Roofing in Windsor, CT

What did the 1979 tornado do to Windsor roofs?

On October 3, 1979 an F4 tornado began in the Poquonock area and carved a path through Windsor, Windsor Locks and Suffield. It killed 3 people, destroyed 65 homes and ripped roofs off dozens of buildings. It remains a reference point for what wind can do to a roof.

Tornadoes are rare, and the lesson for an ordinary homeowner is a modest one. Wind gets under the edge of a roof first. A shingle with a weak seal lifts, the one beside it follows, and the exposed felt or deck takes the next gust. If you see shingles or tabs on the lawn after a blow, look from the ground and read about wind damage roof repair.

This is not a prediction. Nobody can tell you whether your roof will survive a storm, and this page does not say whether it is safe. A roofer who has looked at it can tell you what they found.

How much can snow matter in Windsor?

In the October 2011 nor'easter, Windsor reported 26 inches of snow in what was a record October fall, and over 800,000 Connecticut customers lost power. Heavy snow and what falls on a roof under it are the two ways a storm like that damages one.

In a normal year, Hartford-area snowfall is about 49 inches, and the more common winter problem is ice. Ice dams form when heat escaping from the attic melts snow that refreezes at the eaves. Low-20s temperatures for several days with several inches of snow is the setup. If you are worried about the weight on a roof, call a roofer, and read about heavy snow roof damage.

Do not put salt or calcium chloride on a roof, and do not stand under a roof edge loaded with snow or ice.

What does a roofer look at after a wind event in Windsor?

Wind damage rarely announces itself. A roofer starts at the edges: the eaves, the rakes and the ridge, where the wind has the most leverage. Then they look for creased or missing shingles, lifted flashing at the chimney or a wall, loose vent covers and gutters that have pulled away. Limbs that landed on the roof are checked for punctures.

On a house that has already had a repair, they will also check whether the earlier work is still holding. A past patch is often the next place to fail, because it sits on a roof that is otherwise the same age as the rest.

If you plan to make an insurance claim, photograph everything from the ground first and keep any pieces that came off. Your insurer decides what is covered, and our page on roof insurance claim help explains how a documented inspection fits in.

Which Windsor village do I say I am in?

Say the village and the ZIP together: Poquonock, Wilson, Hayden Station, Rainbow or Windsor Center, and 06006, 06095 or 06064. The line then connects you with a roofer who serves your part of Hartford County. A roofer comes when one is free, and no arrival time can be promised.

A full re-roof needs a building permit under the 2022 Connecticut State Building Code, and minor repairs typically do not. Confirm local rules with the Windsor building office. Asphalt shingles are limited to two layers (IRC R908.3). Our storm damage roof repair page covers what to do after a storm.