How to Deal with Storm Damage to Your Roof in the Central Coast

Here at Recycling Roof Tiles, we have over 40 years' industry experience and pride ourselves on creating sustainable and aesthetic roofing by using recycled shingles.

Unfortunately, during 2018 and 2019, many houses were damaged by severe storms on the Central Coast. While shingles are durable, repeated exposure to harsh elements shortens their lifespan.

Here are three ways to deal with storm damage to your roof.

1. Assess Damage to the Roof

Assess from the ground (or a neighbour's deck) with binoculars where possible. You can also assume damage if the windows and gutters are damaged or if there are fallen branches on the lawn.

Damage to Flashing or Sealant

Flashing is the thin slips of metal that run alongside chimneys, skylights and vents that keep water out where shingles do not reach. Check the flashing for rust, dents and/or lifting. After a heavy storm, sometimes the seal bonding on the shingles may break. This damage can eventually lead to lifting tiles that reveal gaps in the roof.

Rusted, Dented or Chipped Tiles

Extended periods of rainfall and/or a damp environment can cause the flashing or shingles to rust. Oftentimes, this is hard to detect until your living areas have a leak or mould forms in the interior roof of your home. Check for leaks and mould often. Hail and debris from heavy winds can cause the fine layer of crushed stone on the shingles to chip away. This exposes the asphalt underneath and weakens the longevity of the roof. Regular storms can cause dents or chips in the tiles, which exposes the sealant to direct weather damage.

Bent, Lifting or Missing Tiles

Heavy winds can lift or dislodge shingles. The bigger the gap, the more rain gets in to cause further damage not only to the roof but also the house. If any tiles are missing (usually from a bent shingle that hasn't been fixed), cover the area to stop further damage.

2. Decide is the Damage is an Emergency

Emergencies

These should be fixed immediately:

- Damage to the structure of the house
- Missing shingles

To temporarily fix the latter, place plastic sheeting over the missing shingles and a bucket underneath any potential leaks.

Non-emergencies

These can be fixed later:

- Chipped shingles
- Bent shingles

Temporarily fix these issues by covering the shingles with plastic sheeting.

3. Request a Quote from a Professional

If you have assessed that the roof is damaged and needs retiling, request a quote from an expert as soon as you can. If the damage is left for too long, it can cause greater problems to your house.

We offer quotes for cement tiles, monier tiles and terracotta tiles. We also have a wide range of acrylic roof paints, coats and sealers.

Note: If you have homeowner's insurance, the cost of the damage might be covered.