How Wind Can Harm a Roof

When it comes to a roofing system, wind damage can be very unpredictable. It can cause minor damage, severe damage, leaks, structural issues, and other problems as well. If you want to strengthen your defenses, you’ll need to know the ropes and exactly how the wind can wreak havoc on a roof.

Missing Shingles

When shingles are brand-new, they have a strong grip. However, as they age, the adhesive underneath each shingle will wear away, and this is what makes the shingles vulnerable to the wind. Shingles are lightweight, so if they are loose when the wind blows, they could fly away.

To understand the risks, you’ll need to know what to look for when it comes to wind gusts. Severe rainstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes can all produce winds that can tear the shingles off of a roof. While severe storms are not as intense as tropical storms and hurricanes, they can still generate damaging winds.

Chimney Problems

Strong winds can harm a chimney’s bricks, vents, and other vital components. For a chimney, the winds from a major hurricane are the most dangerous. They can damage the bricks on a chimney, crack the joints, or destroy the entire chimney brick by brick.

Damaged Fascia and Soffits

The fascia and soffits are vital parts of a roofing system, and they are vulnerable to high winds. A strong wind gust can easily blow the soffit panels and the fascia off a roof. It can also crack, loosen, or bend the materials.

Once the soffits and fascia are gone, a roof becomes vulnerable to water damage, and if this issue progresses, a new threat will arise. Critters and other pests will try to make the roof their stomping ground.

Curled Shingles

Not only can the wind blow shingles away, but it can also partially pry shingles away from the foundation. However, shingles do not curl easily. Curling only happens when the wind targets a key pressure point on a roof. One of these pressure points is the edge of a shingle. If the wind blows underneath the edge of a loose shingle, it won’t be long before it loses its grip.

When shingles begin to curl, they’re easy to identify on a ladder or from the ground. You’ll primarily find curled shingles near the flashing.

Debris

The wind itself is not the only threat. In some cases, it can produce projectiles, and they can harm a roof in a different manner. Items like tree branches and lawn furniture can become projectiles during a major storm. If a stray branch flies on a roof, the wind will drag it back and forth, and eventually, the branch could pry some of the shingles off the roof.

While severe storms are problematic, hurricanes can transform more dangerous objects into projectiles. For example, a category two hurricane can uproot trees, and these trees could collapse directly on a roof.

Divots

When the wind is strong, it can put divots in the granules on a shingle. The granules are important; they shield a roof from the sun’s UV rays on a hot day.

Because granules are so small, they are not easy to see from the ground. In order to check your shingles for missing granules, you’ll need to step onto the roof itself.

Flashing

The flashing is a metal slab; it’s secured on a roof with caulk. Without it, water will infiltration a roof. Flashing can withstand mild winds, but it cannot withstand high winds.

The Ultimate Wind Guide

Technically, a roof is only at risk when the wind speeds exceed 30 mpg. However, all is not lost when the wind gusts reach this type of velocity. For example, newer shingles will hold up better than older shingles. Also, the wind’s trajectory and the point of impact matter as well.

If you have a modern roof, it can probably withstand the effects of 30 mpg winds. You should only be cautious if the wind speeds exceed 100 mpg.

Prep Tactics

First, walk around your home and identify any low-hanging branches or giant trees that pose a threat to your home. You’ll need to trim all branches that hang over your roof, and if there is a large, old tree on your property, you’ll need to chop it down.

If you want to be on the safe side, invest in brand-new wind-resistant shingles. Although regular asphalt shingles are tough, a wind-resistant shingles are better. They will provide the best protection against the high winds that are produced by severe storms.