How Do You Know If Your Roof Has Hail Damage?
The number one enemy of your roof is bad weather.
Every year, hail storms in the United States cause billions of dollars in property damage.
Many of these hailstorms produce hail the size of a baseball or even larger.
Even hail that is significantly smaller, though, can cause significant roof damage.
Even though hail can come in a variety of sizes, the damage it can do is often severe.
However, some hail damage might be difficult to see, especially if you don't know what to look for.
Your property will be more prone to roof leaks or quick deterioration of shingles or other roofing materials if your roof has been damaged by hail.
A broken window or a dented car, for example, are apparent indicators of hail damage.
The minor, unnoticed damage caused by a hail storm, on the other hand, requires a skilled eye to detect.
We'll go through how to recognize the indicators of hail damage on your roof in the article below.
The wind is the first. The wind speed and direction can change.
The location and severity of hail hits will be affected by changes in wind conditions.
The size of the hailstones will also have an impact on the amount of damage your roof and property sustain.
Hailstones can range in size from a pea to a softball.
Furthermore, most hailstones have jagged, rough edges that reduce the amount of damage they can cause.
How much damage your roof sustains during a hail storm is mostly determined on the type and quality of your roof.
Hail strikes are absorbed differently by different types of building materials.
Aluminum siding, gutters, and asphalt shingles can all be damaged by hail.
Vinyl siding and wood shakes are also susceptible to cracking.
Hailstones the size of softballs can be thick and strong enough to pierce a roof.
Furthermore, the age and condition of a roof might influence the extent of damage.
What Does Hail Damage To Shingles Look Like?
Hail damage to shingles can be either visible or difficult to locate.
More often than not, hail damage to roof shingles will require a trained eye to detect.
Granule loss is the first thing to look for.
It may be difficult to notice at first, but shingles with surface granules knocked off have been damaged by hail.
The loss of granules may not seem like a significant concern, but knocking the surface materials off a shingle takes a lot of force.
When loose grains appear, the shingle's integrity has already been weakened.
A water leak would be quite easy to grow over time.
If you're able to climb onto your roof, use chalk to indicate the impact damage so you can figure out whether you need to call a roofing contractor or file a hail damage claim.
Take a few pictures of the hail hits to show the insurance companies when they come out to examine the roof if you decide to file an insurance claim.
Inspection of the Roof from the Ground
If you don't feel comfortable climbing onto your roof, you can undertake a roof check from the ground to assess the damage.
Asphalt shingle damage might be difficult to spot, but there are a few signs to keep an eye out for:
First, look for any broken or loose shingles or shingle tabs that have landed in your yard. Hail is frequently accompanied by strong gusts, so this isn't unusual.
Next, look for signs of water leaking through your roof to external wood surfaces like eaves or porches. Water damage could be the result of old hail damage that caused shingles to leak.
Loose granules are another symptom of hail damage. Each hailstone contact can cause granules from asphalt roofing to break off. You may have hail damage on your roof if you have asphalt particles in your gutters.
Storm damage is usually indicated by dents in the metal or cracks in the plastic roof vents.
You should also look for dents or dings in the metal flashing surrounding your chimney, vents, and fascia. These are rather easy to notice and are a clear indication of damage.
Skylights with cracked or broken glass are a solid clue that your roof took a hammering during the hail storm.
Examine your roof for any missing shingles or blown-off shingle tabs. They were most likely yours if you noticed some on the ground in your yard.
Hail damage to shingles can cause granule displacement, bruises on the shingle surface, or holes. Look for black stains or dimpled regions on shingle surfaces.
Hail-damaged shingles may develop curling or stress cracks over time. In addition, they will age more quickly than healthy shingles.
Is it possible to repair hail damage to a roof?
Repairing a hail-damaged roof can be as simple as replacing a shingle or as difficult as a complete roof replacement, depending on the amount of the damage.
Cosmetic damage isn't difficult to repair, but it must be done before it worsens.
Because of the wide range of repair choices, everyone should have their roof evaluated by a roofing professional after a major hailstorm.
An skilled roofer can rapidly locate impact marks on asphalt, metal, or any other type of roof and assess the extent of the damage.
You have nothing to lose by speaking with a roofing contractor because many of them provide free estimates.
If you're not sure if your roof needs to be repaired after a hail storm, look for the watermarks and other damage we mentioned earlier.
If you notice any evidence of roof hail damage, such as a dented gutter or siding damage, you should have a hail damage roof inspection performed.
When severe roof damage has happened, it's easy to identify, but finding minor damage before it becomes significant hail damage roof repairs is more critical.
TK Gutters and Roofing
TK Roofing and Gutters' roofers are experienced in determining how hail damage impacts your home.
If you discover any evidence of hail damage, you should inspect it right away.
If you put off inspecting and repairing your roof for too long, you may end up with irreversible damage.
TK Roofing and Gutters has been serving the Ohio community for years, and they can quickly repair any damage to your roof during a large storm.
TK Roofing and Gutters' skilled roofers can repair any damage you observe after a storm, and they'll make sure there aren't any other weak spots that could contribute to future damage.
If you find roof damage after a storm, get it fixed as soon as possible.
Get a free roofing estimate from TK Roofing and Gutters now!