If you live in Delaware County, you know what Monday felt like.
The sky went green. The wind picked up fast. The National Weather Service issued a Tornado Warning. Two inches of rain fell in an hour. Quarter-size hail pounded cars, windows, and rooftops.
The storms were severe enough to stop a FIFA World Cup match between France and Iraq in Philadelphia mid-game, with fans rushed to safety inside the stadium.
Then it stopped. And now, the morning after, everything looks fine.
That’s the problem.
Roof damage from storms like Monday’s is often invisible from the ground. A few cracked shingles. A patch of granule loss from hail impact. A piece of flashing bent just enough to let water in.
You won’t know it happened until a water stain blooms on your ceiling weeks from now.
Or until the next storm sends water pouring through a gap you never knew existed.
Here’s what to look for before it gets to that point.
Shingles in the yard
Walk your property. Look in the lawn, the garden beds, along the driveway.
If you find pieces of roofing material, even a handful, that’s wind damage.
Missing shingles leave the underlayment exposed and create a direct path for water into your home.
Granules in the gutters
This is the hail tell. Asphalt shingles are coated with granules that protect against UV and moisture.
Quarter-size hail, which is what the NWS warned of Monday, can knock those granules loose at scale.
Check your gutters and downspouts for a dark, sand-like buildup after the storm.
A little is normal. A lot means your shingles are compromised and your roof’s lifespan just got shorter.
Gutters pulling away from the house
Two inches of rain per hour is a lot of water moving fast.
Look for gutters that are sagging, separating from the fascia, or overflowing in places they shouldn’t be.
Damaged gutters push water toward your foundation and siding, and those are problems far more expensive to fix than a gutter repair.
Tree limbs that touched the roof
A branch doesn’t have to punch through your roof to cause damage.
Even a glancing strike can crack shingles or dislodge flashing, the metal strips that seal joints and edges.
If a limb came down near your roofline, don’t assume it missed. Have it looked at.
And don’t climb up there yourself.
Stains, damp spots, or peeling paint indoors
Check your ceilings, upper walls, and attic in the days ahead.
Water intrusion from storm damage doesn’t always show up immediately.
It can take a week or two to work its way through insulation and drywall.
If you see discoloration or feel dampness where there shouldn’t be any, that’s your roof talking.
Don’t wait for the next storm to find out
Monday’s storm was the kind that leaves damage behind.
The homeowners who call now, before the next round of summer storms, are the ones who catch problems while they’re still minor repairs and not major replacements.
O’Donnell Roofing Co. has been inspecting and repairing roofs in Delaware County and across the Delaware Valley for more than 100 years.
The Havertown-based company is fourth-generation family-owned, knows this region’s homes, and can help you document damage for an insurance claim if it comes to that.
If Monday’s storm left any doubt in your mind, that’s reason enough to call.
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