Storm Damaged Roofs in Cecil County

Roofs are made to withstand the weather, but in a bad storm, wind, hail, or debris can damage your home. But it’s not always easy to see this roof damage.

Homeowners need to know how to spot roof damage so they can quickly fix it and get their privacy, safety, and comfort back. Structure damage can happen to your home if you don’t fix it.

If bad weather hit your area recently, you might see your neighbors fixing their roofs or talking to insurance adjusters. Learn how to look for signs of damage and what to do if you see them.

Stay Safe and Assess Storm Damage

Make sure the storm is over and it is safe to go outside before you check the outside of your house for damage. Stay away from downed power lines, electrical hazards, or flooding, and call 911 right away.

Even if everything seems safe, you should still be on the lookout for danger, especially on or near your roof. This is often the most dangerous place after a storm because it can damage the structure and you can’t see it. If it’s a winter storm, look for things like broken or loose shingles and ice dams.

Look for signs of damage from the wind

High wind speeds could cause trees to fall, windows to break, and roofs to get damaged. If the shingles come off, the roof deck or underlayment is left open to the weather. This makes water damage to your home even more likely.
After a storm with a lot of wind, check the outside of your home for:

• Damage depending on your roof type:
  • All Shingle Roofs: Missing, cracked, or curling shingles
  • Composition Shingles: Granule buildup in gutters
  • Wood Shingles or Shakes: Rotting and mold
  • Flat Roofs: Cracks, tears, or surface bubbles/wrinkles

Look for Signs of Water Damage

Missing or broken shingles caused by hail or wind damage are easy to spot. Water damage, on the other hand, can take longer to notice. If you don’t fix water damage and leaks, mold can grow, which can hurt your home’s structure and foundation.

Here are the most important spots to look for signs of flooding, leaks, and storm damage in general:

• Gutters: Check here for water buildup. If water isn’t being redirected properly, it can pool next to your home and create mold and damage to the structure.
• Ceilings: Check for water spots and yellow, copper, or brown discoloration.
• Walls: Inspect for signs of cracking, peeling, or bubbling in the paint or wallpaper.
• Check your attic, basement, and crawl spaces for mold or wood rot and leaks. This can reveal itself as a musty smell, which can occur as soon as 24-48 hours after a storm.
• Flooring: Look for gaps or curling floorboards, sagging wood that feels soft to the touch, or expansion in wood and laminate floors Expansion occurs when the materials become waterlogged.
• Roof: Cracked, curled, or missing shingles.
• Windows: Look for moisture buildup (fog) between glass panes.

Look for signs that hail has hurt your roof

Damage from hail is easy to spot. You will hear hail hitting your roof and windows, and you will see ice pellets gathering on the ground. Hail damage is also usually easy to spot, since it can dent your siding or even break your windows. Hail can also make small holes in your roof or pull off shingles.

Most of the time, hail damage does the following to your roof:

• Missing Shingles: Look for gaps in the pattern or pieces of exposed roof. You may also see shingles on the ground near your home.
• Damaged Shingles: Check for shingles on your roof that are curled, buckling, dented, or cracked.
• Build-up in gutters and downspouts that have collected loose asphalt granules.
  Flashing and downspouts that are dented, hanging, or missing.

Bayside Roofing Company is here for all your roof replacement needs! Call (443) 309-3801