Wind Damage Roof Signs: A Houston Homeowner's Inspection Guide

Wind pulls up on a roof more than it pushes down. The edges, corners, ridge and any area around a chimney or dormer take the strongest pull, so that is where damage usually starts.

Shingles are held by nails and by a sealant strip that bonds each shingle to the one below it. A strong gust can break that bond and lift the shingle. If it flaps, it can crease across the top, tear, or come off completely. Flashing and drip edge can bend, and vents and ridge caps can loosen.

Wait until the storm has passed. Then walk around the house, staying clear of debris and any downed power lines, and look up from the ground or out of an upstairs window. Binoculars help.

Write down what you see and take photos with the date and time. You do not need to identify every problem. That is what the inspection is for.

Owens Corning describes a thin horizontal line across a shingle, where granules have worn off, as a possible sign that the seal broke and the shingle flapped against the one above it. That kind of crease is one of the quieter signs of wind damage.

It is also important to know what these signs do not prove on their own:

• A loose or unsealed shingle is not proof of storm damage. Shingles can come unsealed because of age, heat, how they were installed or sealant that never bonded well.
• A crease shows the shingle moved, but it does not by itself show when it happened or which storm caused it.
• Wear can look like damage from the ground. Granule loss, curling and old repairs are common on aging roofs.

Deciding the cause takes a close inspection. If you file a claim, your insurance company's adjuster makes their own determination of the cause and what is covered.

Many homeowners wait for a ceiling stain before they call. With wind damage, that can be too late to catch the problem early. A shingle with a broken seal can sit in place for months and then lift and leak in the next storm. Bent flashing may only let water in when rain comes from one direction.

If a strong storm passed through and you see any of the signs above, an inspection is worth scheduling even if the inside of the house is dry. Our guide to roof leaks during heavy rain explains why some leaks show up only in certain storms.

It is tempting to climb up and check, but wet or wind-damaged roofs are dangerous, and loose materials can slide under your feet. Lifting shingles to look underneath can also break seals that are still holding and create new damage.

The National Weather Service advises staying away from downed power lines and reporting them, staying informed about more storms, and taking care when handling debris after high wind. Record what you see from the ground and leave the roof to a trained roofer with fall protection.

A few missing or creased shingles on a roof with plenty of life left is usually a repair. Damage across several slopes, many unsealed shingles on an older roof, or a roof near the end of its typical life can make replacement the better choice. The storm alone does not decide it. The condition and age of the roof do.

Our guide on roof repair or replacement walks through the factors in detail.

If you plan to file a claim, start with your policy. The Texas Department of Insurance advises reading your policy carefully, keeping copies of all documents and taking notes on every call with your insurance company, including the date and who you spoke with.

Useful records include:

• Your dated photos and notes from the ground
• The date and time of the storm, if you know it
• The roofer's inspection photos and written findings
• A written roofing estimate for the repair or replacement
• Receipts for any temporary protection, such as a tarp

TDI also notes that a roofer or contractor who may do the work cannot act as a public adjuster for you, and that it is illegal in Texas for a contractor to waive, rebate or absorb your deductible. You file the claim, your insurance company decides coverage and payment, and you are responsible for your deductible.

Not all of Greater Houston is in the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association (TWIA) designated catastrophe area. TDI's maps include all of Brazoria and Galveston counties among the coastal counties, and in Harris County only areas east of State Highway 146 inside the city limits of La Porte, Morgan's Point, Pasadena, Seabrook and Shoreacres. Most of Houston is outside it.

Inside the area, roof replacements and major repairs generally need a windstorm inspection and certificate of compliance, called a WPI-8, to keep TWIA eligibility. Confirm what applies to your address and project with TDI or a qualified windstorm inspector. Our guide to WPI-8 windstorm certification explains the process for Pearland homes.

1. Wait for the storm to pass and keep everyone away from downed lines and damaged areas.
2. Photograph what you see from the ground and from inside, with dates.
3. Schedule a roof inspection, and ask for photos and written findings.
4. Read your policy and decide with your insurer whether to file a claim.

Stone Castle Roofing is locally owned in Pearland and serves Houston and nearby communities. Learn how our storm damage restoration service documents wind and hail damage, read our guide to hail damage roof insurance claims in Texas, or call (281) 250-1265.

• Owens Corning, Signs of Storm Damage on your Roof
• National Weather Service, After a High Wind Event
• Texas Department of Insurance, Roofing and insurance: Know the law, windstorm maps and Harris County windstorm boundary