3 Important Considerations When Evaluating Shingle Storm Damage

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Even relatively minor storms can cause a surprising amount of damage to your home's roof. While dealing with roofing damage can be frustrating, it's important to remember that your roof's role is to protect the rest of your home from the elements. In other words, it's often better for your roof to take the hit than another, more expensive part of your home.

Of course, everyone's primary question when dealing with storm damage is the cost of repairing the problem and whether they'll need an entirely new roof. You'll need a professional roofer to perform an inspection to answer these questions, but these are the three things they'll be primarily looking at when making their determination.

1. Damage Extent

It's not uncommon for shingles to tear away from residential roofing during storms. While missing shingles are a severe problem that can compromise your roof's ability to protect your home, a missing shingle or two isn't necessarily a fatal problem. In most cases, a roofer can easily replace these shingles without needing more extensive repairs.

However, widespread damage can be a more serious issue. A professional roofer will examine your entire roof for missing, cracked, damaged, or loose shingles. The greater the extent of the damage, the more likely it is that replacing your roof may be the most cost-effective option.

2. Water Intrusion

Your shingles are the first line of defense against water. Water can reach the roof underlayment and decking when your shingles break away. Also, missing shingles or damaged flashing can interfere with the normal path water takes to your gutters. As a result, seemingly minor damage can sometimes lead to substantial water intrusion.

Water entering your home doesn't necessarily mean that you'll need a new roof, but you'll want a professional to examine the affected area. If significant water reached the decking, it might have compromised the roof's structural integrity. It's generally possible to repair a few soft spots, but you may have to consider a replacement with more widespread water damage.

3. Roof Age

Asphalt shingle roofs can last for several decades, but they tend to suffer more problems as they age. The shingles can break down, and even the nails can begin to rust and fail, ultimately making it easier for storms to cause severe damage that may lead to leaks or other serious consequences. Older roofs are much more likely to fail in severe weather than newer ones.

When deciding whether repair or replacement makes the most sense, your roofer will consider the age of your roof. It's often more cost-effective to make extensive repairs to newer roofs, while even minor repairs may not be cost-effective if your roof is already old and beginning to fail. For more information, contact a company like Thompson & Thompson 3rd Generation Roofing, Inc.

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16 December 2022

Creating Great Roofing From the Start

When you want to make your home shine, there are some very important basic components you should be mindful of. For starters, you should evaluate the exterior of your home to determine whether or not the siding or exterior cladding needs to be replaced. Next, you should check to see if the roofing needs to be replaced, since it really can make a powerful difference. Roofing can take up a great deal of the visual space from the outside, so think carefully about how yours looks. Pay attention to issues like aged, curling shingles or roofing that contains dips or divots. Check out this blog for great tips about roofing.