Hail Roof Damage: All the Signs and What to Do About It
Hail damage costs the United States more than 20 billion dollars each year.
If a hail storm strikes your area, you could have property damage and not even know it. Some types of hail damage are obvious, but some are more difficult to spot with an untrained eye.
Knowing how to recognize roof hail damage can help you protect your property from costly further damage. Keep reading to learn more about the signs you might have roof hail damage after a storm and what to do next.
How Hail Damages Roofs
Understanding how hail causes roof damage and leads to the need for a roof replacement can help you learn to identify the earliest signs of roof damage. Hail can cause damage that is both functional and cosmetic. But it’s important to understand the damage that may seem cosmetic is often much more serious.
The effects of hail on your roof depend on a number of factors including the age, slope, and material of the roof as well as the size of the hail, speed, and direction of the wind.
Hail can crack and weaken shingles’ self-seal strips, expose or fracture fiberglass under the singles’ surface, and damage granules on shingles’ coating.
How to Spot Roof Hail Damage
Some signs of roof damage like missing shingles or broken tree branches are obvious. But others are harder to detect unless you know what to look for. The first place you should look for signs of roof hail damage is your gutters.
If your gutters or downspouts have dents from the storm, you likely have roof damage as well. You should also look for signs of your gutters filling up and clogging due to debris from damaged shingles.
Next, look at your siding and your deck. If you see signs of obvious hail damage to these areas, chances are good that your roof needs repaired or replaced.
Even small hail can cause signs of damage including:
- Missing granules
- Bruises
- Splits
- Tears
- Dents
- Black dots
What to Do Next
If you know or suspect you have roof hail damage, you need to repair the damage as soon as possible. Ignoring roof storm damage is never a good idea because you can quickly develop leaks and ice dams. These can lead to rotting wood, mold damage, and electrical issues.
These advanced issues can be hard to detect and expensive to repair. You can mitigate your damages by learning how to spot the first signs of roof hail damage after a storm.
Then, you should either file a claim with your homeowners’ insurance or contact a professional roof repair company to repair roof damage.
Do You Suspect Roof Hail Damage?
If you’ve experienced a severe storm and suspect you have roof hail damage, you need to contact a professional roof repair company. Only professionals are trained to spot the smallest signs of roof hail damage that can lead to costly damage further down the line if you don’t do something right away.
Our experienced roofers will inspect your roof and provide you with a free estimate for repairs.
Click here to contact us today to request a free quote.
