How to Identify Signs of Roof Damage After a Storm

In Fairfax County, Virginia, your neighborhood may experience harsh weather conditions in the winter and summer. These conditions could cause roof storm damage, leaving your home vulnerable to moisture and unwanted pests. After a storm, you should inspect your roof for wear and tear so you can have a safe, reliable home. Use this guide to figure out how to identify roof damage so you can consider the next steps to take.

How to Identify Roof Damage From a Storm

When it’s safe to go outside, walk around the perimeter of your house and look at your roof. Before you climb up onto the roof, you should call a professional to inspect it, since they know how to identify roof leaks and install a new roof if necessary. Here are the common types of roof damage you might see on your property — including how a professional company, such as Sunshine Contracting, can fix them:

1. Hail Damage

Hail is a collection of small, round pieces of ice that fall from the sky and make dents on objects on your property. While impact damage to a roof is typical during a hailstorm, you should also check the siding and other exterior surfaces to know how big or dangerous the dents are. When you get your roof inspected, also ask to check the gutters for dents or broken pieces of soft metal.

The type of roof damage you see from a hailstorm depends on its material. Asphalt and composite shingles may develop soft or black dents from hail, while wood shingles might have orange or brown splits with sharp edges. To fix hail damage, you’ll have to replace the whole roof, or you could have drafts or water leaks in your home.

2. Debris and Leaks

If you have a lot of trees in your backyard, you may find fallen tree limbs or leaves on your roof after a harsh windstorm. These objects could puncture your roofing material or cause mold to grow on the house. Walk around the house and look for noticeable roof damage from debris.

As a result of punctures from debris, water or air drafts can leak into the house, staining the walls and affecting the comfortable indoor environment. These holes or cracks in the roof put wear and tear on your HVAC system since it has to work harder to achieve a suitable indoor temperature.

3. Trapped Water or Snow

After a rainstorm, you can expect to find water in small holes or cracks throughout your roof. The pressure from excess moisture on top of your house could damage its interior and exterior. You’ll need to call a roofing professional to replace all the shingles to prevent mold buildup and other moisture-related damage.

Besides water, you may also find sheets of snow on top of the roof. This heavy precipitation could put excess pressure on top of the house. If your attic and roof aren’t adequately insulated, ice dams could form from melted snow. These icicles prevent the flow of snow and water off your roof and could even leak water into the house. To fix and prevent this issue, make sure your attic and roof have the proper insulation on them.

4. Missing Shingles

Wind damage to the roof comes in the form of missing or ripped shingles. Your roof is especially prone to broken pieces if it’s older and in need of a replacement. Although you may not initially worry about a few missing pieces, leaving a row of missing shingles can bring water and pests into your house. You should replace the whole roof so you can provide your home with more protection from harsh weather conditions and moisture.

How Sunshine Contracting Fixes Hail, Wind, Rain and Snow Damage

Generally, the best way to fix damage from any storm is to replace your roof. If you don’t install a brand-new roof, or at least replace the damaged portion of it, after your residence has suffered severe dents and cracks from the weather, it’s only a matter of time before the next storm hits and brings water into your house. Plus, a new roof will enhance your home’s curb appeal and increase the property value.

Our team at Sunshine Contracting inspects your residence to figure out the next steps for installing a new roof after a storm. We will also upgrade your roof with moisture-resistant material for storm-safe roof restoration. At the end of each workday, we will clean up your yard and leave it just as it was when we started.

Here is our process for replacing your worn-out roof:

• Schedule a consultation: When you call our office or fill out a contact form, you speak to a real person about your roofing needs. After we receive your inquiry, our consultant schedules an appointment with you to ask you questions about your project. During this time, you can choose the style and materials of your roof to accommodate your house design and budget. 
• Prepare the roof for replacement: Using a roofing shovel, we remove the whole roof and any debris we find. When the roof is empty, we inspect the supporting plywood for any signs of damage. If necessary, we will replace any broken or worn-out wood panels.
• Apply weather protection: Under the shingles, several layers of material guard your home against moisture and air drafts. To comply with county code requirements, we lay down an ice and water shield around the chimney and skylights and penetrations. An aluminum drip edge prevents corrosion and staining in the eaves. Felt paper acts as a vapor barrier for the plywood, while pipe collars guard against moisture. Step, apron and chimney flashing directs water flow away from your roof. We caulk all the joints throughout the flashing to complete the barrier.
• Install the shingles: The shingles make up the outer layer that gives your home its curb appeal. We use a ridge vent to provide proper ventilation along the roof, and then we put shingles on top of it for extra protection against harsh weather conditions. After installing the starter strip on all sides and the eaves, we lay down the roof shingles.

At Sunshine Contracting, we provide quality service to the residents of Fairfax County, Virginia. Our highly trained team members are the company’s backbone and have contributed to our success over the years. If you invest in our products, you can take advantage of our warranties to save money and protect your new roofing.

Contact Sunshine Contracting for a Free Estimate

If a storm has damaged your roof in Virginia, we will inspect it and give you options for installing a new one with more weather-resistance and longevity. We offer roof replacement services to provide your damaged roof with a brand-new look. Contact us today for a free estimate on your roofing project.