How Storms Hurt Roofs Here
Wind does not tend to rip a whole roof off at once. It starts at the rims. Shingles lift at the edge. Flashing peels back at vents. Once the seal breaks, the next gust takes full rows. Fall limbs punch holes straight through wood. And in our hard rain, one lost shingle can let in gallons. It soaks mats, stains rooms two doors down, and grows mold in the attic.
After Hurricane Isaias, look up from the ground. Never climb a hurt roof. Lost, cracked, or curled shingles are signs. Bent flashing is a sign. Piles of grit in the gutters are a sign. Light seen from the attic is a sign. Each one merits a pro look.
First: Tarp It Now
A torn roof cannot wait for the adjuster. Cover ripped spots with a thick tarp. Tie it firm at the rims. Do not just drape it. If you cannot reach it safe from a ladder, hire it out. A tarp job costs far less than one more week of rain in your attic. Keep the bill. Your insurer should pay it back as an urgent fix.
Fix or New Roof? How Pros Choose
Fix fits when harm is small. A patch of lifted shingles. One limb hole. Flashing that peeled back. A roofer swaps the hurt shingles, seals flashing, and checks the wood below.
New roof fits when harm is wide. Big fields of lost shingles. Soft or rot wood. Or a roof near the end of its life. In our wind zone, many home owners pick thick shingles with high wind marks. That can help with insurance too. Your adjuster and your roofer may not agree on fix vs new. Get the roofer's written view to back your claim.
Alabama Roofer License: Know the Law
Alabama wants a roofer's license for roof work over $2,500. That covers near each storm fix. Check any roofer at hblb.alabama.gov or 1-800-304-0853. After an emergency order, unlicensed roof work aimed at storm victims can be charged as a felony. Roofing is the top storm-chaser trade. Out-of-state trucks. Cash-first deals. "We will deal with your insurer" pitches. Read our scam guide before you sign.
How It Works: A Roof Job
1. Look from ground and attic. Note lost shingles, leaks, and light through wood. Shoot photos for your claim.
2. Tarp urgent spots. Stop the water today. Fight about the lasting fix later.
3. Get written quotes. Three roofers. Itemized. Tear-off vs layover. Shingle type and wind mark. Flashing. Vents. Cleanup.
4. Check license and cover. Alabama roofer's license plus the roofer's own liability and worker cover. Ask for proof.
5. The work. Most fixes take a day. Full new roofs take one to three days. A good crew guards plants, sweeps nails with a magnet, and walks the done roof with you.
6. Keep papers. Hold the deal, goods warranties, and last bill for your insurer and your files.
What Good Roofing Looks Like in Wind Country
Mobile is high wind land. Small things count:
- Six nails per shingle, not four
- Sealed starter rows at the eaves
- Metal drip edge on all rims
- Flashing laced in, not just caulked, at each vent
- Ridge vents that let heat out but keep rain out
Ask your roofer to name these in the quote. If they cannot, keep looking.
After the Job: Upkeep
- Look at the roof from the ground each spring and fall
- Keep gutters clean so water runs off, not back up
- Trim limbs that hang over the roof
- After each big storm, do the ground look again
Roof Types You See in Mobile
Most homes here wear one of these:
- Three-tab shingles. Flat, cheap, light. Weak in high wind. Many old roofs wear these.
- Thick shingles. Heavier, layered look. Better wind marks. The norm for new roofs here.
- Metal roofs. Cost more up front. Shed wind and rain well. Loud in hail, cool in sun.
- Flat or low-slope tops. Seen on sheds and some ranch homes. Need sealed seams, not shingles.
Make the Next Roof Tougher
If you need a new roof, ask your roofer for wind-safe lifts:
- High wind-mark shingles (ask for the mark in writing)
- Six nails per shingle, not four
- Sealed deck — a glued layer under shingles that holds if tops lift
- Storm straps that tie the roof frame to the walls
- Ridge vents built for wind, not cheap box vents that blow off
These lifts cost more now. They pay back in the next storm — and some insurers cut rates for them. Ask your agent.
Questions to Ask Your Roofer
- What is your Alabama roofer's license number?
- Can I see proof of liability and worker cover?
- Fix or new — and why, in writing?
- What shingle wind mark do you quote?
- How many nails per shingle?
- Who pulls the permit?
- How do you guard plants and clean nails?
- What warranties come with goods and work?
A good roofer answers all eight with no dodge. A bad one rushes you past them.
Every project is different — contact us for a free written estimate.