Wind Damage to a Roof

Unfortunately, no one is immune from the force of a natural disaster. Hurricanes, constant storms and just wind can cause homeowners a lot of hassle. Especially, if they are not uncommon in your county or state. Roofs of houses are especially affected by the wind because they are under the direct influence of the elements. And, if the wind is unlikely to damage walls, fences or basements, the problem of wind damage to roofs occurs much more often.

Seasonal winds cause damage to power lines, garden furniture, trampolines, cars and houses, which are hit by trees and branches broken by a squally wind. In the worst case, the wind also tears off the edge of the roof and opens up access to rainwater. Thus, the wind itself may not be so terrible, but concurrent factors are likely to cause serious concerns. For example, rains, especially strong and long-lasting ones, make the wind damage to the roof much stronger, and restoring the integrity of the coating is more difficult and more expensive in that case.

Insurance claims statistics in the USA show that during storms the largest number of damage cases are related to the roofs of buildings. Strong winds and torrential rains reveal weaknesses in the roofing as a strong wind can both tear off a part of the roof and cause damage to the entire roof and the main structures. It's not just old homes that are at risk of storm damage - strong winds can also blow off new roofs. To be ready for and protected against the arrival of stormy winds, check the roof of both the residential building and the outbuildings and fix or repair doubtful places, if necessary.

Heavy torrential rains can penetrate roof structures without breaking them. In this case, both interior decoration and household property can be damaged.

How to Identify Roof Wind Damage

In the majority of cases, additional help is needed to identify the damage. Often, homeowners try to independently check and eliminate the defects that have arisen. But, this option is only suitable for physically developed people, who also have at least basic knowledge of the repair and construction of the roof.

The presence of many types of roofing also makes it difficult to identify wind damage to the roof, because very often it may not be obvious.

Before we look into the options concerning the ways to determine whether your roof has remained intact after monsoons or typhoons, let's identify the types of damage. They fall into two categories:

• Direct damage, which is caused directly by the movement of air masses. It is quite real if the wind speed is high. So, strong gusts and gusty winds can simply tear off a part/parts of the coating. They can also tear off parts of the pipes that run around the perimeter to drain rainwater. Often, if there is a stove or a fireplace, chimneys are also damaged by the wind.
• Indirect damage, which is caused not by the cyclone itself and the movement of air masses, but by their consequences, e.g. heavy snow or heavy showers. The same type of damage can be attributed to holes and defects which happen because of falling branches of trees, trees themselves, objects lifted into the air. Unfortunately, such defects are usually the most dangerous for further living in the house.

So, how do you determine if a roof needs to be repaired after being exposed to strong gusts of wind? To begin with, assess your subjective feelings. Have you suspected that a part of the roof might go off the rafters? Were there any suspicious noises during bad weather? If at least one of the answers to these questions is "yes", there is an urgent need to inspect the roof surface, as well as the rooms located directly below it.

What dangers can be caused by wind damage to the roof?

• First of all, a complete collapse. If the elements raged, their effect was long-term, and your roof was clearly not new, there could be a risk that, over time, it might simply collapse on your head and your household. This state of affairs is definitely not included in your plans, isn't it?
• In addition, the roof may not be able to withstand additional factors. If its parts loosened, began to stagger easily under the influence of the weight of snow/rainwater/ice, it could also collapse.
• Even minor types of defects might make a house uninhabitable. If some water oozes through weak spots in the roof, it will flood the attic or living quarters, causing the appearance of dampness, mold, and an unpleasant odor in the house. Even in hot seasons, it will not be easy to completely dry the house and prevent leaks.
• In addition, all these risks are complemented by an increased cost of maintaining a house. Naturally, the consumption of heat and electricity will increase if the roof of the house has been damaged. You will definitely notice this by the amount that you have to pay for the utilities.

What kind of roofs can handle the power of nature better than others?

