A Homeowner’s Guide to Roof Hail Damage
Hail can cause severe damage to your home but it’s not always easy to identify hail damage to your roof. Holes in your roof caused by falling hailstones are often hidden from plain sight and can only be found through a proper roof inspection.
It’s good for a homeowner to have a little knowledge on roof hail damage and what to do if it occurs. That’s why we’ve created this simple guide to help you learn the basics of roof hail damage.
What Does it Look Like?
Roof hail damage can differ from roof to roof depending on multiple factors, such as the size of hail, wind speed, the material of the roof, and how old it is.
Excessive granule loss from your shingles can indicate hail damage and can lead to early aging of the material. You can often find the lost granules in the gutters. Bigger hailstones can cause shingles to crack, leading to exposed areas and potentially leaking. Additionally, hail can cause shingles to break away from the fiberglass mat underneath, making the structure weaker. One of the most visible symptoms of a hail damaged roof is bruised shingles, noticeable by their random discoloration, much like a bruise.
Hail damage can cause metal roofs to dent and may even puncture the roof in severe cases. It can also be identified in cedar shakes and shingles when the cedar has split or otherwise broken.
Hailstones typically range from half an inch to more than 2 inches in diameter. The smaller stones should not be underestimated as they are capable of causing severe roof damage and are likely to cause the type of damage that goes unnoticed without an inspection.
Why Can it be Dangerous?
Hail damage to your homes roof can result in severe structural issues and costly repairs, if not whole roof replacement. It can be as easy as replacing a single shingle if you find the damage early.
Hail damage left untreated can lead to leaking and ice dams, which can progress into mold growth, rotting wood, and electrical issues. These issues can spiral the longer they are left untreated, resulting in extensive and costly repairs.
Regular roof inspections, particularly after a storm, can help prevent the need for a whole roof replacement from unnoticed hail damage.
Is it Covered by Insurance?
Hail damage to your roof is most likely covered by your home insurance and most professional roofing companies offer a free inspection.
It is highly recommended to schedule an inspection of your roof after severe weather, especially a hailstorm. Your professional roofer can help you to determine exactly what damage has occurred and how to make the appropriate claim with your insurance company.
If you have any questions or would like to schedule an inspection of your roof, please don’t hesitate to give us a call here at Peach State Roofing.