If you live in South Louisiana, you’ve likely experienced a number of significant storms over the years. If you are lucky enough, your home made it through recent hurricanes unscathed. Unfortunately for most, that won’t always be the case. As the age of your roof increases, so does the chance your roof may experience damage from storms. In the case of major hurricanes or hailstorms, sometimes the damage is unavoidable no matter the age of your roof.
After the storm blows over, it’s important to check for signs of roof damage. While we don’t recommend climbing on your roof yourself, a visible inspection from the ground could help spot potential issues. We always recommend calling a professional to come and do a complete and thorough inspection of your roofing system. Your roofer can help you determine a course of action to take depending on the severity of damage.
Here are just a few of the visible signs of storm damage:
Hail Damage
Hail can travel as fast as 100 mph and can vary greatly in size. Hail damage to asphalt and composition shingles can look random with no discernable pattern. Damage can be black in color with a loss of granules potentially leaving the roof felt exposed. Some damage may appear mat or shiny. Upon closer inspection some hail damage is soft to the touch like a bruise on an apple. Your roofer can help identify less obvious impact sites.
Wind Damage
Signs of wind damage on a roof include loose or missing shingles, curling or peeling shingles, granule loss, damaged soffit or fascia, and water leakage indoors. Because wind damage is not always as obvious as torn-away shingles, it’s important for a roofer to inspect for loosened sealant at shingle edges.
Storm Debris Damage
Flying debris can cause a multitude of issues. Not only can it cause damage upon impact, if left on the roof it can cause future damage. Storm debris should always be removed before the next windstorm scrapes it across your shingles, doing further damage. If you are uncomfortable getting on your roof yourself, we recommend contacting a professional roofer to assist in the clean up process. That way they can complete a full inspection of damage while removing the debris.
Potential Roof Leaks
Water staining on ceilings and walls is a sure sign of a leak in your roof. People assume leaks are always that obvious but that’s not the case. Look carefully in the attic to notice signs of damp or wet wood to indicate a small leak. It’s always better when you can catch a small leak before it does damage to the insulation and ceiling. Keep in mind that any amount of moisture can lead to mold and mildew. Catching leaks early is important to mitigate further damage. Don’t ignore the stain in your ceiling, call a professional roofer to inspect, locate and repair the roof damage immediately.
The next time you are faced with recovering after a storm, contact Perdomo Roofing & Sheet Metal to perform a complete inspection of your roof. Our experienced professionals can quickly mitigate further damage, repair and/or replace your roof for peace of mind and safety in your home. Call us today to schedule an appointment. 504-885-6652