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Wind Driven Rain Roof Leak
Did you know that high winds can cause severe damage to your roof, even without rain, hail, or other harmful elements? High winds can cause several types of roof damage, starting from roof leaks and missing shingles to gutter problems. But, if you live in an area prone to high winds and storms, you should occasionally inspect your roof for wind-driven rain damage.
Here is what you should know about wind damage, how to proceed after severe storms, and how to check your roof for wind-rain damage. Homeowners sometimes think that roof leaks are a common cause for concern. Not every roof leak is a problem unless it is determined what kind of leak it is. We can all agree that roof leaks are never convenient for anyone.
Most people would get confused about why their roofs are leaking right after they experienced a mild updraft and drizzle. This is what we call a wind driven roof leak, its best practice to bring in a roofing professional to inspect the shingle roofing system.
Wind Driven Rain
Let’s look at why this phenomenon can still pose a threat to a house’s foundations and framework. As the name suggests, wind-driven rain is rain that has been redirected and blows horizontally against a roofing system. Roof shingles and the roof itself has been specifically designed to redirect the flow of rainwater and snow vertically. This means that shingles are designed to move water from one layer to another while keeping the inner layer dry. If rain is blowing at a horizontal angle, rainwater can find itself stuck in between the would-be dry parts of the shingles. This can cause unwanted soaking and rotting on a homes framework and roofing system.
Wind-driven rain is the sudden and temporary entry of snow, rain, ice, or sleet pushed into your home by wind without causing damage to the exterior. The roofing system and roofs are designed to redirect snow and water flow vertically. Shingles move the water from one layer to the next without wetting the inner layer. If during heavy rain strong winds blow horizontally, rainwater gets stuck between the inner layer and causes structural damage over time.
How to Spot Wind Damage?
Wind damage can lift, curl, or blow away your shingles, and affected or bare spots will eventually lead to slow roof leaks. When inspecting your roof, except for checking for water leaks and assessing the condition of your shingles, you should also check the gutters, bathroom vent, roof vents and your chimney flashing.
Roof Leaks
Roof leaks are obviously the easiest to spot. If you notice wet spots or water dripping from the ceiling, your roof has sustained extensive damage, and you should call an expert roof immediately. Wet spots, peeling paint or discoloration are also signs of a leaky roof. If it’s still raining, the expert will use a roof sealant as a temporary fix and come back to do extensive, more permanent repair like a new roof installation.
White spots on the ceilings or walls
When water seeps into the roof and settles on your home’s wall or flat ceiling, white sports start forming. The white spots are formed by salt deposits that come through to the ceiling from under the shingles. Also, damp walls are a sign of wind-driven rain roof damage. If the walls get noticeably wet, you need to act fast and call in a roofing professional. If your home insurance policy covers the damages from light rain, file a claim immediately.
Dark streaks leaking from under the roofing shingles
A common sign of water damage is black streaks from under the shingles. The black streaks may form water stains on the ceiling or wall. Generally, dark streaks point to a larger problem than white spots since it means the waterproof membrane is damaged and needs immediate attention by a roofing expert.
The Gutter and the Chimney Flashing
Look for shingle granules in the gutter. If you find any, your roof has sustained damage from inclement weather, and it’s important to contact a reliable roofer to check your roof for repair. The same applies if your chimney flashing is missing or split.
Damaged fascia or soffit
Like roof shingles, fascia and soffit are designed to protect the roof from water damage. When they get damaged, water and stray critters find a way in. Note: Wet spots, peeling paint or discoloration are also signs of a leaky roof. Installing a peaked roof or a roof overhang reduces damage by wind-driven rain. According to experts the size of your home’s overhang corresponds to the chance of rain-related damage.
Cracked tiles
Cracks in roof tiles need not be huge to cause a significant leak. Hairline cracks in tiles or ‘splits’ as they are sometimes called cause leaks too. Wind-driven rain will batter your roof and water will escape through any cracks, no matter how small they are. The trouble is, it is difficult to find the cracked tile without putting up a ladder and having a good look. The good news is replacing a cracked tile is a twenty minute job in most cases.
Degraded lead valley
Lead work degrades over time and particularly so on the roof valley. The valley bridges the gap between two sections of a roof. The valley is prone to leaking during heavy rain and where the valley is found to be the culprit of a leak, it will need to be repaired or replaced. However, repair work is possible on this section of the roof but the labor is fairly extensive, as you may have to remove roof tiles to get to the valley.
Clogged gutters
Clogged gutters are a common cause of leaks because they overflow and soak the walls below. Water can penetrate a wall over a period of time and cause water ingress. The good news is clearing a clogged gutter is simply a case of hitching up a ladder and getting your hands dirty. If you are not used to working at height though you should call in a roofer. A roofer will charge you little to clear a gutter and they will be able to spot any other problems or potential problems with your roof while they are up there.
How to Proceed after Wind-driven Rain Damage?
To look for signs of wind-driven rain damage, visually inspect your roof after a severe storm. If you suspect wind damage, contact a roofing professional to check your roof and possible roof replacement. Roof inspections are free, along with a cost estimate. An average roof replacement takes a couple of days to finish when weather conditions are conducive.
After you schedule the inspection, call your insurance company and find out what your insurance covers. Typically, homeowner’s insurance covers water damage from wind-driven rain. Also, take a look at what is covered by the manufacturer warranty and contractor warranty. If your roof sustained damage due to poor quality materials or sloppy workmanship, you may also use these two warranties.