How Do Hurricanes Affect The Life Of Your Roof?
Hurricanes are a super-natural phenomenon and are more likely to strike coastal areas. Hurricanes are often accompanied by other weather elements like high winds, making the situation scarier. Besides, it also increases the severity of roofing system damage.
Hurricanes and strong winds can directly affect your roof's structure and worsen the damage. In addition, both commercial and residential properties get exposed to a natural phenomenon or any other weather element. In this article, we will share some knowledge on how a hurricane damages your roof.
Roof Damages By Hurricane
A hurricane comes with strong winds, heavy rains, hail storms, and airborne debris. Each of these can cause massive damage to your roof. Some of the potential damages a hurricane can cause are listed below.
• Attic Leaks
Strong Winds in a hurricane detach shingles from the roof. If the windy heavy rains continue, water finds its way and penetrates the attic through small cracks on the top. Moisture can further increase the severity of the damage. Hence, immediately repair the cracks and holes of the roof after the hurricane.
• Hail Stones
Lightning, thunder, and hail stones often accompany the hurricane. Hail stones are known for dotting your roof. It is difficult to estimate the damage from the ground. However, look out for the below signs to determine the roof damage.
Look for granules in your gutters and downspouts. If you find any granule after a hailstorm, there are chances of shingles damage because of the storm.
Dense hailstones are known to crack apart the shingles. However, not all cracks pose an immediate risk; they can still leave your roof with bare spots leaking the roofs down the line. Besides, cracked ceilings cannot protect your roof from other external elements.
• Roof Uplifting Force
Heavy winds are the face of a hurricane and can uplift your entire roofing structure while moving near the ground. Therefore, if you live in a hurricane-prone zone, your house must have a roof adequately secured to the property walls.
• Shingle Damage
Hurricane damage begins with the most exposed part of a roof - the shingles. Shingles may have curled edges or granule loss after a hurricane. But, in most cases, roofs will have missing shingles.
• Detaching Roof Elements
Every house's roof has various elements like satellite dishes or antennas attached. A hurricane can detach these elements and cause moisture, water, and wind to penetrate the interior structure through the openings. Such penetration can cause roof leaks and decrease the strength of your roof.
• Airborne Debris
A hurricane leaves behind loose debris like yard waste, outdoor furniture, trampoline, etc., around your house. It indicates that such things are stuck on your roof during high winds. Besides, an intense hurricane can lend tree branches or debris to your roof. Hence, you must clean the debris and look for any severe damage to your roof.
Conclusion
A hurricane is an unavoidable natural calamity that can hit anyone, anytime, anywhere. However, necessary precautions just before a hurricane season can help your roof withstand high pressure. Moreover, you must also thoroughly inspect the roof after the hurricane or get it checked professionally. Staying on foot for shelter can save you time, money, and inconvenience. Please contact us if you are in the need of a new roof or would like a free no-obligation quote!