If you’re assuming that your roof is fine after the major windstorms over the past week just because your home wasn’t hit by a tree, you may be fooling yourself. Wind can damage a roof in many ways, without the aid of branches and other flying objects, and you might still be in danger.

Your roof goes through a lot, day by day, even in our mild Southern California weather. When it rains, it rains hard and fast, and the sun bakes your roof the rest of the time. We have Santa Ana winds frequently throughout the year—granted, rarely as strong as last week’s storm—that tear at the roof and cause damage that you can’t necessarily see. Even a light rainfall on a damaged roof can cause a larger problem that requires complex, expensive and time-consuming repair, from mold and mildew growth through to foundation damage. Sounds expensive, right?

And with so many homes with power outages after the windstorm, temperatures in the home may fluctuate, causing the perfect conditions for mold growth. Fixing a roof or a leak will be much less costly than mold remediation—at least three times less.

Waterstains or leaks in your ceiling should not be the sign you’re looking for to tell you your roof is damaged. By that time, more damage has been done than you’ll want to hear about—or pay for. Make sure you do regular roof check ups, and have a professional check it at least once a year for signs of damage.

• If you have shingles, they should tell a story: Any blisters, curls or cracks in the shingles will indicate that the roofing material has reached its working lifespan and may need replacement.
• Discolored patches, exposed nails and missing shingles should also raise a red flag.
• This goes for red, clay mission tiles too, the ones that we are so fond of here in the Southland. These are very susceptible to damage, and should be checked after any kind of storm.
• Areas such as skylights, intersection of roof planes, vents and chimney surrounds are prone to catching and holding moisture. Feel the insulation and, if you notice any wet portions or growth of molds, water may already be seeping through these areas.
• A damaged roof flashing could also be the cause of the leak. Roof flashings are found where the roof meets the wall so be sure to check ridges, plumbing vents, chimneys, skylights and eaves.

If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, please call us immediately. We know how to work with your insurance company to make the process as easy and hassle-free as possible for you. Repairs now will cost you less money than if you wait, and there’s a very real danger that your insurance company will not pay for the damage that happens months down the road from a leak caused now!

If you have been affected by the wind and storm in any way, you need to act now. Call us on (877) 732-8471 immediately or fill out the form on the right and one of our trained specialists will call you shortly.