If you’re standing out in your yard right now, looking up at broken or missing shingles on your roof, you’re probably wondering what can be done about them. Broken and missing roofing shingles can be caused by a large variety of factors, from storm damage to general aging. Regardless of the cause, you likely want to know what to do about them. Damaged or missing roofing shingles is not something to ignore. They can lead to roofing leaks and other problems quite quickly, especially if rain is on the forecast. They should be taken care of immediately.
What should you do if your roof has broken or missing shingles? There are a few steps to take.
Note: Avoid Assessing the Problem Yourself
It can be dangerous to get up on your roof on your own, even when all the singles are intact. Going up when there are damaged or missing shingles is even more dangerous because the surrounding shingles could be loose and ready to come off at a moment’s notice. Don’t risk your personal safety going up on the roof on your own.
Step #1: Contact a Professional Immediately
Most roofing replacement and repair companies do not charge for a residential roofing inspection or a repair/replacement quote. If they do, you probably should be looking elsewhere. The first thing you should do is contact a contractor to immediately come out and assess the damage.
Step# 2: Consider an Insurance Claim
If there was a recent storm in your area (with heavy winds, hail, etc.), you’ll likely qualify for a roofing repair or replacement job covered by your insurance. But don’t call your insurance company just yet. It’s generally best to follow step #1 before calling your agent. Your roofing contractor will be able to look at the damage and assess if it was caused by a storm. If you choose to work with them, they should be able to handle the negotiations with your insurance company so that you don’t have to.
Step #3: Have the Work Done as Quickly as Possible
Leaving the problem alone is the worst thing you can do. Not taking care of roof damage will lead to further damage to the roof and your home. In the best-case scenario, you’ll only have a leak to deal with. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll have structural damage to more than your roof. You don’t have to rush the process, but it’s best to work as quickly as possible to have the problem taken care of. Even if your roofing contractor can’t get you on the schedule to have the roof replaced right away, they should be able to make a temporary repair to the problem area, avoiding more damage in the near future.
Something wrong with your roof? Get in touch with Schmidt Roofing right away! We will send someone out to assess the damage and get you a plan of action as soon as possible.
