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Storm Damage VS Normal Wear and Tear, Can You Spot the Difference?

photo courtesy of www.newroofreplacement.com

1. Roof discoloration indicates storm damage such as a leak or hail damage.  TRUE or FALSE?

2. You can distinguish between hail damage and normal aging from the ground.  TRUE or FALSE?

3. If your neighbor’s roof sustained damage during the storm, yours probably did too.  TRUE or FALSE?

4. Broken or missing shingles anywhere on the roof indicates wind damage.  TRUE or FALSE?

5. Some water damage or discoloration on ceilings and walls is normal for older buildings.  TRUE or FALSE?

Damage from small hail can be easily overlooked but can also cause problems down the road.

Answers to quiz follow each explanation:

1. New hail damage can result in darker spots where granules (small pieces of rock and metal which give shingles their texture) have come loose. Another common cause of discoloration is large areas where shadow or other circumstances result in less sun exposure which promotes algae growth. Patches of the roof contaminated with algae will appear darker than uncontaminated areas, while this may be a cosmetic flaw, it does not indicate structural damage. Algae growth is more prominent on older roofs because many new materials incorporate metals which have oxidative properties and prevent algae growth.  Statement 1 was false.

 2. If you notice that granules (as mentioned above) have fallen off the roof into gutter or onto the ground, this could be a result of hail damage but is not always. Some granules will fall off because of the manufacturing process, they are excess pieces that weakly adhered and are not really needed anyway. Granules will also fall off as the roof ages, while this will lead to weakening over time, it is normal and not necessarily the result of severe weather. Hail damage can cause loss of granules but, particularly with smaller hail, this will be isolated to small “spots” which are not likely to be visible from the ground. The risk with small hail damage is that loss of granules exposes the asphalt underneath to the elements which will cause breakdown and increase chances of future problems. Statement 2 was false.

 3. Many factors such as installation practice, material brand, material type, sun exposure, and material storage can affect how your roof will weather a storm. If neighboring homes have sustained storm damage and you think yours may have, be sure to choose a reputable roofing company to evaluate your roof. While true storm damage is often covered by insurance, normal wear and tear may not be. Statement 3 was false.

4. Effects of strong winds tend to be more severe around the edges of the roof and put less pressure on the middle or inner area. Shingle loss or breakage that is evenly distributed is more commonly a result of natural weakening of the materials. Statement 4 was false.

 5. While an older roof will naturally become more prone to leaks, it is never “normal”. Your roof should not leak; if you notice discoloration or water dripping, call a roofing professional. Leaks can cause damage that you cannot see and lead to more problems the longer they exist. Leaks can be caused by severe weather such as heavy hail or high winds which can blow debris into your roof.  Statement 5 was false.

Contact Lone-Star Roof Systems, LLC. at one of our 3 offices today!
LoneStarRoofSystemsLLC.com
1-800-317-1939

Mailing Address for All Offices
1511 South Texas Avenue, #172
College Station, TX 77840

College Station Office
722 Peach Creek Cut Off, Ste. 100
College Station, TX 77845

Dallas Office
5040 Grisham Dr., Suite 103
Rowlett, TX 75088

Houston Office
1085 N. Gessner, Suite P
Houston, TX 77055

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