High-speed winds and hail can cause a significant amount of damage to your roof. In fact, about 40 percent of all insurance claims are tied to hail damage. While you can easily spot hail damage to your car or window,
identifying hail damage to your roof can be a bit tricky. If you spot some damage to your roof, you need to schedule an inspection. With a visual examination, you can find that damage and proceed with the repairs.
How Does Hail Damage Your Roof?
Depending on a wide range of factors, the effects of hail damage can vary from home to home. The wind speed, wind direction, age of the roof, and hail size can all affect your roof during a storm. When hail damage is severe, you have problems with roof leaks and other issues. In some cases, the damage is cosmetic. Those issues are easily fixed, but you still want to get them repaired as soon as possible.
Here are some types of damage that you might find on your roof.
Shingle Cracks
Any hard impact by the hail can grip on the shingles and cause cracks. As a result, your roof will have a few tears. Your roof might have bare spots where the shingles have been ripped off. Any cracked shingles will not be able to protect your home from the weather.
Granule Loss
On the shingle, you will notice tiny sandpaper-like granules. When the shingle loses its granules, the asphalt can be exposed to the outdoor elements. In turn, your shingles experience some accelerated aging. You can check out your downspouts and gutters after a hailstorm to look for signs of flaking granules.
Exposed Fiberglass Mat
Impact on a roof can damage the surface of the shingle. As a result, it can break away from the fiberglass mat. Fractured fiberglass is hard to detect, and you might need some assistance from an inspector to assess the damage.
Weakened Seal Strips
The seal integrity of your shingles can be weakened by hail and high winds. If you have a weakened seal, the shingle has a greater chance of blowing off your roof. When that happens, the roof is exposed to the elements. Along with that, the roof’s integrity is compromised, and you might experience some leaks after a rainstorm.
Now that you know about these types of hail damage, you can spot those problem areas on your roof.
Does Your Roof Have Hail Damage?
Severe roof damage is easy to spot. However, those minor problems might be hard to see with an
untrained eye. You will want to schedule a roof inspection for your home. These professionals can assess the hail damage. With that, you can find solutions to fix these issues with your roof.
After a hail storm, it might be wise to conduct a quick inspection of your home. You want to check out the gutters. The impact of the hail can dent your downspouts and gutters. If you have dents and dings to these spaces, there’s a greater chance of hail damage to your roof. Any loose granules from the shingles can be found in the gutters. Clogged drains might mean that you have shingle damage to your roof.
You also want to inspect your siding and deck. After a bad hail storm, these spots are often damaged by the heavy impact. These areas can also indicate whether you have hail damage to your roof. If you notice damage to these areas, you need to schedule a full roof inspection.
Can Small Hail Cause Damage?
Many people think that hail has to be the size of a baseball to cause significant damage. However, hail that is smaller than an inch can cause damage to your roof. The size of the hail is the best indicator of what you expect in terms of damage. Small hail storms often damage just a few shingles. On the other hand, those larger hail storms might mean severe problems to the roofing structure.
Can Hail Damage Be Repaired?
Now that you have inspected your roof, you want to find ways to fix the issues. In some cases, the damaged roof only needs a few shingles repaired. If you have experienced a severe storm, the whole roof might need a replacement. For this reason, you need to schedule an inspection. Many reputable roofing companies in the area will provide these services. Any experienced roofing contractor will be able to determine the severity of your hail damage.
Most roofing estimates are free, but you should schedule an in-depth inspection. If you spot any signs of damage, you will want to have a professional check out your roof. As mentioned before, hail damage can be mild or severe. With any type of damage, you need to get your roof fixed as soon as possible. No matter if it is a few missing shingles or significant structural damage, you need a professional to tackle these types of repairs.
Can I Ignore This Type Of Damage?
You might be tempted to put off those simple fixes to your roof, but damage can lead to ice dams or leaks. As a result, the damage can cause electrical issues, rotting wood, and mold damage. Those repairs are expensive to fix and could have been prevented with an easy repair.
Along with that, mold and wood rot can spread to other areas of your house. They can spiral out of control and cause significant amounts of damage. If you are proactive, you can prevent these problems. You will also save thousands of dollars in repairs and keep your home in a safe condition.
Find A Roofer Near Me
If you are concerned about hail damage to your home, contact the experts at RGB Construction. You can also schedule a consultation with a free estimate of the damage. Our team will help you understand the problems and find solutions to keep your roof protected. We will repair your roof and get it back to looking as good as new. To schedule a consultation, give our office a call at 856-264-9093.
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