Your roof is one of the keystones of your home. While it's easy to forget about, roofing failures can lead to a cascade of other problems. Damage to your roof can create opportunities for water intrusion, reduced insulation efficiency, and even pest entry. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to spot roofing damage that can lead to these problems.

Your roof needs to stand up to extreme weather conditions, including high winds, but severe weather can take its toll on even the best roofing products. Winds as low as 25mph can damage a roof, especially when shingles are already old or weakened. The sooner your spot this damage, the more likely it is that you'll be able to repair the problem without replacing your whole roof.

What Should You Look for After High Winds?

Heavy winds can impact your roof in several ways, although the most obvious issues will be visible from the ground. If you've recently been through a severe storm with high winds, you should do a quick walkaround inspection of your home. Missing shingles will usually be relatively easy to spot, but you'll also want to keep an eye out for shingles that appear shifted or slightly out of place.

Looking around your lawn can also be useful for inspecting your roof. If you have a tall house or a complex roof, you may not be able to see everything from the ground. Since shingles that blow off your roof need to go somewhere, you may find pieces of them in your yard. Some granule loss is normal, but excessive asphalt granules near your downspouts can also indicate roofing problems.

What Can't You See?

While you can perform a cursory inspection from the ground, you won't be able to see everything without getting onto the roof. For example, shingle tabs may pop loose in heavy winds without blowing off or moving. Although these shingles will remain in place (for now), they may be creased or cracked. By pulling loose, they'll also do a poor job of preventing water from intruding onto the roof deck.

Stepping onto your roof can be dangerous, and spotting these problems requires a trained eye. If you suspect your roof may have hidden damage following a wind storm, the best option is to call an experienced roofer to inspect and help you evaluate the damage. A professional will also be more likely to spot problems you can't see.

What Should You Do?

If you or a roofer locate wind damage on your roof, it's crucial to repair it as soon as you can. Damaged shingles are more vulnerable to wind, rain, and debris, so a shingle that seems acceptable will likely fail in the future, if not during the next storm. Repairing this damage now will protect your roof and home while minimizing the chance of needing a roof replacement in the near term.

For more information on roof repair, contact a professional near you.