Inspecting Roofs After Strong Winds

Strong wind can move a roof without tearing it open. That is why a post-wind inspection should focus on the signs of movement, not just the obvious damage.

For PVC and TPO roofs, the first clues are usually at the edges, corners, and transitions. If those areas look different after the storm, the roof should be inspected before the next rain.

What to check first

Start with the perimeter:

• edge terminations,
• corner details,
• seams close to the perimeter,
• and any membrane that looks lifted or stressed.

Then move toward the penetrations and detail zones that may have been affected by the same weather event.

What the signs mean

If the roof shows:

• movement at the edge,
• a loose seam,
• lifted flashing,
• or new dirt lines near a detail,

the wind probably found a weak point that was already present.

Why the inspection matters

The sooner the weak point is found, the smaller the repair can stay. Waiting until the next rainfall usually means the leak path gets longer and the repair gets more expensive.

What to document

Record:

• where the roof moved,
• what the perimeter looked like,
• and whether any detail had already been repaired before.

That record helps with both maintenance planning and later repair decisions.