As the year wraps up, most homeowners are focused on the holidays and winter prep, not the roof. But storms from earlier in the year often leave behind issues that aren’t obvious until the cold sets in. At Kavlan Contracting, we routinely inspect roofs in Lebanon, Whitestown, Zionsville, and nearby communities long after the storms have passed, only to find hidden damage that’s now ready to surface during winter.
The end of the year is one of the most important times to understand what’s happening overhead before Indiana’s freeze–thaw cycles make small problems much worse.
Most homeowners expect roof damage to be obvious, missing shingles, holes, or visible leaks. The truth is that storm-related issues typically start silently. A hailstorm may leave behind small impact marks that can’t be seen from the ground. Wind may loosen a shingle just enough to break its seal without blowing it off entirely. Heavy rains may push water into tiny openings around flashing long before a leak ever appears.
Because these issues don’t cause immediate problems, many people assume their roof escaped untouched. But when cold weather arrives, those subtle vulnerabilities become the weak points winter exploits.
Hail doesn’t have to be large to cause trouble. Even smaller stones can bruise shingles or knock granules loose. These bruises don’t leak right away, they reduce the roof’s ability to shed water efficiently. As temperatures drop and shingles stiffen, those bruised areas begin to crack, and small gaps form. Moisture then slips into places it was never meant to go.
That’s why homeowners who “didn’t notice anything after the storm” often end up with leaks months later. Hail damage is cumulative, and repeated storms throughout the year accelerate the aging of the roof far faster than normal wear.
Wind damage is just as deceptive. Shingles don’t need to fly off to be compromised. A strong gust only needs to lift the shingle slightly to break the manufacturer’s adhesive seal. Once that bond is broken, the shingle may look fine from the ground, but water can now find its way underneath.
In open areas around Central Indiana, especially near fields, wide-open lots, or higher elevations, wind gusts frequently create these unseen vulnerabilities. Months later, the homeowner discovers moisture damage and never connects it to a storm from early summer.
Rain alone rarely causes catastrophic damage. Instead, it slowly works its way into weak spots created by earlier storms. Flashing that shifted slightly during a downpour may now allow water to test that gap over and over. Gutters that overflow during heavy rain push water back toward the roof line. Shingles worn thin over the year no longer shed water as effectively.
By late fall, water has already found small entry points, but those symptoms typically don’t show up until the first warm-up in winter creates snowmelt.
Once the temperatures begin to drop, any storm-related weakness becomes magnified. Water that slipped under a lifted shingle or into a tiny gap freezes, expands, and forces that opening wider. When it thaws, water moves deeper into the roof system. The next freeze expands it again.
This cycle repeats all winter long.
Most mid-winter roof emergencies started with subtle storm damage months earlier. The freeze–thaw cycle simply exposes what was already there.
Homeowners often notice small changes without realizing they’re warning signs. Slight discoloration on ceilings, granules collecting in the gutters, uneven snow melt, new icicles forming in unusual areas, or creaking noises during cold snaps can all point to earlier storm damage. None of these guarantee a problem, but together they strongly suggest the roof may be stressed.
That’s why understanding the roof’s condition before winter is so important.
An end-of-year inspection gives homeowners clarity going into winter. It identifies issues that didn’t show up immediately after a storm, highlights vulnerable areas before they become bigger problems, and helps ensure the home is ready for freezing temperatures, ice, and snow.
It also matters for insurance. If storm damage is eligible for a claim, documenting it before winter weather adds new complications makes the process far smoother.
A year-end inspection doesn’t just tell you what happened, it helps you understand what your roof needs to get through the cold season without surprise failures.
Your roof may have handled this year’s storms better than you think, but you won’t know without a professional assessment. Kavlan Contracting provides thorough end-of-year inspections that evaluate shingles, flashing, gutters, attic conditions, and ventilation. You’ll know exactly where your roof stands before winter hits, and what, if anything, needs attention.
If you want to avoid unexpected leaks, emergency repairs, and winter stress, now is the time to get ahead of it.
Kavlan Contracting will make sure your home enters winter protected, stable, and prepared for whatever the season brings.