Hailstorms can cause severe damage to a roof. The impact of a hailstone can affect the stability of shingles, potentially leading to water damage in your home. While you can’t control the course of hailstorms, you can implement steps to reduce the damage.
After a hailstorm, conducting a thorough inspection of the roof is essential. Roofing experts opine that hail will shorten your roof’s lifespan and can even lead to a complete roof replacement. However, roof damage from hailstorms can be tricky to spot if you don’t know where to look.
After a hailstorm, you may feel grateful that your property managed to escape with minor damage. Unfortunately, many property owners don’t realize that even a small amount of hail damage can be costly. Here are some crucial aspects to learn about roof hail damage.
The Size of Hailstones that Can Damage Your Roof
Hail isn’t something that you love seeing. It is usual for us to first think of our cars and park them in safety. Unfortunately, you cannot cover or move your roof to minimize the impact of hailstorms.
If the hail is large enough, it can cause extensive damage and compromise the durability of the shingles. As a homeowner, you should know what size hail will damage your roof. Hailstones with small diameters can shorten the lifespan of your roof.
But for hail to lead to roof replacement, it needs to be significant. Expert roofers opine that hailstones more than one inch in diameter will affect your roof. And if the diameter of these stones exceeds one inch, they can cause dents.
Things you should Do When Your Roof has Hail Damage
If your roof has any sign of damage from hailstones, you should call a professional roofer. The homeowner’s insurance claim will cover the damage. There’s a possibility that the insurance company will send an agent to your home for damage inspection.
After your claim gets approved, you should search for the best and most experienced roofer in your area. The visible signs of damage vary based on your roofing surface. For instance, hailstones on an asphalt roof will leave small-sized holes and craters. The roofing contractor will also conduct a detailed inspection to identify the damages. Therefore, before you decide to call, you should know how the process works.
How to Recognize if Your Roof has been Damaged by Hail?
In the aftermath of a hailstorm, it is essential to get your roof checked for damage. You can consult with the top roof advance contractors to schedule the inspection. Note that hail falls in random patterns and may damage only a few houses in your neighborhood. Besides expert help, you should know about the signs of hail damage.
- Dents in cars
- Evidence of damage to exterior areas of your home
It may be tough to spot some types of roof damage from the ground. Therefore, it is essential to get as close to the surface of the roof as possible. Nowadays, most roofing contractors offer free inspections along with estimates.
Roof Repair After a Hailstorm
Damage to your roof from hailstones can always be repaired. But the repair process and cost depend on the magnitude of damage and other factors. It is sometimes more cost-effective to replace a roof than to repair it.
What’s Involved in Roof Repair?
For minor or moderate damage after a hailstorm, repairing the roof may be suitable. It is an essential home improvement process and can extend the life of an older roof. Instead of tearing down the entire roof, roofers will work on small and isolated portions.
The repair process may involve replacing the shingles if a hailstorm has damaged them. It also includes patching up gaps and holes to prevent water leakage. Here are some things you should expect during a roof repair.
- Detailed contact from the roofer
- Building permit
- Commencement of the actual repair process
- Proper clean-up
Based on the extent of the damage, you may have to replace your roof. Therefore, after a hailstorm, it is always a good decision to consult with professional roofing contractors. If you live in an area that is prone to hailstorms, install Class-4 impact-resistant shingles. These shingles can prevent damage from hailstones or other debris.
