Homeowners are often surprised to hear that wind can cause damage to their homes. High winds can cause hazards to your property and surrounding areas – hazards such as fallen branches, uprooted trees, and torn-down power lines. While these dangers are what we picture after a big storm, the wind itself can also result in structural damage to your home. When high winds hit a roof, shingles can loosen or fall off. If wind speeds are very high, even new, secure shingles can tear away. Other wind damage to a roof includes damage caused by falling objects and debris such as tree branches and downed powerlines.
Roofs are very susceptible to wind damage, in part because high winds do not hit roofs uniformly. Rather, wind tends to cause damage to the edges of the roof or areas of the roof that are already loose. These loose parts of the roof are easy targets because winds can more easily rip up loose shingles, causing a chain reaction. Roofs are commonly damaged by falling objects and debris as well. Eventually, after prolonged wind damage, your roof can start to leak or rot due to water exposure.
What is the best roof for high winds?
If you want the best roof for high winds, the decking under the shingles needs to be strong and sturdy, and your fasteners should be high-quality. Craftsmanship is also important. Some metal roofing can withstand wind speeds of more than 150 mph.
Wind Speed Damage:
45 – 57 mph
Research done by the National Weather Service states that slight damage can begin when winds reach 45 mph, but this range is considered “non-severe”. These non-severe winds may cause some tree branches to break off and can cause damage to already loose or susceptible shingles.
58 – 74 mph
This is when winds turn severe and cause significant damage to landscaping and structures. At this range, wind will take down whole tree limbs, begin to uproot trees, rip off shingles that were in good condition and cause issues with chimneys.
75+ mph
At this speed, wind will cause widespread damage to trees, flip mobile homes and cause significant roof damage to commercial buildings and homes.
What to do after?
If you’ve recently experienced winds of 45 mph or higher, you probably are going to be in need of a certified roofing contractor. You can call Legion Roofing and Construction to schedule a FREE Inspection, and we will go outside and take a look at your roof for some of the common signs of roof damage. From that point, we will be able to assist you with what’s best for your roof situation whether is a repair, full roof replacement, or filing an insurance claim.