Wind-Damaged Roofing Repair or Solution?

July 4, 2012 | Filed under: Articles, Roof Repair

Wind and hail storms have damaged roofs in many areas of the country in recent weeks. This has left homeowners who felt that they had years of service left in their roofs frustrated as they face insurance claims and extensive repairs or replacement due to wind-damaged roofing. Furthermore, even if repairs are possible, the damages have jeopardized the futures of their roofs.

Recent years have seen an increase in violent weather in the United States. This is making more and more homeowners think about their roofs and look for roofing options that are not prone to damage from wind, hail, snow, and ice. As a result, the fastest growing segment of the residential roofing industry has been metal roofing. Metal has seen its market share more than quadruple over the past decade.

Conventional shingles rely largely on gravity and low-end adhesives to try to hold tight during high winds. Like many commodities, there has been a push by their manufacturers in recent years to cut the cost of asphalt and fiberglass shingles. This has led to products that are less flexible and less well adhered than they have been in the past. So, instead of lasting longer, they are performing more poorly than ever.

Even though their warranties are for longer periods of time, we’re seeing standard shingles having to be replaced at anywhere from five to 20 years of age. The variance depends more on the weather conditions and whether the products were installed well than it does on the original quality of the product.

Metal offers a solution because of the way that the panels interlock rather than just rely on gravity or sealants to hold them in place. The higher quality metal roofs feature fully interlocking panels as well as concealed fasteners. These systems create a weathertight “shell” to protect homes and be able to withstand the rigors of harsh weather.

If you find yourself faced with re-roofing your home due to storm damage, do yourself a favor and consider a lasting and beautiful metal roof. Additional benefits include energy efficiency, fire safety, and low weight. Check out the benefits of metal roofing or email me at todd@asktoddmiller.com for advice on whether a metal roof is right for your home. Metal roofing will require an investment beyond what your insurance will pay you for a damaged shingle roof but now may be a good time to make that investment once and for all and save yourself from future roof maintenance and worries.

todd Miller

has spent his entire career in the metal building products manufacturing industry. He is president of Isaiah Industries, an organization recognized as one of the world’s leading metal roofing manufacturers. Todd is currently Vice President of the MRA (Metal Roofing Association) and a Past Chair of MCA (Metal Construction Association). Through his website, he strives to raise the bar on standards and practices to provide property owners with the best possible products for successful roofing projects.

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2 responses to “Wind-Damaged Roofing Repair or Solution?”

  1. Sheryl Eldridge says:

    In the recent storm, our metal roof with interlocking aluminum panels was damaged. Several panels blew off. They were fastened by nails that are concealed, ie attached to the underside of the panel and approx. 1 inch long. The roof is approx. 25 years old and in very good condition. How can the remaining panels be secured better so they are wind resistant? Stainless screws and caulk? (Electrolytic reaction? water leakage?)

    • toddmiller says:

      Thanks Sheryl. As you know, we ended up emailing back and forth on this and you sent me some photos. For other readers, though, I want to post the following:

      There are indeed stainless steel screws for exposed roofing available. They have neoprene washers for watertightness and then a cap head over that to protect the washer.

      However, I really would not use them. You stated that your roof is aluminum. That means that it has a fairly high amount of thermal movement. Much more than steel. If you use exposed fasteners, the metal of the roof panels will pull against them and quickly wallow out the holes. This will lead to water infiltration.

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