Roof Damage Caused By Storm In Chicago Area
Roof Damage Caused By Storm In Chicago Area
During the overnight hours of April 5th and 6th, the Chicago area was swept by at least three waves of severe storms that spawned high winds, heavy rains and hail. WGN News reported that wind gusts from the storm reached as high as 70 miles per hour. Hail as large as baseballs fell throughout the area including Des Plaines, South Elgin, Island Lake, Skokie, Schaumburg, Hoffman Estates, Evanston, and Rogers Park. The winds were so strong in Bensonville that the roofs of two industrial buildings were blown off.
Such heavy storms can cause serious hail damage or roofing wind damage. Roof damage from hail can range from merely cosmetic damage to severe damage, requiring a full roof replacement. Hail striking an asphalt roof can cause loss of granules, shingle penetration, split or broken shingles, or edge damage. Older roofs are more susceptible to hail damage because the shingles tend to become more brittle over time.
The size of the hail is an important factor in causing roof damage, but the angle that the hail strikes the roof also affects the extent of the damage. Left unattended, a weather damaged roof exposes the property to the elements. It allows water to penetrate into the wood roof under the shingles and, even worse, allows water to leak into the structure where it can cause further damage to ceilings, walls and other areas of the structure. If you are a homeowner or own a commercial building in any area that has been affected by hailstorms, be sure to have your roof inspected by a licensed roofing contractor.
