Most people live in Florida to enjoy the beautiful weather all year round. Living on the Gulf of Mexico or Tampa Bay is the perfect place if you like sunshine, tropical breezes, warm temperatures, palm trees, the water, and the beach. Unfortunately, in Tampa Bay, we get tropical storms, hurricanes, hail, and rainstorms that come up quickly and do some significant damage. With these storms, your home or business roofs can be damaged which can ultimately affect the inside of your home.
Here is some information about how the weather in Tampa Bay can affect your roof:
High Winds
High winds can cause severe damage to your roof. Here are the types of damage that high winds can cause to your roof:
- Missing shingles
- Leaks
- Gutter problems
High winds can remove and tear shingles exposing the roof deck, underlayment or old shingles to the elements. Your roof is vulnerable to wind-driven rain to lift and curl shingles by breaking the seal that bonds them together.
Shingles roofs especially take a beating during high winds, despite most being rated to withstand 90 mph winds. A roof can sustain damage by winds that starts around 50 mph.
High winds can blow tree limbs and debris around that can damage your roof and property. Trees also can come down on your home, roof, car, etc. If you need emergency service to remove a tree, contact a local tree removal company?
Hail
Hail can damage a roof by leaving dents or pockmarks in shingles which dislodges the protective granules that protect against rain and sun damage.
Storm Checklist
Here is a checklist to determine if you have any issues with your roof and home:
- Assess your roof for storm damage. Just walk around your home and take notes and photographs of any damage. Dented, torn, curled or missing shingles are obvious signs of damage.
- Check gutters, roofing accessories, and windows. Some of the items may be hidden such as dents in gutters and roof vents. Inspect windows for cracks, torn screens, and loose weather stripping.
- Inspect the area around your home. Inspect for broken fences, fallen tree limbs, and damage to lawn furniture and exterior decorations. Check out your patios and decks for signs of hail damage.
- Look for leaks and water spots in your attic and ceilings. Even if your roof appears undamaged from the outside, hall and wind may have caused leaks. Check ceilings and light fixtures for signs of water and inspect your attic closely with a flashlight.
- Call a contractor you can trust. Select an Owens Corning™ Roofing Preferred to assess your damage, provide an estimate and replace your roof using proven products.
- Report the damage to your homeowner’s insurance company.
Do not attempt to climb up on your roof because the roof structure may be weakened and shingles may be slippery. If you suspect roof damage, call a professional roof contractor to assess the damage.
How To Spot Wind Damage
Here are some signs of how to spot the wind damage to your roof:
- Roof Leaks: These are perhaps the easiest to find, simply because there is water coming into your house where it shouldn’t. Look in your attic or on your top floor for wet spots or water dripping from the ceiling. Be sure to call an expert roofer immediately!
- Missing Shingles: Strong winds, heavy rain, or falling tree branches can pull off your roof’s shingles.
- Curling Shingles: Curling shingles are most often found at stress points on the roof, i.e., the edges, the corners, near the chimney, at the ridge, etc. When shingles are curled, they can no longer keep water from leaking through the roof, although these are harder to find than a shingle which is simply missing.
- “Lifting” Shingles: Difficult to see unless you’re looking for them, the shingles look intact from the ground. However, the nails have loosened, “lifting” the shingle up, and potentially breaking the sealant between each shingle layer, leading to an increase in the likelihood of a leak.
- The Gutter: High winds and heavy rains can wash away the granules from the shingle, and load them into the gutter. Look for excessive shingle granules in the gutter, and if you find them, call a reputable roofer to come out and check your roof for repair.
- Chimney Flashing: Look to see if the chimney flashing is missing or split. This is a stress point for high winds, which can easily be lifted by a strong wind hitting at just the right angle.
No. 1 Home Roofing is proud to deliver quality service to its clientele in local communities, and therefore has years of experience in re-roofing and patching flat roofing systems.
No. 1 Home Roofing is a family owned and operated roofing company conveniently located on US Highway 19 in Palm Harbor, Florida. We are dedicated to providing top quality workmanship and materials to ensure that your new roof is done right. We specialize in shingle, tile, and flat roof installation, repairs, and maintenance. Contact us for an appointment and/or estimate at 727-781-7663.