Tips For Assessing Wind and Water Roof Damage and Deciding When to Call in Professional Storm Damage Restoration Services

4/23/2021 (Permalink)

Blog Summary: The experts from SERVPRO provide a guide to visible and structural signs of roof damage due to water and wind after a storm. The tips detail the effect that storm winds and rain have on roof coverings and surfaces, and the importance of professional storm damage restoration to remedy the potential long-term deterioration.

Most roofs are designed to withstand severe weather for decades, but powerful winds and relentless rain take a toll during extreme storms. In Texas, storm damage restoration is an essential service. It is best to know what to do when signs of roof damage become obvious, and one place to start is with storm damage restoration professionals, like SERVPRO.

How to Identify Roof Damage and When to Get Storm Damage Restoration Services

Wind and water are major concerns when it comes to roof damage after a severe southern storm. However, the signs of wind or water damage are not always apparent to the naked eye. It is best to assess the condition of the roof regularly and look for these issues:

#1 Signs of Wind Damage

Authorities generally classify damaging winds as exceeding 50 miles per hour, and there are two types of damaging winds:

• Rotational winds include the winds expected in tornadoes
• Straight-line winds commonly arrive during severe thunderstorms or hurricanes

Severe winds also fall under the classification of gusts or sustained winds. While gusts damage the roof if shingles or gutters pull loose, the sustained (high) winds do the most damage to a home or business.

Inspecting a roof after a severe storm is crucial, especially if leaking or other signs appear once the weather clears. Missing shingles are an obvious sign of damage, and cracked or already peeling shingles will be at the most significant risk of ripping off when high winds approach. The roof and ceiling suffer serious damage when exposed to the elements this way. 

When a roof is new, it is not unusual to see the loss of granules from the roof following a storm. Granules rub off new shingles as the loose shingles flap in the wind. It creates horizontal lines of granule loss as the rubbing shingle comes into contact with other surfaces.

Visible water leakage is another sure sign of roof damage. Leaks will often appear in the ceiling of the building as patches or spreading dampness. When there are signs of leakage, it also indicates potential damage to the shingles and the roof’s underlayment. Severe deterioration may even result in rainwater flooding into the attic and upper rooms of the building.

#2 Signs of Water Damage

Moisture is a terrible aspect inside any residential or commercial building. It might be water driven into the building by the high winds or seeping moisture as a result of standing water. If left unchecked, this water damage can be destructive, unhealthy for the building’s occupants, and expensive to repair.

Damage to the roof may not be apparent but looking in areas where water pools after heavy rain is a good place to start. Pooling indicates an issue in that area of the roof. The storm damage restoration team will also check around any chimneys and vents that use flashing to keep out the rain.

When water floods surfaces like the floor or the wall insulation, mildew and mold may cause health effeects. Developing organic matter in these hard-to-reach places is an urgent matter, and water restoration companies like SERVPRO become a vital service.

Storm Damage Restoration Professionals at SERVPRO

SERVPRO of Grapevine provides high-quality commercial cleaning service and building restoration service throughout Tarrant County. They are also one of the top fire restoration companies and mold remediation companies in the region.

The services include:

• commercial water damage, 
• flood cleanup, 
• fire damage restoration service, 
• air duct cleaning service, 
• water removal, 
• water cleanup, and 
• mold removal. 

Visit SERVPRO of Grapevine, TX, at 1670 Keller Pkwy. Ste 209, Keller, TX, 76248. Or contact their professionals at (817) 595-2506 for more information.