The Nashville, TN, area is used to strong storms throughout the year. Unfortunately, this leads to damage to roofs all over the Nashville area.
But most Nashville homeowners don’t know their roof has storm damage until there’s a leak or bigger problems. That’s why you need to know how to spot storm damage to your roof before it becomes an issue.
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has helped thousands of homeowners in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas with their insurance claims. Because of this, I’ll help you determine if your roof was damaged after a recent storm.
In this article, you’ll learn how to spot storm damage to your Nashville, TN, roof from the safety of the ground.
Look for loose granules on the ground or in your gutters
Granules are pieces of asphalt embedded into shingles to make them fire-resistant, give them their color, and protect them from UV rays. They are crucial to your roof’s lifespan, and losing them is a clear sign that it’s time for a roof replacement.
One of the easiest ways to spot storm damage is finding loose granules in your gutters on the ground after a hail storm. If the hail was strong enough to warrant granule loss, the integrity of your shingles is definitely compromised.
To spot this, look in areas on the ground around your downspouts for loose granules. But remember, granule loss also happens as a roof ages and is a definite sign that it’s time for a replacement.
So, loose granules could also just be an older roof telling you it’s for a replacement. You won’t really know the real reason until after a roof inspection from a local Nashville roofing contractor.
Storm damage to objects at the ground level
The easiest and safest way to spot storm damage to your roof is by looking for collateral damage to objects at the ground level. Start by looking at the face of your gutters and downspouts.
Dents on the face of your gutters are a pretty good indication that your roof may have damage as well. Dents on downspouts are also a good indicator, but the damage needs to be above 5 feet, so it can’t be blamed on anything else.
But dents on your gutters and downspouts aren’t the only signs that you have possible roof damage. Collateral damage to other objects around your property could also be a sign that your roof is damaged.
Below is a list of what else you should check on the ground level:
- Dents or strikes on your garage door
- Holes in your window screens
- Dings to any painted wood or shutters
- Splatter marks or dings to your electric meter, AC unit, or grill
- Dents to your mailbox and other soft metals on your property
Just know that it’s not 100% guaranteed that you have roof damage because collateral damage is found. However, there's a good chance your roof has damage if you find any of the above.
Damage to your roof shingles
The first couple of ways to spot storm damage was on the ground level, but now we’re getting to the signs that are actually on your roof. One of the easiest (and most common ways) to spot storm damage to your roof is by seeing missing, lifted, or creased shingles.
Finding missing shingles in your yard is probably the most obvious sign of storm damage. But you'll need to be on the roof to find lifted or creased shingles.
Just know that this type of storm damage could also be a sign of improper installation. If the roofing contractor didn’t do the job right, you’re more likely to experience this type of storm damage when strong winds blow into the Nashville area.
What makes this even worse is that you can’t file an insurance claim because improper installation isn’t covered by homeowners insurance policies.
Dents in shingles, roof flashing, roof vents, and other soft metals
This next sign is the hardest to spot if you don’t know what to look for. To spot storm damage from hail, look for dents or bruises large enough (around 1” in diameter) to damage the shingles.
Hail of this size causes the granule loss we talked about earlier and means the integrity of your roof is compromised. Other than your shingles, you can look at other areas of your roof for possible damage.
Just like looking for collateral damage on the ground, check roof vents, roof flashing, or any other soft metals on your roof for dents that clearly show signs of hail damage. If the hail was strong enough to dent your roof vents or any metal, you’ll definitely have storm damage to other areas of your roof.
Large tree limbs on or through your roof
Along with finding shingles on the ground, the last one on our list is pretty obvious. This is finding large tree limbs on or through your roof after a storm.
If a large tree limb or an entire tree hits your roof, then it’s pretty obvious that your roof is damaged. While it’ll cause damage to your shingles, it also causes damage to your roof decking and other roofing components if the tree limb is large and heavy enough.
To avoid this happening, it’s important to keep any trees around your roof trimmed. But if a storm is strong enough, you can’t do much about a falling branch or tree.
What’s the insurance claim process for a storm-damaged roof in Nashville, TN?
Now you know what to look for to spot storm damage to your Nashville, TN, roof. While I recommend walking around your property looking for these signs, I don’t recommend risking your safety to get on your roof.
As soon as you notice or think your roof has storm damage, contact your insurance company to start the claim process. But just know that you’re about to embark on a long and confusing process.
To help you understand what you’re getting into and how it actually works, I wrote another article breaking down the insurance claim process for roof damage.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has guided thousands of homeowners in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas through the insurance process since 1990. We work with you to ensure you get everything your roof needs according to your insurance policy.
Check out Homeowners insurance: The process to replace a storm damaged roof to learn what happens when you file a claim for storm damage.