The constant exposure to climate conditions can put a strain on the life expectancy of your roof which can be a problem as it’s the first line of defense of your home and all of its contents against various elements. Homeowners are aware of the risk from extreme weather like snowstorms, hurricanes, hailstorms; torrential rains can affect their roofing structure.
As these extreme weather events grow stronger, winds tend to get more dangerous. Anything faster than 50mph can lead to roof tiles and shingles either becoming loose or completely falling off your roof. Even chimneys and other sturdy items could be at danger from it.
The strong winds plus the elements such as rain and snow could create roofing damage that you can’t afford to ignore. The smallest holes or cracks in the roof caused by shingles being torn off can lead to water entering your home and creating even more trouble for you and everyone living with you.
Damages received from strong winds don’t stop there. The wind may force trees overhanging near a building to rub against its roof causing an abrasion to occur. Gutters and downpipes could also clog from any debris being blown to its direction.
Meanwhile, a hailstorm can create small or large fractures in the roof shingles or tiles which could eventually cause sections of your roof to tear and fall off. The damage it produces depends on its intensity and how big the hailstorm was. Again, these cracks would make it easy for leaks to occur.
Usually, the immediate impact wouldn’t be overly noticeable. Most of the time, the negative effects only appear over time, and when it does, it would be huge.
When a leaky roof affects your home, it mostly bothers the attic and the ceiling. It could lead to paint darkening or fading faster, and the plaster could start to bubble and expand. Leaks could also cause problems in the ventilation of your attic which would not only be harmful to your comfort but your bills as well.
The water could also drip down to the walls and wood frame of the house which can lead the wood to rot and become weaker which could make your home unsafe.
When a natural disaster occurs, the damage won’t take that long to appear. A damaged roof from the winds and large chunks of hail as well as continuous rain could overwhelm the underlayment protecting the ceiling and cause dripping along the sections of the internal ceiling which you’ll notice when you see a discoloration in the ceiling.
Overall, a compromised roofing system will allow water infiltration which is harmful especially during a storm, but the fixing the damage right away is dangerous. There’s a high chance that you might slip or fall. That’s why professionals should do emergency roofing repairs.
But, professional roofing contractors are often busy during these times so help wouldn’t always be available. As a homeowner, you should know what to do until help arrives but also understand that these roof repairs are a temporary band-aid solution that should be follow through with proper repair.
In this infographic by Fahey Roofing Contractors, learn a few tips on do-it-yourself emergency roof repairs.
