5 Obvious Signs to Identify Roof Damage After a Storm

Every day across the country, storms of all sorts touch down and in most cases, leave our houses unscathed.

However, there are those times when a strong thunderstorm brings about hail and strong wind, or even the occasional tornado and hurricane (that causes even more damage) and we wonder if our homes were impacted.

When these types of storms occur, we have to know the answer to this pivotal question in order to guarantee our home is strong and in great shape:

Do you want to know how to identify signs of roof damage after a storm?

Today, we will share with you concrete methods to help you do just that, but first – let us elaborate some.

Quick list to help you identify signs of roof damage:

When it comes to your roof, there are both noticeable and not so noticeable signs of damage. Here is a quick list of signs to always keep an eye out for in general, but also right after a storm:

• Missing shingles (#1 sign and easisest to spot)
• Obvious water damage (on cielings, in bathroom, over flowing your house – could also be gutter issues)
• Asphalt shingles losing granuales
• Roofing debris in yard
• Hail damage to gutters
• Apperance of large sinking holes or soft spots

Use this quick list above to do a visual scan and to always keep a watchful eye on your roof. That said, to fully understand why these are important, keep reading below:

Related: Roofing Warranty Info

5 Obvious Signs to Identify Roof Damage Fast After a Storm:

1. Missing Shingles

Missing shingles are the top cause of roof damage and the most obvious sign of roof damage. Depending on the severity of the wind storm (like the one that hit Boise, Idaho in 2021), you can miss 1-2 shingles or quite a few.

In cases when you are missing quite a few shingles, insurance will often pay to replace them or even replace your entire roof. Either way, whether you get a new roof or a roof repair, you will want to address the issue of missing shingles fast.

Addressing missing shingles fast is vital to preserving the overall integrity of your roof but also making sure water damage does not occur (When you read #5 below, exposed plywood decking as a result of missing shingles can lead to some serious issues if not handled correctly).

To spot missing shingles, you can:

1. Look for shingles in your yard – obvious sign.
2. Look at your roof with binoculars or just your eyes and do a visual glance
3. Avoid getting a ladder out – that is not neccessary

If you suspect you have missing shingles, always contact a roofing company.

2. Water Damage

Water damage isn’t so obvious to spot, but it is a key indicator that there could be roof damage.

In most cases, water damage from your roof after a storm is going to take a few days or months to show up. Most water damage is the result of an ongoing, slow-developing leak of some sort. For example, a common cause that is harder to spot is a pipe-collar leak.

Your roof’s pipe collars can be damaged by the sun or also a storm. This is the top cause for a leak alongside a missing shingle. While it is possible that water damage can occur because of improperly installed flashing, most of the time it is a pipe collar or storm damage.

While you won’t immediately notice water damage, typically during a heavy storm if you see a small dark circle in your ceiling, that is a leak, which ultimately means your roof is leaking. Roof leaks need to be addressed ASAP!

3. Shingle Granule Loss

Asphalt shingles are primarily made of asphalt and fiberglass, with the granules being made of crushed stone and minerals. The reason for the granules is to allow for texture and color – aka variety for the homeowner. However, a tell-tale sign of potential roof damage from a storm is granule loss.

If you find a large number of granules where your downspouts deposit water from your gutters, this can be a sign you have aging shingles. While this typically won’t occur with a newer roof, as your roof ages this is more common.

4. Hail Damage

Hail damage is a bit harder to spot, but the best time to check is… right after a hail storm! Large hail can cause damage to your asphalt shingles (seriously), and you can use binoculars to see if there is clear damage.

Though rare, even if there is the occasional hail, these dings and dents can damage the integrity of your shingles. In some rare cases, if the hail is strong enough it can even knock loose your shingles.

If you suspect hail damage, you will want to have a roofing company inspect your roof (or maybe 2-3) to get an accurate assessment prior to contacting your insurance.

5. Soft spots

When the plywood decking underneath the underlayment and shingles is negatively compromised, even though this is a worst-case type of scenario, it needs to be addressed asap.

In rare cases, plywood decking damage that looks like soft spots can be the result of a storm or many storms. Obviously, strong hurricane or tornado winds have been known to rip off shingles and even some of the roof decking – however, this is extremely rare!

The more common roof damage issue is when water penetrates the plywood decking and over time weakens the board, thus making it sag. You will see a sag from the ground in your roof in some cases, or if you have your roof inspected they can feel a soft spot.

Pro Tip: Inspect your roof from your attic. A simple way to keep a good eye on your plywood decking is to simply take a flashlight to your attic one time per year or after a storm. Just complete a visual check!

The Verdict –

As you can see, some of the ways to identify signs of roof damage after a storm are easier than others.

• A missing shingle is obvious.
• A water leak isn’t so obvious.

The point being, when you keep a good eye on the exterior condition of your house, you will ultimately prevent most problems. And when the rare problem does occur after a storm, you are on top of it and put it to bed in a hurry!

Until next time!

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