Take These Steps Immediately After Roof Hail Damage Is Done
What To Do After A Hailstorm
A hailstorm can be one of the most damaging events your home can experience. Of course, smaller hailstorms are often nothing to worry about. But when the hail gets heavy, and the winds howl, it can cause serious and significant damage to your home, including the roof, siding, and gutters.
Roof hail damage is the most common homeowners claim, accounting for 38% of all insurance claims filed. Your roof is one of the most critical components of your home, so it's crucial to deal with any issues that may arise after a hail storm. Taking steps and inspecting your roof for hail damage can help you develop an action plan for necessary repairs and keep your home safe and dry.
In this post, we will examine what roof hail damage looks like and the steps to take to get you on the road to recovering from this damaging event.
What Does Roof Hail Damage Look Like?
After a weather event, a visual inspection can help you identify any signs of storm damage on your roof. Roof hail damage looks different depending on factors like the type of roofing material and the storm's severity. Here is what to look for based on the type of roofing shingles you have.
Asphalt Shingles - Hail can severely damage asphalt shingles by cracking and tearing shingles and can also leave dents. In a severe storm, your asphalt shingles can break off, exposing your underlayment or roof deck.
Wood Shingles - A severe hailstorm can crack wood shingles. When accompanied by strong winds, hail can knock wood shingles off your roof. When there is hail damage to wood shingles, you will often see signs like wood pieces scattered on the ground.
Metal Roofing - Metal roofs are the most durable against hail. However, large hailstorms can still cause damage. After a violent hailstorm, upon inspection, you may see dents. While rare, punctures can occur as well.
What To Do If You Think You Have Roof Hail Damage
A particularly nasty storm just rolled through, and you're wondering if the hail caused significant damage. What should you do? Here are some simple steps to determine the extent of any damage and what to do next.
Determine the Severity of the Storm
Understanding the intensity and severity of the storm will give you an idea of the potential damage to your roof. Hailstones can range from the size of a dime and less than ½ an inch thick to the size of a tennis or golf ball, and sometimes bigger. Significant roof damage can occur when you combine large, heavy hailstones with strong wind. Even a minor hailstorm warrants a quick look at your roof.
Conduct A Visual Inspection
When the storm has passed, one easy way to determine the extent of any damage is to conduct a visual assessment from the ground. Check your roof for loose or missing shingles, signs of discoloration, and any wood exposure. If you have them, use a pair of binoculars to examine your roof more closely. Go into your attic (if your home has one) and look for signs of water or sunlight exposure. Hail damage can be hard to see, even if you are on the roof. When in doubt, have a roofing professional get on your roof and check for damage, especially if you have large hail.
Check Gutters, Fascia, and Flashing
Metal elements like gutters, fascia, and roof flashing offer an easy way to see damage since dents are more visible in these materials. Also, check your screens and the glazing strip around the window glass. If your gutters are clogged with shingle granules and overflow in the rain, this is another sign of potential roof hail damage. It's also a good policy to check for damage to your AC fins on an external unit and look for spatter marks on the AC, electric panels, and fencing.
Inspect Your Siding
Like checking your gutters, look for signs of damage to your siding, like discoloration and dents. This check can help you determine if there is damage to your roof, give you an idea of the storm's severity, and signal that it is time to call a professional for a detailed inspection.
Get a Professional Inspection
After a visual inspection of your roof, gutters, and siding, document any damage. If there is still hail on the ground, take a picture of it next to a coin for reference. Take photos of any damage - including missing shingles or exposed underlayment, broken windows, damage to outside appliances, and leaks you may have found. Then contact a roofing professional for a thorough inspection. They can determine the severity of any damage and make recommendations on what to do next.
Get In Touch With Your Insurer
The sooner you notify your insurance carrier of roof hail damage, the better. Most companies require you to report any damage within six months. Your insurance provider will perform their own assessment of the damage and take it from there. If you need clarification on what your policy covers, check your policy before there is a weather event.
Roof hail damage can be costly. The first step is taking a proactive approach and ensuring your property insurance covers storm damage. Develop a relationship with a trustworthy local roofing contractor. Have your home's roof inspected annually to make sure that your roof is in top shape and immediately after a weather event. While you can't predict or prevent weather, having a plan before a weather event can help you quickly recover from storm damage.
Has your home suffered roof hail damage in a recent weather event? Do you live in Waseca, Freeborn, or the neighboring Counties in Southern Minnesota? Then you owe it to yourself to call Rooftop Solutions at (507) 400-7663. With 50+ Five-Star Google Reviews, we are not your typical fly-by-night, subcontract-it-out roofing contractor. We are always happy to answer all your roofing questions and are ready to help!