The larger the surface of the roof, the greater external load it can handle. The better roofing materials, the longer they will last. It turns out that the steeper the roof, the greater load is accumulated on it. Experts recommend to make the slope no more than 20 degrees in the area which is characterized by strong winds. On the other hand, a sloping roof is not always a good option as well: when there are heavy snowfalls, the load accumulated on it significantly increases. Most often, a compromise option will be optimal. In the areas with heavy snowfalls and strong winds, it is recommended to make the slope 20 to 45 degrees. The main task of strengthening the roof is to prevent it from being blown away since it has excellent windage. This means that it is not so much the rafters that should be strengthened, but the crowns.

But, if you have already got your roof as it is, you will have to sweat to study its condition after storms and hurricanes.

• To get started, call a roofing technician according to the type of roofing of your house. They will be able to quickly and accurately identify defective areas and weaknesses. Trust them and get your hands on a complete roof inspection report.
• If you suspect that the roof is still leaking after the winds, it is better to call the water leak detection services. This will allow you to plan the restoration of your home more accurately and draw up an additional application to the insurance company to get compensated for this insured event as well.
• The help of a public adjuster is also useful. This specialist will start the process of claiming the compensation from the insurance company, which is likely to be higher if you apply for the services of such a professional. Sometimes the difference is several times. And this is your chance to repair the damage faster.

Do not forget about the need to obtain inspection documents and estimates from each of these services. All this will be your proof for the insurance adjuster. Let them describe every crack, every spot or deformation on the surface - every detail counts.

Wind Damage to Clay Tile Roofs

In the areas subject to strong winds, shingles have proven their worth. Because of their considerable weight and small size, it is more difficult for the wind to lift them. The worst thing that can happen is damage to several individual shingles. In a similar situation, larger roofing material can be torn off completely, even with rafters. Accordingly, repairing the damage caused to a tiled roof will be much cheaper. It is advantageous that each tile is attached independently and is not connected to adjacent ones.

At the same time, wind damage to a clay tile roof can be easily determined even by an inexperienced person. Shards of broken fragments of the coating, gaps or spots on the surface clearly signal that some damage has happened.

Wind Damage to Slate Roofs

In case you have slate roofing, the situation is quite similar, as it is quite easy to detect if the slate roof has been damaged by the wind. Of course, thorough documentation is required if you want to file a claim with your insurance company. Be sure that your slate covering is intact before the natural disaster occurs.

Insurance Claim for Wind Damage to the Roof

Drawing up an application to get compensated for wind damage is a separate art. Yes, the homeowners policy covers such situations, but the size and time of payment directly depend on your talent to convince and the facts that you present. If neither of these is your forte, keep it simple. Hire a public adjuster. He/she will be able to knock out everything possible from the insurance company.

Insurance Adjuster's Roof Inspection

Before filling in the claim for the wind damage caused to your roof, you should get ready for a visit of an insurance adjuster for the roof inspection. This specialist works on behalf of the insurance company, so this inspection is primarily intended to document whether there are real cases of damage covered by a homeowners insurance policy. Do not expect an insurance adjuster to be loyal to you. It is his duty to prove if the case is not covered.

To deal with an insurance adjuster coming for the roof inspection take into account the following tips:

• Do not remove any damage before the insurance adjuster documents it. Instead, try to ensure easy access to the roof and the spots where it has been damaged. Also, try to photograph all the damage yourself and record a video.
• Always read the conclusion of the inspection and argue if the adjuster has not indicated some damage.
• If you do not know how to communicate with insurance adjusters, better call a wind damage public adjuster, who will be present at the moment of inspection to provide independent expertise and to communicate with the insurance adjuster on your behalf. The work and qualifications of both types of specialists are principally the same, but public adjusters always take the client's side and have enough convincing evidence to knock good compensation out of the insurance company.

Attention should also be paid to exceptions, e.g. damage caused by wear and tear, which might happen because of the edge of the roof, which has not been fixed before the storm, or a rotten tree located near the house. Such incidents of damage could have been prevented by timely repairing the roof or cutting down the tree. But, if this has not been done, the insurance company may refuse to compensate for the damage or reduce the amount of the compensation.

Wind damage could be considerable, but your urgent actions involving a public adjuster will help you to get the maximum compensation from the insurance company to restore your roof. Besides, the cost of the services provided by that pro is only 10-20% of the compensation paid. So, you'll avoid lots of hassle and save your time and effort if you apply for the services of a public adjuster.