When the weather starts to pick up during the winter season, snow isn’t the only element you need to look out for on your roof. When a heavy snowstorm hits your area, wind can also become an adversary that can cause significant damage to your roofing system. It helps to determine if your roof can become vulnerable to severe wind damage, so it must be thoroughly inspected by professional contractors.
Wind damage can either be direct or indirect. Direct wind damage occurs in conditions where the roofing materials were blown off, damaged or displaced by strong winds. Indirect wind damage comes mainly from objects that are blown by the wind. These are referred to as “missiles”, which can be almost anything, such as tree limbs, gravel or other forms of debris when they’re carried off by the wind. Roofing materials that were directly blown off by strong winds can also become missiles, which can include tiles, shingles and other material that came from neighboring homes.
A professional in roof replacement services can understand how wind speed can affect your home’s roof. Wind speed is slower when closer to the ground, so it’s more related to the roof’s height above the ground and how the wind passes over it. The wind passing over your roof can be more than twice the speed it approaches your home, and if it increases uplift, the damage it inflicts on your roof is also increased.
To know whether your roof has already suffered wind damage, you’ll need to determine the direction from which the damage-causing winds came. As you look closely at the pattern of damage, the direction from which the wind was blowing can be inferred. You can also find clues on the orientation of the roof’s damaged surface and displaced debris. Look for trim, siding or other displaced claddings on each side of your home. The damage often tends to be more severe on the side of the home that was directly facing the winds.
If you’re looking to get a new roofing system, our experts at Renovation Team are your best choice for the job! Call us today at (636) 939-1061, or you can also reach us online for an appointment by filling out our contact form. We serve customers in St. Louis, Chesterfield and the neighboring areas.