How to Tell If You Need a New Roof After a Dallas Storm

8/19/2020 (Permalink)

If you notice damage to your roof after a storm, call in the Dallas storm damage restoration experts at SERVPRO.

An intense Texas storm in Dallas can tear up an aging roof. Any weaknesses in the roof are revealed when shingles and other roof construction material are strewn about.

When a roof is old or severely damaged (or both), the structure needs to be replaced or, at the very least, repaired.

When a major storm hits and causes damage to the roof, reach out to us at SERVPRO so we can get you the help you need right away.

Use this guide to determine if you need a new roof.

Do I Need a New Roof After a Storm?

After a storm, strong winds are sure to reveal any vulnerabilities in the roof’s structure. The more extensive the damage, the higher the chances are that you will need a roof replacement. 

When shingles are pelted with hail or blown off with high wind, this leaves the wooden construction exposed to water damage. High winds from a severe thunderstorm or tornado might blow off a substantial amount of shingles or its underlay. Not having that layer of shingle protection from the pouring rain leads to water damage that moves through the roof structure. For this reason, if there is noticeable damage to your roof, there is a good chance you’ll need to have it replaced.

How to Check If I Need a New Roof?

After a major weather event or once a roof has aged a few decades, it’s important to check the overall structure for damage. Any surface damage warrants more investigation. Below are steps to take to assess the damage to your roof and determine if a replacement is necessary.

Step 1: Check the Inside

If you can see water damage on the ceiling or walls, that’s an indication that the roof is failing and water has completely penetrated the roof’s layers. Water damage will look like stains and streaks on the surface of the ceiling or wall. This water damage leads to mold damage. 

Later on, we’ll go over how to check your crawl space and attic for signs of roof failure.

Step 2: Check the Outside 

Look around the perimeter of the house or building for shingles. If you feel safe and completely secure doing so, get on a ladder to look over the roof. Look for missing shingles or depressions on the surface of the roof.

If the roof looks worn, tattered, and has missing material, it’s time to call a professional. A trained inspector (like our team at SERVPRO) will look for those signs that you need a new roof. With a roof replacement, either the entire roof needs to be removed to install a new one, or a new one is built on top of the original.

Next, we’ll go more in-depth on how to tell if you need a new roof.

7 Signs You Need a New Roof

So the big question is: when does a roof need to be replaced? Here’s what you or a professional roof inspector (like SERVPRO) would look for to determine if you need a new roof or not.

1. Age of the Structure

The age of a roof is a primary factor with roof replacement. If the home is over 20 years old and has never had a roof replacement, then it’s probably time for one. The same goes for a roof that was replaced over 20 years ago. If you notice neighbors in your development getting roof work done, that’s a hint that it’s time to check on yours.

2. Condition of the Shingles

The condition of the shingles is another sign that the roof is deteriorating. Cracked or curled shingles, bald spots, and exposed roof nails are signs that the roof is now vulnerable to water damage. 

Shingles are the skin of the roof, and unlike the skin on a living creature, it doesn’t grow back after injury. When several shingles are missing or damaged, the roof doesn’t have that protective “skin” from moisture, rain, snow, or hail.

While walking around on the roof, an inspector should check for soft spots that are soggy or rotting. These could give way at any moment and cause a hole.

3. Condition of the Flashing or Seals

Some items in the roof stick out or create an opening like a chimney, vent, or skylight. Flashing is used to keep wetness from seeping into joints where the roof structure meets these other features. Flashing is made of metal, cement, or tar. When flashing is damaged, deteriorating, or missing completely, the roof is vulnerable to water damage.

Areas around these features should be checked for breaks and cracks. Older homes may have cement or tar for flashing, so upgrading to metal flashing improves durability and offers better quality protection from precipitation.

4. Mold or Moss

Your garden isn’t the only place where things will sprout. With enough moisture and heat mold, moss, mildew, and algae can grow on the roof. These areas may be hot spots for water damage and should be checked out.

5. Openings in the Attic or Crawlspace 

Because they aren’t often accessed, occupants of a property won’t necessarily notice new openings in an attic or crawlspace, but these are one of the areas to check for vulnerabilities. 

If you hear scratching or thumping from wild animals, there’s a good chance these creatures are getting in through a hole somewhere.  If animals can get in, so will water. 

A sunny day is a good time to check for holes in the roof from an attic or crawl space. Light streaming through will reveal holes of various sizes.

Wet or water-damaged insulation is another sign that water is getting in. You’ll want to look for any signs of wetness or water damage in the attic or crawl space to account for any vulnerabilities.

6. Ceiling Issues

Perhaps the most obvious sign that a roof structure is failing is when you see the ceiling bowing or sagging. What starts off as a water stain could turn into soggy chunks of drywall falling from the ceiling. 

Discoloration from water damage on the ceiling or hearing a drip during rainy weather are both telltale signs that the roof needs to be looked at ASAP.

7. Poor Workmanship

We trust a roofing contractor to do quality work, but sometimes the outcome is flawed. Awkward fitting tiles (example: improperly cut California-style shingles), strange patches, or irregular layering are things an inspector can look for when assessing the integrity of the roof.

Sometimes the sealant isn’t suitable for long-term protection. Examples of problem sealant work are heavy tar or low-quality cement that cracks and leaks. 

If these flaws have gone undetected for a long time, extensive water damage may already have happened that warrants a roof replacement.

Our SERVPRO roof experts know how to tell if you need a new roof for Dallas-area properties.

Contact SERVPRO for Storm Damage and Roof Restoration in Dallas

A roof is meant to protect a structure from the weather so the interior stays protected and dry. Once a roof starts to wear down, this protective layer is compromised. 

SERVPRO’s Dallas storm damage restoration services are here 24/7 to respond faster to any size disaster.

We do a thorough inspection to itemize any and all weaknesses in the roof so that they can be addressed before they get worse. Our team of experienced Dallas building reconstruction professionals ensures that the construction is sound so the roof is watertight - no shortcuts! 

Check out our before and after images of a Dallas residence where a roof collapsed from a fallen tree after a storm.

Call us any time at (972) 986-7677 to schedule a free consultation or with any questions you have about roof and storm damage. We’re here 24/7 for our Dallas community.