From snow and ice to heavy rains and high winds to hail and tornado spin-ups, Kansas City’s local weather can be rough on your home’s roof. To protect your property it’s essential to keep an eye on your roof and catch damage early before it creates even more costly problems later on.
Here’s what you need to know about storm damage to your roof—including signs that your home may need its roof replaced and tips for handling your insurance claim.
1. Different Storms Cause Different Types of Damage
The kinds of damage you are likely to experience with your roof depend on the specific weather issues a storm brings through the area. In the Kansas City Metro, common storm patterns include:
Wind Damage
Strong winds related to thunderstorms and tornado weather can lift shingles right off your roof. Windy gusts can also push gutters or flashing out of place. This can result in water damage to the attic, chimney, interior ceilings and walls, and even your foundation over time.
Hail Damage
With storms, hail often comes. A professional local roofing company with a strong track record can help you assess the damage, which can range from small dimples to cracks and breaks in shingles.
Fallen Debris
Tree branches are the most common source of debris on a roof after a storm. But if the winds were strong enough, loose backyard items could potentially also land atop your roof. Debris can crack or break roofing, bend gutters, and damage flashing.
Snow and Ice Damage
Heavy snowfalls can weigh down a roof so much that breakages and leaks can occur. Ice dams can form too, building up in and around gutters and flashing so that moisture can’t drain properly. And water spots after snowstorms can also signal improper roofing ventilation.
2. Inspect Your Entire Home-Inside AND Outside
Doing a simple visual inspection of your roof and property after a storm hits is the best way to look for issues and catch them quickly, so they can be repaired. Here’s what to look for:
Inside
Attic — Look around for signs of leaks, such as wet spots, streaks, and rotted wood. Also, notice if you can see sunlight peeking in through the roof, which is a sign shingles are loose or missing.
Ceilings and walls — Do you see water stains, trails of moisture, spots of mold and mildew or cracks in paint? All these are signs of a leak that may be coming from a damaged roof.
Outside
Visible Roof Areas — Examine the parts of the roof you can see, and notice if they appear intact or damaged.
Ground — Walk around the perimeter of your home or building, looking for shingles, nails, metal flashing or other debris that has blown off your roof.
Fallen Tree Limbs — Can you see any evidence that tree limbs may have fallen onto your roof? Even if the whole tree hasn’t fallen, tree branches can scrape at shingles, weakening them or moving roof materials out of place.
3. Have Your Roof Professionally Inspected
If you’ve spotted any signs of damage when inspecting your property it’s the right time to contact a professional.
Climbing atop your roof is a perilous prospect and most homeowners are not equipped to do it safely, as it requires both experience and specialized equipment to do it without risking injury. If you suspect your roof has incurred damage, choose a well-known local roofer with good ratings to do an inspection for you.
We highly recommend using a HAAG certified inspector, because they are trained to look for damage as thoroughly as your insurance adjuster is. This way, you get reliable, accurate results from your roof inspection.
4. Call Your Insurance Agent
If you have storm roof damage, or if the neighbors around you have experienced roof problems due to a recent storm, it’s likely you’ll want to file a claim. To begin the storm damage insurance claim process, contact your insurance agent for guidance. To help establish your claim, take these steps:
- Take photos of any visible damage, and have a professional inspector do so as well.
- Document any problems, including interior damage such as new roof leaks and waterlogged furniture.
- Obtain 3-4 residential roof replacement or repair estimates before you meet with the insurance adjuster so you have a sense of the costs involved. This will also help you discuss and negotiate with your insurance company on your claim.
5. Find an Experienced, Highly Rated Roofer
If your storm roof damage is significant, you will need to work with a roofing company to make repairs or possibly do a roof replacement. While it may be tempting to use the company that offers the lowest price, it’s important to think long-term, beyond just the cost.
- Does the roofer have a solid track record of success in your area?
- Who do your neighbors and friends highly recommend?
- What types of workmanship warranties does the roofer offer?
- How do their online reviews characterize their performance?
6. Address Roof Damage as Soon as Possible
This cannot be said often enough: If you’re going to save yourself headaches and costly fixes, you need to make needed roof repairs sooner rather than later. Waiting to fix smaller issues can lead to more complicated and pricey problems, such as:
- Unhealthy mold and mildew leading to allergies and illnesses
- Rotting wood that weakens your home’s structure
- Damaging leaks that ruin important paperwork and valued possessions
Remember, you don’t have to settle for an imperfect residential roof replacement—or an inferior roofing company. Our team treats your home like our home. And we’re happy to answer questions about your roof whenever you need us. In the meantime, check out our reviews to see what our other Kansas City area customers say about our stellar customer service and proven results.
