How Strong Does Wind Have to Be to Damage My Roof?

Here in Littleton, Colorado, and around the Denver Metro area, we have seen some intense wind this spring. The National Weather Service has listed the varying speeds of wind associated with their potential damage are listed on their quicksheet as follows:

  • 25-30 mph: Large branches move; whistling heard in wires.
  • 30-40 mph: Whole trees move.
  • 40-45 mph: Twigs and small branches break; walking impeded.
  • 45-55 mph: Larger branches and weak limbs may break; slight structural damage occurs.
  • 55-65 mph: Moderate structural and tree damage occurred.
  • 65+ mph: Heavy to severe structural and tree damage occurred.

 

Even in the lower mph wind gusts, weak tree branches can damage roofs. In Littleton this month we have seen branches on roofs all over. It never hurts to have us come out and inspect your roof for potential damage like missing shingles or branches.

The National Weather Service will put Littleton, Highlands Ranch or Denver as a whole on a “red flag warning” or a “high wind warning” to alert home owners to potentially damaging wind gusts.

Missing, Lifting, or Curling Shingles

Depending on how strong the gusts were will result in various damage to your shingles. As you walk around your home, take a look up towards the roof. If you feel comfortable using a ladder and looking up on the roof, check for missing, lifting, or curling shingles. Missing shingles are obvious. Those shingles were blown right off your roof perhaps because they were not on securely or the wind was just very intense.

Detecting curling shingles is a little harder to do for the average home owner. They are usually around the corners of the roof, near the edges, or near the flashing. The danger with curling shingles are that they are no longer protecting your roof from water penetration and need to be replaced.

Finally, some shingles begin to lift after a windstorm.  Typically, you need a professional inspection to spot these. Shingles are attached to your roof along a nail line and during intense wind can loosen near the nails, which in turn has likely broken the seal between the shingle layers and can cause leaks.

As you can see after severe weather, your roof could really use a FREE ROOF INSPECTION from us. We can check for all three of these types of damage. If damage is bad, shingles may need to be replaced to ensure your home stays protected further damage.

Littleton, Colorado roofs can be damaged by high winds and storms that often remove and destroy roofing shingles.   Anderson Builders offers FREE ROOF INSPECTIONS and is a quality roofing company that specializes in fixing and replacing roofs.