Colorado’s weather can be very rough on houses, especially the exterior of your house. The diverse weather conditions and damaging storms are concern when trying to maintain your home. If you suspect ANY storm roof damage to your home as a result of a storm get a second opinion and estimate, because there is a good chance it will be covered by insurance.
The most common type of damage from storms, specifically hail storms, is roof damage. Below are ways to help identify roof damage to your roof after a storm. Don’t forget to check the rest of your home’s exterior though, often other damages are overlooked in roof damage claims, when all of the damage needs to be repaired.
**If you need any clarity on specific roofing terms see out roofing glossary.
Signs of Storm Roof Damage Inside Your Home
Even though it might be exterior damage, there are effects that can be seen inside your home. Clear indication of storm roof damage are as follows:
- Signs of Water Damage – Most homeowners are familiar with what water damage looks like. Damp or wet drywall, bloated paint from the moisture and soft spots are sure signs of water damage. Normally these are due to leaks, some leaks can be distance from where the damage to the inside of your home is located. Other signs of water damage are brown circles or rings located on your ceilings.
- Dark Spots/Stains – Dark spots or staining can indicate mold or algae growing in the presence of moisture. Often times this can be your roof showing age. The mold or algae could be cleaned up, but their may be a bigger problem with your roof sealing.
- Light Showing Through Roof – If you are in your attic and can see light through any of your roof, this is a sure sign to get someone to look at your roof. Though it’s an obvious inspection, doing it could save a considerable amount of time and further damage to your home.
- Sagging Roof Decking – If you see the decking of your roof sagging or warping in your attic, this could indicate the decking has taken some water damage. In most cases you will need to replace the decking that has sagged and warped to restore you roof. Catching this as soon as you can is best to avoid any further decking being damaged.
Signs of Storm Roof Damage from the Exterior
To the untrained eye some damage to a roof may get overlooked if it is not looked at closely. If you are looking at your roof, exercise extreme caution in using ladders and walking your roof. Below are the items you want to look for with exterior storm roof damage:
- Visual Shingle Inspection – Inspect your roof for any missing shingles. Also look closely to see if any shingles are cracked, torn or bald. These are signs of damage to your roof.
- Excess Wear – Roofing inspections are looking at more than just the shingles. Look at all the parts of the roof for excess wear including vents, pipes and chimney(if applicable). If you have any other penetrations to your roof make sure those too are inspected for any excess wear. If they are loose or damaged themselves these are other areas of concern.
- Shingle Granules – When storms hit the force of the hail will normally leave evidence of damage. The evidence of damaged shingles or destroyed shingles can sometimes be found in your gutters and downspouts. If you see shingle granules, which look like broken pieces of the shingles, then you will want to seek a professional estimate.
- Rot and Mold – If you see spots of moisture that have rot or mold growing, this could be a sign your roof has damage. As we talked about with indoor indicator, the damage and indications of collected moisture aren’t always in the same place. This is normally because the roof has run off built in and the water will drip or drain to a point it collects.
- Gutters & Downspouts – Look for any damage to your gutters or downspouts. If they are blocked or clogged this can affect the draining of your roof and cause damage over time. Make sure your gutters and downspouts are not damaged and are working properly.
- Working Vents – Lastly check any vents your home has. These are normally for your bathrooms, kitchen hood and dryer. Make sure these are not damaged in any way that would allow water into your home, or would prevent proper venting. Checking your vents in your attic(if you have one) is a really good idea if you are having leaking issues. Sometimes the vent is just disconnected or broken between the roof and the place it is intended to vent.
Help with Insurance Claims
Hopefully this check list will aid you in searching for damage to your roof. IF you have any suspicion of damage it is best to consult a professional for a second opinion. While getting an evaluation see if they will give you an estimate for all the damage. You don’t need to go with the estimate but it will help file a claim and make sure you get all your home repairs covered by the insurance company.
If you would like help with your insurance process or just more information on how to go about filing a claim we are here to help. Need more information on the insurance claim process after a storm click here.