Waukesha and Burlington, WI Wind Damage Experts

Do You Have Wind Damage?

When you think of wind damaging your home, you usually think it takes a tornado, hurricane, severe thunderstorm or extreme winter storm to cause any major wind damage to your roof. But, wind doesn’t have to be strong to cause roof damage. Gusts of wind at 75 to 85 miles per hour can easily raise poorly-sealed shingles off your home, exposing your roof to possible rain & water damage.

Your roof is the last and first defense between you and the elements, you want to be aware of the damage wind can do to your home early on. During high-wind weather events, wind speeds fluctuate and sometimes even change directions. Consequently, roofing materials are lifted up, allowing debris to lodge between shingles and the underpinning of your roof. Over time, this process will cause your roof to deteriorate, and inevitably, you’ll lose roofing material and notice it lying in your yard.

Roofing materials are subject to damage from strong winds and flying debris. Generally, roofs are not designed to withstand winds of hurricane and tornado intensity. However, roofs may also be damaged by winds of moderate intensity, with gust that may reach 50 to 75 miles per hour. The primary cause of wind damage is from the partial vacuum created by wind blowing over the edge of the roof. Nature tries to neutralize the low-pressure area by bringing in air from a higher pressure area, usually from inside the building. This air pushes up on the bottom side of the roof assembly and, over time, loosens fasteners and breaks the adhesion making the roof susceptible to damage from the next moderate or strong wind. To counteract the effects of wind-uplift forces, the roofing and insulation should be adequately fastened to the roof deck, and a securely-fastened perimeter detail should be provided.