It is a question we hear all the time: is this storm damage or an aging roof? Once a roof is past its first decade or so, the signs of age and the signs of a storm can look a lot alike from the ground. The difference matters, because homeowners insurance is generally written to cover sudden damage from hail or wind, while normal wear and tear usually is not covered. Here is how to tell the two apart, and why an inspection from an experienced roofer is the surest way to know.
Why storm damage and aging get confused
Both leave you with missing shingles, granules in the gutters and the occasional leak. The clues are in the pattern. Storm damage tends to show up suddenly, often concentrated on the side of the house that faced the wind or the hail. Aging tends to show up gradually and spread across the whole roof. Many roofs have some of both, which is exactly why a close look matters before anyone talks about a claim or a replacement.
Why roofs age at different rates
Every roof ages, but not at the same speed. Sun exposure, rain and snow, freeze and thaw cycles and how well the roof has been maintained all play a part. So do the type of shingle, the manufacturer and the quality of the original installation, including attic ventilation. That is why one homeowner's roof needs replacing at 15 years while a neighbor's 20 year old roof is still in good shape. Age alone does not tell you much; condition does.
Signs of an aging roof
- Granules collecting in the gutters and at the bottom of downspouts
- Shingles curling at the edges or cupping across a large part of the roof
- Cracked shingles spread over the whole roof surface
- Missing or misaligned shingles scattered across every slope, not just one
- Moss or dark streaks growing where the roof stays shaded and damp
A roof that simply looks worn out usually is. If you are seeing these signs, our guide on how to tell if your roof has one more season left can help you judge how much time you have, and a roof inspection will tell you whether a repair can buy more years.
Signs of storm damage
- Bent or creased shingles on one side of the roof, where strong winds lifted them and broke the seal
- Dark spots, bruises or divots that appear suddenly after a hailstorm. Large hail damage is often visible from the ground, but not always
- Missing or misaligned shingles concentrated on one side of the roof, a common sign of wind damage
- Fresh dents in gutters, downspouts, roof vents and metal flashing, which are often the easiest hail marks to spot from the ground
- Shingles, granules or pieces of flashing in the yard the morning after a storm
Another clue: if several neighbors start replacing roofs at the same time, a storm probably did damage in your area. Do not wait for that, though. You may be the first on your street to wonder whether the latest storm took a toll, and some storm damage, such as lifted shingle seals or hail bruises, can take weeks or months to turn into a leak.
Storm damage or an aging roof: a side by side check
Use this as a quick guide while you look from the ground, then have a professional confirm what you see:
- Missing or misaligned shingles: concentrated on one side points to storm damage; spread across the whole roof points to age.
- Bent or creased shingles: on one side, right after strong winds, points to storm damage.
- Dots, divots or bruises: appearing suddenly after a hailstorm points to storm damage.
- Curled or cracked shingles across a large area: points to age.
- Granules in the gutters: common as shingles age, though a sudden heavy wash of granules after hail can be a storm sign.
- Moss and algae streaks: points to age and shade, not a storm.
What to do next
- 01
Stay off the roof. Look from the ground and from inside the attic if you can do so safely.
- 02
Photograph what you see, including dents in gutters and vents, before anything is cleaned up.
- 03
If you think a storm caused it, call your insurance company to start a claim, and note the date of the storm.
- 04
Have a roofer walk the roof. When you call us, a repairman checks the shingles, ridges, flashing, vents and gutters, looks in the attic when needed and photographs every finding.
If the damage is from a storm, our hail damage roof repair page explains how we document and fix it, and our guide to roof insurance claims explains who does what once you file. For a step by step walkthrough of the claim itself, read how to get insurance to pay for roof replacement, and remember that storms often damage siding and gutters too, so check the walls as well.
If the answer is age, that is useful too. A worn roof is not a claim, but it may still have repairable years left, and we will tell you honestly whether a repair makes sense or a replacement is the better plan.
Mobley Brothers can help with storm damage or an aging roof
Whether you have storm damage, an aging roof or a little of both, Mobley Brothers Roofing & Renovation will look at it, show you photos and tell you plainly what we found. Our team includes a HAAG Certified Inspector for residential roofs, and we are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau in both Knoxville and Lebanon. Call our Knoxville office at (865) 205-0800 for East Tennessee, including Loudon, or our Lebanon office at (615) 455-3131 for Middle Tennessee, or contact us online to set up a free roof inspection.
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