How To Protect Your Roof from Wind Damage

Severe weather conditions (like storms, extreme winds and rains) can damage your roof significantly. For instance, strong winds can lead to chimney issues, missing or peeling shingles and indoor leaks. Worse still, tiles or roof sheets can fly off in strong winds and leave your home vulnerable. Tree limbs can also break and fall off your roof. 

Luckily, you can take some measures to ensure your roof stays put when strong winds strike.

Remove or Trim Trees

Trees around the home are the typical homeowner's ultimate dream. However, trees can wreak significant havoc on your roof when a windstorm strikes — especially poorly maintained trees. 

Strong winds can blow hanging branches over to your roof and puncture it. Even worse, large branches can cause your roof to collapse if they fall on it. Loose branches not only provide rodents with access to your home but also knock shingles off your roof. 

As a safety precaution, cut down any diseased or dying trees near your house. Also, trim trees with overhanging branches or fruits because they can fly off in strong winds and harm your roof. 

Secure Your Roof 

Roof shingles tend to come loose with time. Loose shingles will easily blow away in a strong windstorm. This issue will create room for water infiltration and, ultimately, underlayment damage. As a result, the damage will set you back a ton of money to restore your roof. To protect your roof shingle, nail down all loose sections to ensure they don't budge in a storm. Don't forget to caulk the roof edges. 

If you have a metal roof, secure all panels with concealed clips, bolts and screws. Remember, not everyone can handle a metal roof. So enlist a certified roofer to repair existing roof defects to help your metal roof withstand a windstorm. 

You can also install protective material (like high wind shingles or plywood) over your roof to protect it against wind damage. But first, have your roof professionally inspected to determine what type of roof protector suits your home. 

Clean Your Gutters 

Gutters help reroute water from your roof. Over time, debris can pile up in the gutters and impede proper water flow. As a result, water soaks into some parts of your roof and decays it. Clogged gutters can also collapse due to overloading and take part of your roof down with them.   

Again, branches and debris lodged in the gutters are a severe safety hazard. A windstorm can blow them with such huge force that they can hurt anything that stands in their way. So remove all dirt and debris from your gutters to ensure they drain properly and enhance the overall safety of your roof.

These practical tips will keep your roof safe from wind damage during a storm. If it's too late and your roof has already sustained extensive wind damage, a professional roofer can help repair your damaged roof. 

Reach out to a roofing company for more information.