Common roof problems in Kansas City and what the repair costs

Hail damage leads the list here. In NOAA's storm records, Jackson County logged 116 hail events of one inch or larger since 2015, and the largest hailstone in that record measured 3 inches. Hail bruises shingles, knocks off granules and cracks older material, and the damage can sit unseen until the next rain.

Wind is the second common cause, along with the tornado season: the county record shows 18 tornadoes in the same period. Lifted shingles, bent flashing and missing ridge caps are the usual results. The housing stock adds to the problem, since by Census estimates for 2019 to 2023 about 64% of homes in Kansas City were built before 1980, with a median build year of 1968. Older roofs have had more seasons of weathering to weaken them. Call Roofers Hotline for roof repair and book an inspection before the next storm season.

Start from the ground after any hail or high-wind night. Look for dented gutters and downspouts, granules collecting at the base of the downspouts, shingles lying in the yard and flashing that sits crooked around chimneys and vents. These are signs the roof surface may be damaged too.

Then check the attic with a flashlight. Dark streaks on the decking, damp insulation or daylight coming through the boards point to a leak or a gap. Inside, look for brown stains on ceilings, especially near exterior walls.

Here is a worked example. After a spring storm, you find two dented gutter sections and a few loose shingles by the garage. You call, and Roofers Hotline books a roof inspection. You get a written estimate that lists the damaged areas and the repair work, so you can decide on the next step before anything starts. Call 24/7 to set up yours.

Treat active leaks, sagging spots and missing shingles as urgent. Water that reaches the attic can soak insulation and framing within days, and Kansas City sees about 38 inches of precipitation a year at the downtown airport station in the 1991 to 2020 climate normals. The same normals count about 93 days a year with a low at or below freezing, so water that gets under shingles can freeze and widen the gap.

Timing matters after big storms too. April is the peak hail month in the area's records, and the last federal disaster declaration for the county, Severe Storms, Tornadoes, And Flooding, was dated July 9, 2019. If a storm has just passed and water is coming in, call for emergency tarping and leak repair, available 24/7. Have your address, the date of the storm and photos of any damage ready when you call.