When you think of protecting your roof, wind probably isn’t the first threat that comes to mind. While ice, dry rot, and rain damage typically steal the show, gusts of wind and wind storms can rip your roof apart if you’re not careful. Here’s how to prevent wind damage to one of your biggest investments.

 

Replace Missing Shingles Immediately

Roofs are designed to be essentially airtight. It’s difficult for the wind to get under one of your shingles and tear it off because there is always an overlapping shingle there to protect it.

As soon as you lose just one shingle, however, it’s much easier for the wind to grab hold of nearby shingles and rip them off.

As these Gutter Experts in the Treasure Coast mention, replacing missing shingles at the first sign of damage will help protect all of your shingles. It will also protect you from rain damage and rot that could otherwise affect your roof directly.

 

Fix Broken Flashing

The flashing around your chimney, plumbing vents, skylights, and other roof accessories isn’t just decorative. It’s also meant to keep your vents and stacks in place, to protect joints from damage, and to close the gaps between those pipes and the rest of your roofing system. If your flashing has been damaged, it can also create an opportunity for the wind to get in the crack and lift up nearby shingles.

 

Remove Tall Trees near Your Home

While wind can rip shingles up on its own, a falling tree can do much more damage. If you believe that a wind storm is on its way, be sure to trim, relocate, or remove any trees that could potentially crash into your home and cause major damage.

 

Clean Your Gutters

This is another issue that is easy to overlook. When wind blows debris into your gutter system, it prevents your gutters from effectively diverting rain away from your home. This can cause pooling and buildup in unexpected places, causing leaks, mold growth, rot, and massive water damage.

While wind alone probably won’t damage your gutter system, it doesn’t take much rain in conjunction to cause a real issue. Be sure to clean your gutters after any wind storm, and consider investing in rain gutter covers if you deal with debris on a regular basis.

 

Hire a Fully Licensed and Dependable Roofer

The best way to avoid wind damage to your roof is to hire a fully licensed and dependable roofer. Installing the right shingles the right way is at least half of the battle, and it’s not always easy to see if yours are installed correctly. The NRCA also warns against hiring storm chasers. If a roofer shows up after a storm and offers a low bid, check their license immediately and report any suspicious activity.