Kentucky is no stranger to severe weather, including wind storms. In early March 2023, Lexington experienced a violent windstorm. Whether you sustained visible wind damage to your roof or not, it’s important to get your roof inspected by a licensed roofing contractor after a windstorm or other severe weather event. It’s important to do this sooner rather than later since most homeowners’ insurance policies require a claim to be filed within 12 months after the damaging event.
We want to help homeowners make the most out of their insurance policies. We’ve served Lexington and the Central Kentucky community since 2003 and have helped thousands of homeowners file insurance claims and repair their wind-damaged roofs.
If your roof is seven years or older, we recommend getting it inspected annually, not just after a significant weather event, as part of best home maintenance practices. Regular roof inspections ensure that you catch any unseen damage or deterioration before it’s too late to file a claim and before it causes major damage.
You may be wondering, how can I tell if a wind storm has damaged my roof? In this article, we’ll describe the 5 most obvious signs that your roof has wind damage. Even if you don’t notice any of these signs, you should have your roof inspected to ensure no damage.
5 Signs Your Home Has Wind Damage
Roofs are very vulnerable to wind damage. Wind does not consistently hit the roof – rather, wind storms tend to cause damage to the edges of a roof or parts of a roof that are already loose. Also, falling debris, such as tree limbs, can damage your roof as the wind carries them. The most common signs of wind damage to a roof are listed below.
Sign #1: Missing shingles
Perhaps the most common sign of a wind-damaged roof is missing shingles. You can spot missing shingles if you notice them in your yard, around your home, or by looking up at your roof. If your roof appears discolored or the color pattern stops abruptly in certain places, you may have missing shingles. Missing shingles can be difficult to spot at the highest points of your roof because of poor visibility. This is why getting a roof inspection by a professional roofer after a windstorm or major weather event is imperative.
Left untreated, missing shingles can lead to roof leaks and, eventually, wood rot and mold. If you have a few shingles missing, it’s likely just a few hundred-dollar repairs. But if you neglect your missing shingles, leaks can quickly wrack up thousands in damage.
Sign #2: Ridge Cap Damage
The ridges of your roof are very susceptible to wind damage. The ridge cap refers to the shingles positioned along the ridges of your roof. During a windstorm, shingles along the ridge can be ripped off or cause them to curl. Shingles help keep water from penetrating into your home. If the shingles along the ridges of your roof become curled or otherwise compromised, leaks can occur.
Sign #3: Granule loss
Just like hail, wind can cause granule loss on your shingles. Granules make up the surface layer of your asphalt shingles and protect your roof from many things, including harmful UV rays. Over time, some granule loss will occur. But, after severe weather, shingles can experience significant granule loss. Strong winds can also knock granules loose, resulting in faint horizontal lines on your roof. You can spot granule loss by checking your downspouts or observing your roof.
Granule loss does not always mean your roof needs a full replacement – but if you want to avoid issues with weatherproofing and maximize the life of your roof, you should replace any shingles with significant granular wear.
Sign #4: Fascia or soffits
Your soffits and fascia boards are critical to the structural integrity of your roof and home. When damaged, your soffits and fascia boards can expose your home to water damage or even leave your home vulnerable to critters sneaking in.
Extreme wind can cause your soffits and fascia boards to crack, bend, become loose, or even blow off fascia boards entirely. If you notice this kind of damage to your home, it’s important to have this repaired by a local, reputable Lexington roofer immediately.
Other Signs of Wind Damage to Your Home
Severe wind can wreak havoc on your siding as well as your roof. Because of how it’s constructed, vinyl siding is especially susceptible to damage from strong winds. Typical wind damage to your siding is easy to spot. Your siding may be loose or wholly blown off on your home. If you notice wind damage to your siding, it’s important to get it repaired quickly. Your siding is the first line of defense to protect your home.
It’s important to note that the Lexington building code did not require house wrap before 2008. House wrap is a layer of protection between your siding and home. If your home siding was installed before 2008 and becomes damaged, structural aspects of your home are then exposed.
What to do if your roof has storm damage
If you live in an area that has experienced severe wind or other weather, it’s important to contact a reputable, experienced Lexington Roofing Contractor. Most Lexington roofing companies (AIC Roofing included) offer free roof estimates and inspections. If you suspect your roof may have storm damage, scheduling a free inspection is an excellent place to start. This will help you get an idea of the damage that you’re dealing with.
Contact your roofing contractor before your insurance is recommended. Your roofing contractor can alert you to any damage, help guide you through the home insurance claims process, and advocate for you.
If you’re curious about how to file a home insurance claim or think your roof might be actively leaking, head to our Learning Center to find answers to all your roofing questions.
Scheduling an Evaluation for a Wind Damaged Roof
Regardless of if there has been severe weather in your area recently, roof inspections are important preventative maintenance. We recommend having your roof inspected annually to ensure it has not sustained any damage.
AIC Roofing and Construction has served homeowners in Louisville, Lexington, and Richmond since 2003. We are in North America’s top 2% of roofing contractors to obtain the GAF MasterElite certification. If you’re looking for a top-rated Lexington roofing company – we’d love to see if we would be a good fit for your roof project. Contact us today to schedule your free roof inspection.
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