Many types of roof damage and decay are a result of the harsh winds, snow, and ice of wintertime. It’s important to be prepared by knowing the signs of roof damage and what you can do to repair any potential issues. Keep reading for tips on how to look for damage, and what you should do if you happen to find something wrong with your roof.
1. Dents
Dents in your roof could be an indication of a variety of issues. Take a closer look at the shape and size of the dent for more clues as to what the root cause may be.
If there have been recent storms with high winds, debris may be the reason for any dents, cracks, or punctures in your roof. And, at certain angles, speeds, and sizes, hailstones can cause major denting and damage to your roof as well. Hail dents will look different depending on your roof type, and the severity of their impact can range from light bruising to the splitting of shingles.
Dents in your roof may be a sign of poor installation and maintenance. If you notice denting in isolated areas on your roof, it may be an indication of weak spots in the seals, underlayment, moisture barriers or crack flashing. Regardless, don’t wait for another winter to pass before you get it checked out.
2. Tears
Heavy hail and ice can tear away your roof’s shingles. Even high winds can break the most solid of shingle roofs with weak flashing and bad adhesive. As many Midwest homeowner knows, ice dams are a common culprit of roof damage. This is especially true for asphalt shingles which can tear under the weight of a heavy ice dam.
The moral of the story is: severe winter weather can wreak havoc on already loose or weak roofing. When you see ripped shingles and bald patches on your roof, it’s best to act quickly by repairing or replacing the damaged materials before it becomes a bigger issue. Bald patches on your roof are essentially a welcome mat for moisture, and mold to come right through the ceiling of your home.
3. Water Damage
Once again, ice dams left too long to build up on your roof can lead to another type of damage: water damage. When an ice dam becomes bigger, melting water will pool up rather than slide down your roof like it’s supposed to. You’ll know when your home has water damage – you’ll be able to see it either on the inside of your ceiling or on the outside of your roof. 
From inside, water damage appears as moisture, or mold in a light brown color. You can sometimes even spot water dripping down from the source of the leaks too. Common places to look for leaks in your attic include the seams around a chimney, skylight, vents, and where the walls and roof intersect.
From the outside, soft or spongy wood decking is an early sign of water damage to your home. But this can be hard to see without walking on your roof and/or stripping away the shingles. To check for water damage to your roof, gently prod at any sagging or warped parts of the roof. If you feel the roof give where it shouldn’t, you’re likely dealing with water damage and possibly even rot or mold.
4. Wind Damage
A wind-damaged roof manifests in a variety of ways. The biggest sign of wind damage is around the edges where shingles will curl and fray away from the ground. In addition, any pre-existing weak shingles will easily be ripped out in the wind. When one shingle falls out, the wind can more easily get under the surrounding shingles, creating large weak patches on your roof. When you start seeing signs of wind damage, be sure to repair and replace loose, missing, or frayed shingles before the wind can create further issues.
The most important thing to remember is that when you spy a sign of damage on your roof, however small, is to make appropriate repairs as soon as possible. Leaving small damage unaddressed can lead to bigger, more expensive issues down the road. For an expert inspection or quote, call us at CoMitted 365 for your roof repair or replacement needs.