Has a storm passed through your region?
Do you suspect your roof may have suffered damage?
If so, you’ll need a qualified inspection to ensure that your roof is thoroughly examined for damage.
Check for damage after any major storm
A storm of almost any size can cause damage to your roof. Since your roof is one of the most expensive and important investments you’ll make in your business, you should keep a watchful eye on it. Check the ground after a storm to see if there are any signs of roofing materials, pay close attention to the trees and wires near your roof. Are any limbs or lines down?
“There’s potential for damage any time a major storm passes through your area,” Says Chris Coryell, owner and president of Coryell Roofing and Construction Inc.
Obviously if you have to step over shingles or roof materials on your lawn after a storm then you have indeed suffered damage. But what if no shingles are on the ground? How can you be sure no damage has been done to your roof?
Check your roof each time hail has fallen
Hail can cause serious damage to a roof. After a hailstorm check for damage to your building, pay close attention to small dimples in your siding and structure. If there’s damage to your siding it’s possible that your roof has also suffered damage. Hail can cause cracks in your shingles or commercial roofing material. Be safe — don’t venture on your roof until the effects of the storm (ice and water) have ceased or call a professional inspector to assess the roof.
Hail usually impacts a roof in one of two ways:
- rupturing the mat, which could potentially impact the shingle’s ability to wick away moisture
- structural damage to the shingle itself which compromises the life of the shingle and your roof
Check the peeks of your roof to search for dents or missing granules. The peeks of a roof are often hardest hit, but some people will not check them because of a fear of heights or deep slopes. Don’t go on the roof yourself if you aren’t trained or experienced. Leave it to a professional to avoid injury.
Check the gutters
You are keeping your gutters clean aren’t you? You should be. After a storm check the gutters for any material, if you see tiny granules (the material will look like tiny pebbles) in the gutter you’ve probably experienced some damage to your shingles.
Hire a professional roof inspector
“I brought in a local roofing contractor after a big storm in my area,” one business owner recently shared in an online forum, “they were looking at things I wouldn’t have considered, let alone known what to look for.”
A professional inspector or roofing contractor will examine your roof with a trained eye. He or she may see damage beneath the shingle (damage can occur to the sealing strips even though the shingle might appear fine).
So make like Columbo and be tenacious in your preliminary sleuthing efforts before hiring a professional to inspect your roof.
