The Home Improvement Minute · Roofing · Roof Damage

Roof Damage, Tracked Storm by Storm

Roof damage rarely announces itself. Wind lifts a few shingles, hail bruises a few more, and ice works its way under the edge, and none of it shows from the driveway until water reaches a ceiling.

This is where we explain each threat in plain language: what wind, hail, and ice actually do to a roof, what to check once a storm passes, and how to handle the days after. Pick a threat on the tracker below to read up. Every guide is written by the Thrush family, who have been helping Miami Valley homeowners recover from storms since 1960.

58 mphwind makes a thunderstorm severe
1 inchhail or larger makes it severe too

Severe thunderstorm criteria: National Weather Service.

Roof damage from wind and hail with missing shingles on a residential roof
Storm tracker: pick a threat
Threat 1 of 4

Wind

Wind gets under shingle edges, breaks the seal strips, and peels shingles back. The damage often starts at the ridge, the rakes, and the corners.

Check after it passesFrom the yard, look for missing shingles, dark patches, or tabs that lift and flap in a breeze.
Read up
Threat 2 of 4

Hail

Hail bruises shingles and knocks off the granules that protect them from the sun. The damage can hide for months before it leaks.

Check after it passesCheck gutters, downspouts, and the tops of metal vents for dents. Dents there mean the roof took hits too.
Read up
Threat 3 of 4

Ice

Ice dams form when attic heat melts snow that refreezes at the cold roof edge. Meltwater backs up under the shingles and into the house.

Check after it passesOn a cold morning, look for thick icicles and ridges of ice at the eaves, and stains on ceilings near outside walls.
Read up
Threat 4 of 4

After the Storm

What you do in the days after a storm matters as much as the storm itself: covering openings, documenting damage, and choosing who to trust.

Check after it passesTake photos before anything is cleaned up, cover any opening if it’s safe, and be wary of anyone knocking on your door.
Read up

More Roof Damage Reading

Protecting yourself, line by line Wanted: four weather culprits The roof owner’s manual

Storm just passed? See storm damage help and roofing, schedule an inspection, or call 937-833-5136. Every post in this category is listed below.