While your roof is built to withstand the elements, it isn't impervious, especially if you haven't given it the attention and maintenance it deserves. Wind, in particular, can cause major complications that increase the risk of massive leaks and expensive repairs. If you would like to know more about wind and your roof/gutter system, keep reading.

Blow Debris on the Roof

When the wind starts blowing, it may blow small bits of debris onto your roof, which can cause significant problems. First, this debris makes a great home for pests, increasing the chance of a pest infestation inside the home. In stronger winds, larger debris like entire tree branches may fall onto the roof, and if they are heavy enough, it may cause a hole or leak.

If the debris remains on the roof when it starts to rain, it can act like a sponge and/or a dam, allowing water to pool on the surface of the roof. This can be particularly problematic if you have a flat roof, especially if the drains also get blocked by twigs, leaves, etc. 

Loosen Shingles

Strong winds can also cause damage to shingles, loosening them. If some of the shingles are already loose, this makes it easier for the wind to push on those shingles, knocking them loose in many cases. In most cases, the shingles that take the most damage are along the edge of the roof. You can often see missing shingles from the ground, but you may need to climb up to the roof to look for loose nails.

If your shingles are not replaced immediately, the underlayment will offer some protection against the elements, but the underlayment is mostly designed for waterproofing, so it can easily be damaged when shingles are missing. For this reason, you should replace and repair missing shingles quickly to prevent more extensive repairs like replacing the entire roof instead of a few shingles.

Ruin Flashing

Flashing is usually made from metal, and it is used to protect seams on the roof, such as where the chimney passes through the roof. If you don't maintain the flashing, it can easily become damaged and bent. When you add wind to the equation, you get loose flashing. In some cases, the wind may fully blow off the flashing.

Missing flashing drastically increase the risk of leaks because of the seams it protects. Even if your roofer made a perfect fit when the roof was installed, wear and tear can help to slightly widen that seem to create a small gap through which water can easily pass uninterrupted by shingles or the waterproof underlayment.

Ruin Flashing

Similar to flashing, strong winds may cause the gutters to pull away from the home. This increases the risk of the gutters falling off, especially if they get full of water and/or debris. As a result, the water from the roof can fall directly between the roof and gutters, exposing the fascia, exterior walls, and foundation to water.

The risk of wind to your gutters largely depends on how well you maintain and clean them. For example, if your gutters are constantly overflowing because you never clean them, they may already be pulling away from the fascia, so a little wind can help cause a lot of damage.

Wind alone can cause major problems, such as covering your roof with debris. However, poor maintenance in combination with wind is especially problematic. If you would like to know more about roof damage, or if you need to request a quote for a repair or total replacement, contact us at Rain-Flow of Indianapolis.