Does Your Home Have Hail Damage? Identify The Signs

When your car is damaged by hail, identifying the problem is very straightforward. You'll have round dents that are in the car body after the storm passes, which are very simple to spot. In comparison, it is much harder to identify problems on an asphalt roof. Identifying damage is crucial since you'll want to make roof repairs immediately to keep it in great condition. If you ignore the damage that is simple to fix now, know that it can eventually lead to leaks or structural damage. It's even possible to get your homeowner's insurance provider to cover the damage if it exceeds your deductible, so it is worth looking into right away.

The Size of the Hail

When hail is small, it can be difficult to identify damage on a roof made with asphalt shingles. For small hair that is less than 1 inch in diameter, it's worth having a roofing contractor inspect your roof to ensure that everything is okay. When damage is caused by small pieces of hail, it's hard to know what you should be looking for. Larger hail is known to cause a lot more damage, which makes it easy to identify. If the hail is really big, as in over 2 inches, there could be a fair amount of damage just based on the size of the hail.

Identifying Damage

It's hard to spot hail damage right way, but you could save time by starting the inspection places where there will be obvious damage, and finish in in places where the damage may not be so obvious.

Begin by looking at soft pieces of metal and try to locate dents in the material. This will include metal valleys, flashing, exhaust caps, and vents. Next, look at the roof's ridges for missing granules or circular cracks. You should easily be able to identify circular cracks since they are in the shape of a half moon or whole circle. Missing granules can be identified with shingles that reveal the backing found underneath them, with the material looking like it was recently exposed instead of being weathered by the sun.

You can also run your hand on shingles to feel for indentations or dimples. If you happen to find one, press down lightly on the dimple with your thumb and see if the material feels spongy and soft. If so, the hail has caused damage to the shingles and they will need replacement.

If you are not sure if you are inspecting your roof correctly, always know that a roofing contractor can do it for you.

Share