Natural wear shows as gradual fading, minor granule loss, and slight curling spread evenly across the roof. Storm damage is sudden and concentrated — missing or lifted shingles from wind, random circular hail marks deep enough to expose asphalt. The distinction matters because insurance covers storm damage but not normal wear. Driftwood Builders Roofing helps Austin homeowners identify damage type and navigate insurance claims.
Shingles on your roof can become damaged for many reasons. Storms can batter roofing shingles with one large storm, but they can also take a beating over many years of harsh storms. And, of course, the natural wear of a roof is inevitable as it ages. But how can you tell if your shingle damage is a result of natural wear or storm damage? Let’s take a look.
Is your Shingle Damage from Natural Wear or Storm Damage?
Damage to roofing shingles after an intense storm or weather can vary. Some issues will be obvious, but other forms of damage can be tricky to identify and need a roofing specialist to identify the concerns.
Wear and tear on a roof from age or from harsh weather will often appear similarly. A shingle will more likely blow away or crack during a storm if the shingles are already older and worn from other storms and heat over the years. Other than hail, roofing shingle damage presents itself pretty similarly whether a roof is older or has been recently beaten up from a strong storm.
Torn, broken, or punctured shingles
Missing shingles
Shingle granules missing
Curling shingles
Dented or bruised shingles
Lifted shingles or roofing components
Also, roofing shingle damage from an aging roof and storm damage can work hand in hand. That’s not to say that a shingled roof can’t be damaged by a severe storm in one day. But, this isn’t the rule, and rather, is the exception. Typically, a roof will naturally develop issues and shingles will begin to break down, making it more susceptible to future shingle damage. A newer roof often will withstand storms, with the exception of extremely high winds or large hail battering a new roof.
What Damages a Roof the Most?
Serious shingle damage can be caused by extreme weather conditions like large hail, high winds, snow and ice, and intense heat. Rain can certainly damage roofing shingles as well by eroding the shingle granules and sealants over time.
In addition, age can be a primary factor in roofing shingle weather damage. A newer roof will be able to repel light hail, resist fierce winds, and hold up under excessive heat conditions. As a roof’s shingles age, however, they can deteriorate from the same weather forces it is protecting a home from. Shingles can become brittle, broken, and worn lacking the ability to continue fighting back severe weather conditions and shingle damage will present itself.
We strive to bring you the best in roofing for the Austin, Texas area. We deliver decades of roofing experience, training, and knowledge in this area’s needs. We are a prominent roofing company in residential roof repair and roof replacement. We will not ask for a deposit on labor or materials as a dependable way to stand out from the competition while bringing you the best product and service in Austin.
When we inspect, install, or repair your roof, we want to provide you with the best options for your roof design, components, and ventilation. We are Master Elite Contractors bringing you the latest in roofing technology, and a member of our local area Better Business Bureau, so you know we take pride in our work and our community.
Contact us by phone or email to schedule your FREE roofing inspection and quote today.
