The hail season can begin as early as March and end as late as September. Of course, it makes a difference what part of the country you live in. Unfortunately, your roof suffers the consequences of hail damage all year long. Unaddressed damage can increase the risk of leaks and structural problems in your roof. The damage can also lower property values, reduce your roof’s lifespan, and compromise home insurance coverage. For this reason, it is important to identify hailstorm issues as quickly as possible. A look at how to recognize and address hail damage can help you remain proactive about the upkeep of your roof.
What Factors Increase the Risk of Hail Damage?
Since hail is solid precipitation, any form of impact can potentially damage your roof. However, factors that increase the risk of damage include hailstone size and density, outdoor wind conditions, and roofing materials or condition.
Hailstone Size and Density
Hailstones can range from the size of a pea or mothball to the size of a grapefruit or softball. Larger hailstones are often dense enough to cause considerable cracks or damage upon impact. In addition, large hailstones can have jagged edges across the surface that can scratch or pierce areas on your roof.
Wind Conditions
Wind can alter the location and severity of hail collisions. For example, wind speed can accelerate the movement of hailstones in the air in miles per hour. This can result in a more significant surface impact. Wind direction determines the path hailstones may take and whether they will strike your roof or an adjacent barrier.
Roofing Materials or Condition
Roofing materials influence the likelihood of hail damage. For example, hail may nick metal roofing like aluminum, but it can crack clay shingles or crack vinyl siding. Roofs that are older or that have not undergone regular maintenance are also more vulnerable to damage or puncture from hailstorms.
What Are Signs of Hail Damage?
Now that you understand the risk factors, the most important step is to identify the telltale signs of hail damage. These signs include broken or fractured shingles, dented gutters, battered vents, or damaged vinyl siding. You can look for most signs of damage by standing outside and taking pictures of your roof from ground level. In addition, you should contact a professional roofing contractor to conduct a visual inspection and provide a diagnosis of any hail issues that have affected your roof.
Damaged or Missing Shingles
Hailstones can cause shingles to crack, fracture, or break. The loss of too many shingles can expose the underlayment of your roof. Hail can also result in the loss of protective granules. This can shorten the lifespan of your shingles. Look for uneven areas on your roof or evidence of loose granules on the ground or clogging your gutters. A trained roofer can safely climb your roof to look for indentations or breakage and determine the best methods of shingle repair or replacement.
Dented Gutters or Downspouts
Hailstone impact can bend or warp your gutters and downspouts. Mangled gutters are easy to see from ground level. Look for dings and dents that disrupt the otherwise smooth alignment of these structures. Since warping can affect the performance of your gutter and result in water damage to your property, it is important to get these elements repaired quickly.
Battered Vents
Roofing vents can also bear the brunt of impact from hailstorms. Look for dents, dings, and chipped surfaces. This damage can affect the input and output of airflow and compromise the health of your roofing system.
Deteriorated Siding
Vinyl siding does not hold up well during an intense hailstorm. Since siding is easy to examine from the ground level, noticeable deterioration is a good indicator or metric that it is time to call a professional to evaluate the harder-to-see areas of your roof.
Weakened Seal Strips
Hail and wind can wear down the seal strip between your shingles. Weakened seals can increase the chance of roof leaks and may eventually cause your shingles to blow away completely.
Fractured Fiberglass Mat
Fractured fiberglass usually occurs when hail cracks or shatters the top layer of shingles. This damage exposes the fiberglass mat underneath. Extensive damage to the underlying fiberglass mat may necessitate a full replacement.
What Are Classifications of Hail Damage?
Another component of identifying hail damage is understanding how insurance companies and professionals classify the destruction. There are two types of damage classifications: functional damage and cosmetic damage.
Functional Damage
Functional damage affects the performance or overall structural integrity of your roof. Examples of functional damage may include missing shingles, broken flashing, or dented gutters. This type of damage compromises the ability of your roofing system to keep your home comfortable and safe. Documenting functional damage is important for insurance claims and often requires fast professional intervention.
Cosmetic Damage
Cosmetic damage primarily affects the appearance or exterior of your home. Examples of cosmetic damage may include small dents or surface-level scratches. While cosmetic damage may not be a priority for immediate insurance claims, it is also important to fix cosmetic damage. This is because it can impact the curb appeal and perceived property value of your home. Unaddressed cosmetic issues can eventually worsen into more serious damage over time.
What Should You Do if You Have a Hail-Damaged Roof?
After conducting a visual inspection of your roof, it is important to document the damage to the best of your ability. Take photos of any suspected areas such as shattered shingles, loose granules, or warped gutters. This documentation can come in handy later if you need to file an insurance claim for the hail damage. Many insurance agencies require homeowners to report damage within six to 24 months. The insurance company may also conduct their own evaluation before approving or denying the claim.
Finally, it is important to work with a professional roofing company to schedule repairs, possible replacement, and future roof maintenance. Professionals provide reputable documentation to help support your insurance claim. In contrast, attempting to fix the roof yourself can void insurance or warranty claims if the agency determines that you have future damaged your roof as a result. Professional contractors can provide more accurate assessments and also have access to the latest technology like impact-resistant shingle replacement. In addition, your contractor can help schedule yearly maintenance to ensure the first line of defense against future storms.
Contact Us Today
Hail is a natural phenomenon that can wreak havoc on your roof. While you may not be able to stop the occurrence of hail, the experts are here to help you stop the damage of hailstorms in its tracks. Aurora Pro Services Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electrical, & Roofing provides roofing services for homes in Greensboro, NC and surrounding areas. We offer annual roofing evaluations as well as comprehensive roof inspections to check for storm damage.
Our roofers can perform a variety of restoration services such as shingle repair, siding repair, and gutter repair. Whether you need routine leak detection or complete roof repair due to structural damage, our roofers are here for you. In addition to roof inspections and repairs, we can evaluate whether your home is a candidate for same-week roof installation or complete roof replacement. Whether you need to upgrade your roof’s materials or schedule an emergency service for problems that simply cannot wait, our company is always available to help. Contact Aurora Pro Services Heating, Air, Plumbing, Electrical, & Roofing today for all of your roofing repair needs.
