Dispelling Some Common Myths About Roofing Storm Damage

Posted on: 24 April 2017

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After any strong storm, and especially after a long season of repeated storms, it's good to have your home's roof inspected for damage. This will ensure that you can have that damage repaired before it gets worse, and ensure you protect your home from water leaks. Note a few myths about roofing storm damage so you know to have your home's roof inspected properly and what's involved in fixing the damage. 

Myths about insurance adjusters

Don't assume that an insurance adjuster doesn't know about roofing and will tell you that  your roof is fine just to save the insurance company money. For one thing, adjusters who inspect roofs are usually given specialized training in roofing so that they can perform an inspection just as well as any actual roofer. Also, it often becomes costlier to repair storm damage the longer you wait to have the work done. If an adjuster were to downplay any damage to the roof, this could mean higher reimbursement costs paid out by your insurance company down the road. If an insurance adjuster gives you a report on the damage suffered to your home, you might have a roofer check the home's roof as well, but don't automatically dismiss that report from the adjuster.

Myths about the damage itself

One common myth about roofing storm damage is that your home must be fine if no shingles are missing. In truth, the roofing paper or flashing under the shingles could be torn, or those storms could have damaged the surface of shingles or split some in half. This can make those shingles more prone to falling away sometime in the near future.

Note, too, that storms can damage chimney, vents, exhaust caps and other such features on the roof, not just shingles themselves. Just because your home's roof looks fine from the street and no shingles are missing, don't assume you shouldn't have the home properly inspected for potential storm repair work.

Myths about newer roofs

If your roof is new, you may think that it couldn't possibly have suffered storm damage, or you may assume that it's covered under the warranty provided by your roofer or contractor. However, note that each installer's and manufacturer's warranty will be different; some simply cover the work of installation and not damage suffered by a storm. Also, some newer roofs may be prone to storm damage, depending on the material you've chosen and its durability. Don't believe any myths that your roof must be fine because it's new, but have it inspected after every storm.