This is where waiting becomes expensive. If one shingle tears loose during a storm, a simple repair job may be all the roof needs. Leave that same damage for weeks or months, and the scope of the issue will change.

Water will begin seeping into the underlayment. If enough moisture gets through, the roof decking can become soft and weakened. Once the decking no longer provides a solid surface, replacing shingles alone won’t solve the problem. The damaged decking replaced before the other layers can be repaired.

If the damage continues spreading across multiple sections of the roof, a repair that once involved a handful of shingles is no longer possible. Depending on the roof’s age, condition, and the extent of the damage, replacing a larger section of the roof – or even the entire roof –  may be the only practical solution.

Of course, this deterioration doesn’t happen every time, and most roofs can be repaired successfully after storm damage, while the damage is contained. However, delaying the repair gives the damage more opportunities to grow.