Hurricane Damage & Shingles: What you Need to Know

When it comes to roofs and hurricanes, the damage can cause your property to be vulnerable to leaks, debris and mold build up. Shingles are an important element of maintaining proper roofing function as any damage to a shingle can put the foundation of your roof at risk. There are many ways shingles can be damaged during a storm but luckily there is a way to assess and repair effectively.   The Brittle Shingle Test When it comes to insurance companies, they will request a Brittle Shingle Test to ensure the functioning quality of the roof. The test is simple and requires you to pick up a shingle and try to bend it. If it bends without breaking, the roof likely does not need to be replaced; however, if it breaks, you likely need to repair or replace your roof.   The Bruised Shingle Typical when strong hail or debris hits your roof, shingle bruising occurs when something impacts the shingle so hard that it leaves a dent or mark on the matting underneath the shingle. This can compromise the foundation of the roof, opening it up to a greater risk of leaks.   Shingle Granular Loss This refers to the “age” of your roof and can occur due to high winds or bruising from weather. It’s estimated that granular loss occurs at 3 percent per year, however, when impacted by storm conditions, this can skyrocket the loss to 15-40 percent. Why is this important? Accelerated granular loss can increase the likelihood of replacing your roof far before it’s originally expected expiration date.   For more information on how to protect, repair and replace your roof, please contact us at (850) 787-1410.