You want a safe home. You want a warm home. And of course, you want an energy-efficient home. Do you know what can help you achieve all of these goals? Your roof. That's right, if you call up a roofer and tell them about your desires, they can recommend some roofing repairs or materials to help you achieve those desires. They may recommend a metal roof, or they might recommend adding zinc strips to the roof peak. It all depends. One thing we can promise, though, is that learning more about roofing is a good idea. This blog is a good resource, but we recommend looking for other ones, too.
5 Ways Wind Can Damage Asphalt Shingles
A wind storm can cause a lot of damage to a roof, even if the roof was previously in good condition. Knowing the types of wind damage possible can help you spot a problem.
1. Impact Damages
Many types of wind damages on a roof are indirect. The impact from flying options or overhanging tree branches that break is a common example of indirect wind damage on the roof. Impact damages aren't always easily visible, at least at first. The most common damages are compressed shingles and loss of surface granules, both issues that shorten shingle life and thus need repair.
2. Punctures
Roof punctures are another form of indirect wind damage. Sometimes the blowing debris doesn't just impact the roof, but it actually punches a hole through the roofing. Puncture damage is often the most severe of the wind damages as it damages both the shingles and the underlying sheathing. Water can immediately begin to flow through the hole, so a prompt repair is needed.
3. Missing Shingles
The most common direct wind damage type is shingle blow-off. This occurs when the wind is able to get beneath a shingle and tear it loose. The shingles may come off completely or they may be hanging haphazardly from a single remaining nail. Prompt replacement of the missing shingles is necessary to prevent leaks. You may also want to have the yard cleaned with a magnet since there will likely be roofing nails on the ground.
4. Ruffled Shingles
Ruffling is also relatively common. Shingles will be lifted up instead of lying flat, due to the wind. Minor ruffling is easy to fix, as the shingles are simply pressed back into place. In some cases, a roofing adhesive may be added to prevent future ruffling. Ruffled shingles must also be checked to make sure there is no less obvious damage, as often the shingles crack where they bend upward. Cracked shingles will need to be replaced.
5. Uplift issues
Uplift is a problem that affects the edge of the roof, and it tends to be more common on flat and low-slope roofs. The wind blows under the eaves and then lifts up the entire roof structure. This is a major structural problem that can lead to a complete roof blowoff. Your roofer will need to reinforce the roof structure, adjust eave depth, and install wind strapping to prevent future uplift issues.
Contact a contractor to find out the residential roofing repair solution that is best for your needs.