Updated 5/5/2026

It’s the job of your roof to protect your home from the outdoor elements. It also helps you maintain a predetermined temperature, regardless of the time of year. Your roof also provides a barrier to keep pests outside of your living space. However, there are too many ways that your roof can become damaged, leaving your home exposed to external forces. The amount of damage can range from a fallen tree that takes off most of your roof to a smaller hit from a piece of hail. Before you hire a contractor, you want a better understanding of common types of roof damage, including how to identify them and how to address the problem. 

Understanding Your Roof: The First Step to Protection

When you arrive home at the end of the day, you pull up to your home and notice your roof. What you’re actually looking at is the outermost layer of the roof, usually made up of asphalt shingles, metal sheeting, or tiles. Your roof is a system of subfloors, insulation, venting, and more. Here’s an overview of your roofing system:

• Structural category
  • Rafters/trusses
  • Decking
  • Collar beams
• Drainage category
  • Underlayment
  • Flashing
  • Drip edge
  • Gutters
• Ventilation category
  • Active vents
  • Passive vents
• Exterior category
  • Covering
  • Ridge cap
  • Valleys/hips
  • Soffit
  • Fascia
  • Eaves

Damage can occur in almost any part of your roofing system, but some issues can be harder to locate because of the system’s function. You need to be vigilant and always on the lookout for signs of damage, especially after a storm. 

Identifying Storm-Related Roof Damage

When the storm rolls through, it can leave your roof with a little bit of damage or gaping holes. You need to be able to identify storm-related roof damage to properly report it to your homeowner’s insurance company. Some of the most common damage includes:

• Missing Shingles
• Wind-Creased Shingles
• Granule Loss
• Hail Bruises/Dents
• Damaged Flashing
• Internal Leaks
• Broken/Bent Vents

If you’re unsure of the type of damage to your roof, your roofing contractor should be able to inspect the problem and provide you with additional information. We at Sela Roofing & Remodeling have the extensive experience needed to identify the type of damage and how it happened. Our team can partner with you to review any needed repairs and the causes of the original issue. We can also work with you for a replacement when average wear and tear is the cause. 

The Aging Roof: General Wear and Tear

You can expect your home’s roof to last between 20 and 30 years before you need to replace it. Of course, the type of roofing material can make a big difference in terms of longevity. For example, a metal roof can last between 50 and 100 years before needing replacement. 

As your roof ages, you might notice that it begins to fail in certain areas. This might be broken or missing shingles, or water stains on the ceiling inside your home. You might request a roof inspection to determine how much general wear and tear that your roof already has on it. 

Protecting Your Investment 

Your roof needs to be in tip-top condition to protect your home from pests and help it remain energy-efficient. Roof damage ranges from minor, inconvenient repairs to a total loss requiring replacement of your entire roof. At Sela Roofing & Remodeling, we have extensive training and experience in repairing all kinds of roofs. Our team is ready to undertake your needed repairs, no matter how big or how small. Contact us today.

Image credit: // Shutterstock // JLStock