A thorough do-it-yourself, or professional, top-to-bottom inspection of a given property can reveal much "sudden and accidental" and residual storm caused property damage that can be overlooked by owners, insurance adjusters, and contractors.

Visible and Invisible wind/water damage can include the following, per a thorough exterior and interior storm damage inspection from the roof, and attic, on down;

...are made up of layered components (like a bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich), thus the term "composition" shingles.

Visual inspection of "Visible" roof damage from the ground shows-

Missing shingles, hanging loose shingles, lifted metal flashings on/around the edge of the roof.

Hand and Visual inspection of "Invisible" damage on the roof shows-

A. Around the missing shingles are loose shingles that almost blew off.

B. Missing outer clay granule component. Sun ray protective component has been scoured/ground off by wind borne debris, and rain. The more missing granules, the faster the tar breaks down from exposure to the sun.

C. Tar component holding granules in place is ground down by wind-debris, even down to the fiberglass mat. Leakage potential is real.

D. Branches, stones, etc, flying debris caused tears-scars-bruises.

E. The critical tar sealant bonds that hold shingles down to each other are wind lifted/broken. They help protect the roofing system from allowing weather and/or rain penetration to the interior, and will not thermally reseal because of trapped debris, thus creating real leak potential.

Partially sealed/bonded damaged shingles can also be torn away more easily in another wind, wind-rain, wind-rain-hail storm.

F. Wind pushed and pulled roof plumbing, turbine, ridge, off-set and gable end vents, and skylights, can loosen their attachment to the roof/structure, creating "invisible" openings that rain can find.

G. Flying debris build-up under the side edge of sealed shingles. This build-up leaves them shimmed up and ready to allow rain/water to find nails, plywood, insulation, electrical work, framework and ceilings inside the structure.

Wood/steel decking and steel/wood framework rot can also start with moisture contact.

Visible Damage-

Missing, peeled back, dented, torn pieces.

Invisible Damage-

A. Loose fasteners. The metal is pushed/pulled and does not release, but the metal around the fasteners is now streched and "cupped", and those spots can leak.

B. Loose trim. Wind has broken the fasteners that lock the trim down. Leaks can develop. Wind/weather resistance is compromised.

C. Loose/shifted frame. Loose/stressed bolts, cracked/broken welds. A danger to the whole structure.

D. Sand/wind blasted finish. Primed and painted metal is pitted by sharp micro-projectiles like sand, pebble, etc. flying debris. Exposed metal surface begins to rust/oxidize/rot.

E. Salty [wind carried] water migration / salt deposits. Even miles from the ocean salt water can affect a home and/or business exterior, and interior.

Aluminum, galvanized and non-galvanized steel decking/framework/siding is very sensitive to wind carried saltly water exposure, especially where the fasteners penetrate/break the galvanized layer on metal roofing, siding, decking, studs, and baseplates.

The water evaporates and leaves behind the corrosive salt in visible and hidden areas, and left unchecked, continues to damage a structure long past the initial exposure/damage.


Visible Damage-

Missing, loose/hanging and cracked tiles.

Invisible Damage-

A. Wind lift has pulled tiles upward and the fasteners that keep tiles locked down have been pulled out also.

B. Tiles lift and drop back down (flap) in the wind, slamming into each other. Some do not totally break apart, but do crack, and look OK from the ground. Hot and cool weather, more wind and foot fall can cause complete breakage and separation.

C. Flying debris can penetrate the protective layer under the tile, and leakage can occur.

D. The batons (wood strips) the tile is attached to can be loosened because they are attached to the flapping tiles.

E. The fasteners holding the [1"*2"] batons to the roof deck can also be pulled in the whole wind event, and leakage can occur around the fasteners.

Tension Bending, Harmonic Resonance and Micro-fracturing principles can be researched to verify potential invisible wind damage to tiles.


Generally the same visible/invisible damage principles as tile roof damage.


Common are tar & gravel, built-up, rolled, modified bitumen (hot or cold process), polyfoam, spray-on seamless, and rubber/PVC type systems.

Visible Damage-

Punctures, Scars, Bruises, Tears, Spongy feel under your foot. Lifted parapet wall flashing.

Invisible Damage-

A. Internal fractures.
B. Layer separation.

Hit hard enough by hard hail or wind borne debris, multi-layered systems can delaminate internally. Condensation can then build up inside those spots, turn to vapor, expand, and blow/tear a system apart. The damaged system can appear solid to the eye, but feel spongy underfoot

C. Moisture penetration.

Infrared testing is great for finding invisibly trapped water inside a flat/semi-flat roof system. The trapped water heats up during the day, and the warm "fingerprint" is recorded in the cool night air by special color or grayscale video, and/or still shot, temperature sensitive cameras.

Where the water is and how far it has traveled under the roofing system is fairly easy for anyone to see, and, infrared testing helps to determine if a repair or a total replacement is appropriate for the roof.

D. Flat roofs that are exposed to potential wind/storm damage can also be water hose dampened and infrared tested to find damage that is evident per interior wall and ceiling leaks/stains.

Visible Damage-

Missing, hanging and broken shingles/shakes.

Invisible Damage-

A. Very similar to tile damage. Hail can split shingles. Wind can lift them.

Hand checking is necessary to see if fresh damage splits exist, and if wind caused flapping of the shingles/shakes loosened them and nails holding them in place.

B. Flying debris can puncture the underlayment beneath the shingles and/or shakes.

C. Loose, damaged shingle/shake systems can leak, and blow off in another wind event, creating the potential for a great amount of interior damage.

Roofing, Etc. Construction Components Loss Claim & Value Notes;

Be sure whatever grade of roof is on your home and/or business is accounted for correctly so as to receive proper insurance dollar payment.

Be aware of new interior water stains on walls and ceilings indicate exterior roof, siding, etc. damage.

Be aware of new cracks on interior walls and ceilings, and new cracks on exterior walls and foundations, indicating wind caused structural movement.

Like others, insurance adjusters can miss policy covered damage, and owners may not be aware of existing damage, and a "closed" claim file can be reopened many years after a loss.

In Texas, overlooked Wind/Hail-Storm damage claim has been made 10 years after the "incident", and the previously responsible insurance company that was not the present insurer honored their duty and promises that were in effect at the time of the loss.

Too, make sure local building code, and if appropriate, the Texas Department of Insurance building code (for Texas Windstorm Insurance Association property protection insurance) is followed. Not following proper code may make your property hard, if not impossible, to insure.

It's almost 2008. All insurers and their loss claim adjusters should recognize historically common storm created roofing, etc. property damage, and recognize sound construction repair and replacement needs, and cost range.

The next topic will discuss real/fair house replacement cost values, and how to make sure you receive loss value dollars you are owed.

Hint: You have to think like a construction business owner/contractor, an insurance agent, and the Texas Department of Insurance...

http://www.tdi.state.tx.us/bulletins/1998/b-0045-8.html

rogerpoegc@gmail.com