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Lightning is static electricity on a massive scale. Charges built up by swiftly moving air seek ground in the form of lightning strikes, discharging as much as one billion volts of electricity all at once. That’s enough to briefly power an entire city!
It’s also enough power to cause some significant damage to a roof.
A single lightning strike can tear off gutters, destroy shingles, or even punch a hole right through a roof. This would be damaging enough, but the massive channel of electricity in a lightning strike is also capable of causing the materials it touches to melt, explode, or ignite. And since lightning travels so far so fast (a bolt can stretch from 2-10 miles in an instant) in search of ground, it can be extremely unpredictable.
Lightning is also extremely common. At any given time, there are about 2,000 thunderstorms happening around the globe, producing over 6,000 lightning strikes every minute. Some regions, like Florida, have far more lightning strikes than other areas due to the region’s prevailing weather patterns.
Because not all lightning strikes are equally damaging, it’s possible that your roof has already been struck by lightning, maybe more than once.
This is why it’s important to inspect your roof for damage after a storm.
While It’s Possible For Lightning To Blow A Big Hole All The Way Through Your Roof And Ceiling, The Damage Caused By A Strike Is Likely To Be More Subtle. Here’s What To Look For When Inspecting Your Roof After A Storm.
Probably the clearest indication of a lightning strike is also the most devastating. Even if kept contained from spreading to the rest of the structure, a fire can cause massive amounts of damage to your roof.
As mentioned elsewhere, a hole in a rooftop does not have to be large to cause significant damage. A hole caused by lightning will usually have telltale signs of electrical discharge, such as charring or scorch marks. Also look for any signs of extreme heat that could cause roof tar to bubble or even vaporize.
Often, extreme heat will emanate outward from the point of a lightning strike as the energy is diffused through the surrounding surface. Look for streaks or signs of electricity, and be sure to trace them back to locate an impact point.
Even if you can’t see any scorching or charring, a lighting strike can still loosen tiles in an area, much like wind can. Check for loose tiles within a certain area, and be certain to carefully examine the center of any areas found, as this is likely the point of contact.
Unfortunately, the first indication many people receive that their roof was struck by lightning is a water leak in their ceiling. Only after tracing back where the water is coming from do they discover a hole, crack, or seam that was opened up by a lightning strike.
Fortunately, virtually every property insurance policy will cover damage from lightning strikes. However, unless it is extreme, it is not always easy for property owners to prove that the damage was due to a lightning strike and not to shoddy workmanship or poor maintenance. For lightning damage, or any other kind of damage to your roof and property, it’s important to enlist the help of a professional claims specialist, such as Roofleak.com.
Your Roof Has A Hard Job. It Must Constantly Protect You And Your Belongings From Some Of Nature’s Most Savage And Unforgiving Forces.
