Hidden Dangers of Roof Hail Damage

Extreme weather, hail damage, strong winds, and animals seeking shelter from the elements can all cause some extensive problems for your roof. Thunderstorms can produce strong winds, tornadoes, and hail that can severely damage shingles, rip them off your roof, and scatter them across your yard.

Animals also take advantage of damaged roofs, finding holes in which they can sneak in and burrow in attics or crawl spaces left behind by torn shingles. This helps them stay out of the elements but causes a huge problem for the rest of your home. Animals can bring about diseases, parasites, and leave dirt throughout your home. This can cause family members to get sick. Animals can also cause leaks in your roof, as they burrow more, tearing up shingles and making holes, allowing water to seep in whenever it rains.

Moss and Lichen build up is also a problem, as moisture becomes trapped under the shingles, these plants begin to grow like weeds. This problem can be easily spotted if you notice that your roof is turning green in color. Moss and lichen not only cause problems in your roof by rotting away the shingles, but it can also lead to major health concerns, especially if you, or anyone in your family, has allergies.

Hail damaged roofs are common in the Twin Cities area. But, the severe weather isn’t the only cause of a leaking roof. Many homes, that have an attic A/C unit do not initially think of the unit is a source of a problem. Since A/C helps us escape the unbearably hot summers, it seems odd to think that it could cause water to build up in your roof. A/C Units have coils that run through your house, allowing the cool air to move to the different vents. Because of the extreme change in temperature from inside the coils and on the outside, condensation builds up over time. A/C units have a built-in water pan, to help catch this condensation, and the pan empties out into some pipes which allows it to escape your house. When dirt and other debris from either the coils or from other factors inside your home, the pipes can get blocked up, causing the water to build up in the pan. When this happens, water begins to leak and pull up. Left for too long, or unnoticed, the water can cause a decrease in the integrity of your ceiling. Over time, the ceiling will begin to disintegrate which could lead to either a cave in or a chunk to fall out. Not only is this dangerous and a headache to fix, but it can also be costly, and on top of that, you would still need to pay to have the A/C Unit fixed, to avoid having the problem for a second time.

A leaking roof is a serious problem and it is important to know the signs that your roof may need some repairs.

Rain water  leaking into the roof, causing water damage.

• Stains along the ceiling in any part of your home are usually tell-tale signs that there is a leak.
• Water dripping from the ceiling and pooling up on your floor is also the sign that your roof is struggling to either dispel of the water or that there is moisture build up in your ceiling. When you notice the water is dripping and have to get a bucket to make sure that it is not ruining your carpet or hardwood floor, it is definitely time to get some help.
• Walls swelling or even spots in the ceiling swelling, are also signs that there is a leak within your home. This often times accompanied by moisture building up along the outside of the wall, as water tries to find some way to escape.
• Missing shingles or debris building up in your downspouts, along with any of these other signs are strong indicators that you have a leaking roof on your hands. It is extremely vital at this point to make sure that you call a professional to help you take care of the problem before it gets any worse.

Just as was mentioned in the question before, if it is damage to the walls or ceiling, then you need to call a professional to do the water damage restoration for you. Other things though, such as clothing and blankets that may have fallen victims to the leak can easily be thrown in the wash (as long as they haven’t been in the water for over 48 hours.) Furniture and other household items, if they have water damage should either be replaced (if mold has started to grow on them) or thoroughly cleaned if no mold has started to grow and they were only in the path of the water for a short bit. Patches of carpet or hardwood flooring should also be inspected for damages or signs of mold, which will appear as discoloration in the flooring.