roof leak isn’t quite so obvious though, and may require critical thinking or professional help.

Large Limbs and Branches on the Roof

If you emerge from a wild storm to find large branches or tree limbs on the roof of your house, you should investigate further to see the extent of that damage, if any. Heavy limbs and pointy branches can poke holes in your roof and weaken the structure, exposing your home to moisture, bugs, birds, and other small critters. You can remove limbs if you are able to safely, but take care not to worsen damage by dragging them and pulling more shingles off or widening holes. If the limbs are too large to safely remove on your own, you should consider calling a professional roofing company to remove the debris and check out your roof.

Missing or Broken Shingles

Missing or broken shingles indicate a weak spot on the roof. Shingles protect the underlayer of the roof and the contents of your home from rain. If any shingles are missing, cracked, broken, or otherwise damaged, your roof is not protected as it should be. Even just a few missing shingles make a large difference in your roof’s effectiveness.

Gutters and Soffits Damaged

If the recent storm was hefty enough to damage your gutters and soffits, you can easily assume it may have torn apart other areas of the roof as well. When soffits and gutters come apart from the roof, it generally means that there are holes in the roof where they once were. They often pull off shingles and leave cracks in the underlay of the roof, leaving you open to leaks and invasions.

Leaks Inside the House

Water leaks in your attic, ceilings, or walls may indicate damage to your roof. If you notice water coming into the house that isn’t related to plumbing, it probably means that you have a hole in your roof. Leaving your roof unprotected will only make matters worse, so be sure to inspect the area and call a professional quickly to minimize the amount of damage to your home and belongings.

Have a Professional Inspection

If you are still unsure if your roof is hole-free and intact, you may want to take extra precautions and call a professional roofing company. An expert roofer can climb up on the roof and assess the condition of your shingles and roofing materials, ensuring they are strong and secure. Even if you have no obvious signs of damage, you should have the roof inspected after extremely strong storms. Roof leaks may be small and inconspicuous at first, but will lead to catastrophic damage if left unrepaired.