What are the consequences of strong winds on a roof?

The wind can blow your roof during some fall and even winter storms. Even if your roof is well maintained and your roofer does quality work, you could still suffer damage.

As soon as the weather forecast announces the arrival of strong winds, we recommend that you release all outdoor elements on your property. They could fly away and turn into a projectile under the force of the wind to hit your roof.

We invite you to visit the page on high winds on the Urgence Québec website to learn about general precautions and prepare properly.

Beware of shingles!

Strong winds can damage the shingles on your roof and even tear them off! This situation weakens your entire roof covering and if it is not repaired, it could cause water infiltration later.

Flat roof: you have to stay vigilant

The flat roof offers better wind resistance than the shingle roof. But its worst enemy is water. Indeed, it is more difficult to evacuate water from a flat roof and the drains must therefore be in perfect condition at all times. Otherwise, you will notice the appearance of spots, cracks, blisters, wrinkles or tears.

A significant proportion of refurbished flat roofs could simply have been repaired if a thorough inspection had been carried out at the beginning. Call on the team of professional roofers at Toitures Urbi. We are specialists in the repair, maintenance and waterproofing of flat roofs.

Clear the gutters

Regardless of your type of roof, water drainage is essential. Especially since we know that the winds are also often accompanied by heavy rain. Severe weather can cause debris to accumulate in your gutters or break them. However, the purpose of a gutter is to control rainwater and prevent the wind from projecting it onto the building’s cladding.

Strong winds and snow: pay attention to the roof structure

In winter, strong winds will push snow and accumulate it in certain areas of your roof. This phenomenon leads to a weight imbalance. However, frameworks are often designed to support a balanced load. An accumulation of snow can cause deformation and weaknesses in the structure of your roof.

How to protect yourself from strong winds on a roof?

First of all, you need to do several visual inspections of your roof. A minimum of two annual inspections by professionals, in the spring and fall, is recommended. Its inspections are essential. They will indeed detect all the small defects that could weaken your roof. This will allow you to have them corrected before it gets worse.

To prevent gutter problems, you should do regular inspection and repairs when necessary.

Then, during the winter, you should clear your roof as soon as necessary to prevent your roof from sagging. To carry out the snow removal operation, it is recommended to call on roofing professionals who have the skills and equipment necessary to carry out quality work in complete safety.