ROOF SURVIVED HURRICANE, BUT WAS IT JUST LUCK?
Funny thing about roofs—they always look fine from the driveway until you’re up there chasing a shingle or, worse, a ridge cap that’s flapping like a flag. I see this all the time after storms, especially around here where the weather can’t make up its mind. Folks think if their roof survived the big hurricane, it’s basically bulletproof. But then some random gust in March comes through and peels back a section you thought was solid. It’s almost like the roof gets cocky and lets its guard down.
Not to be too much of a skeptic, but sometimes those “lucky” roofs are just waiting for the next wind to show what’s really going on. I’ve seen brand new installs lose shingles while 20-year-old roofs next door don’t budge. Usually comes down to how things were nailed down (or not), what kind of materials were used, and honestly, sometimes just pure dumb luck with how the wind hits your house.
Had a customer swear their roof was untouched after last year’s hurricane—no leaks, nothing missing as far as they could see. Fast forward six months, and we’re patching up spots where water had been sneaking in under lifted shingles the whole time. From the street? Looked perfect. Up close? Not so much.
Walking the perimeter is good, but if you ever get a chance (and don’t mind heights), it’s worth getting up there or having someone check it out after any decent storm. Found more than my share of mystery nails and half-torn tabs hiding out of sight. And yeah, trampolines... don’t even get me started. I’ve pulled one off a porch roof before—those things are like magnets for bad weather.
Guess my point is: surviving one or two big storms doesn’t mean you’re in the clear forever. Sometimes you get lucky, sometimes not so much. Roofs have a way of keeping us humble.
From the street? Looked perfect. Up close? Not so much.
That’s the kicker right there. I’ve seen folks swear their roof’s fine, then I get up there and find shingles barely hanging on or flashing that’s pulled loose. Sometimes it’s not luck, just hidden damage waiting to show up after the next rain. Always worth a closer look, especially after a big blow.
I get what you’re saying about hidden damage, but sometimes I wonder if we’re just patching up the same old problems. After the last hurricane, my neighbor’s asphalt roof looked fine from the ground, but up close it was a mess—just like you said. Meanwhile, my green roof (sedum mats) took a beating but bounced back with barely any fuss. Maybe it’s not just luck or hidden issues… maybe some materials just handle storms better? I know green roofs aren’t for everyone, but I’ve had way less drama since switching over.
Maybe it’s not just luck or hidden issues… maybe some materials just handle storms better?
I’ve noticed the same thing managing a few buildings with different roof types. After last year’s storm, the older asphalt shingles looked okay from the street, but we found granule loss and lifted edges up close—hidden damage for sure. Meanwhile, our one green roof area needed some cleanup but bounced back fast. Maintenance is a bit more involved with green roofs, but honestly, the resilience in extreme weather has been impressive. Not for every structure, but I agree, material choice makes a big difference over time.
I totally get what you mean about hidden damage. After my first hurricane season in this house, I thought my shingle roof was fine—no leaks, nothing obvious. Then a neighbor pointed out a few shingles were curling at the edges, and when I checked, there was a bunch of grit in the gutters. I guess it’s not always about luck… materials and age matter way more than I realized. If I ever re-roof, I’m seriously considering metal or maybe even a green roof, though I’m not sure about the upkeep yet.
