Hail damage of roof is quite common than what most people think. Taking some proactive steps will help protect your roof against damage and will help you save considerable amount on your roof repair, if you own a home. You will not only ensure that your roof lasts longer but also have less roof repair expenses as well, if you take definitive steps to lessen the effects of the frozen balls on your roof. Investing in hail resistive roofing materials would be advisable and prevent hail damage of roof.

Hail Damaged Roof – Professional Tips That Will Save You Time And Money

Damage to roofs caused by hail is very common. You can save significant money for roof repairs if you adopt proactive measures to shield your roof from damage caused by hail. It is not just possible to prolong the life of your roof through taking proactive steps to reduce the impact of freezing rain on it as well, but also reduce the cost of roof repairs. For instance, it will be beneficial to invest in hail resistive roofing materials.

You can gauge the seriousness of the matter by observing that hail storms recently produced hail the size of the size of a baseball. They have already caused significant damage to roofs of houses in major cities as well as the suburbs. Due to the magnitude of the hail, it is easy to imagine the amount of damage that they can cause to your roof, specifically if it is made of asphalt roofing shingles.

Repairing Your Hail-Damaged Roof by Hiring a Roofing Specialist

You may be thinking that your roof may have been damaged by the destructive storms that have affected your region. It’s often difficult to determine the answer. You can start by looking around your home. Your driveway will likely have hail damage. Check out your mailbox, your air conditioning, window screens, vinyl siding, and windows. These things are susceptible to damage from hail and especially to large hail.

You may also notice some shingle granules on the bottom of your downspouts, and denting. The hailstorm is generally a weakener of the roof’s protection and consequently reduce your longevity of your roof. This is due to the hail storm’s water damage.

How to Identify and Repair a Hail Damaged Roof

Hail damage isn’t always easy to detect, especially when you live in a three or two story house and are unable to access your roof. The damage from hail can result in damage to your home due to water and can reduce the lifespan of your roof. This is why you must determine and fix the damages as quickly as you are able. If you put off the repair for too long, you could also be rejected by your insurance company when you finally get around to filing claims for the repairs. Have you recently experienced any hail storms in your region? Are you concerned that your home may be damaged? The steps below can help you determine the extent of damage and provide the steps needed to get it repaired.

Step One: Check around the exterior of your home to see if there is visible damages. It is important to look for evidence of damage, such as freshly painted paint or dents on the siding. If you can safely access your roof and inspect it for shingles that are missing or that have blisters or dents. Also, look for dents and dings in your gutters and downspouts.

Step 2: Go at your home’s interior to determine if there is any visible damage. Water stains appearing on your ceiling or flowing down the walls are a sign that something is wrong and should be dealt with immediately! If you don’t fix a roof leak quickly, you may have to completely replace your roof as well as massive repairs caused by water leaking into your house.

Step 3: Contact your insurance agent right away and make sure they’re aware of the damages. An adjuster is likely to come out to assess your property and provide an estimate of costs.

Step 4: Contact your local roofing company for an assessment by an independent roofing contractor. Always seek another opinion from a reliable roofing contractor, even if your adjuster and insurance agent are trustworthy. Because they don’t work for the insurance company, they’ll be less biased in their assessment. Most roofing contractors you contact will be willing to talk to the insurance company if there is a discrepancy between the two assessments.

Step Five: Put all of the details in writing. You will receive a contract from the roofing contractor you select, detailing the work and the price. Your insurance company should provide documentation detailing the details of the claim. Protect yourself by receiving the amount you require to feel confident writing.

Important Steps to Take for Hail Damage on Your Roof

A roof is extremely vulnerable to hail damage caused by a storm. When such strong weather happens the roof can suffer a small to a significant loss. The impact could cause holes, dents, chips or broken tiles; as well as the loss of granular material. There are a variety of signs which strongly suggest damage occurred.

These are the signs of hail damage major:

• Pits and dents are the main indicators of the destruction caused by storms. The angle of the structure may affect the results. If hail is struck flat roofs, they may show larger dents than pitched ones. Metal roofing is more susceptible to damage than asphalt or slate shingles.

• Paint Disturbance Certain materials for the house are painted in different colors for beautification purposes. The flaking of paint could be caused by hail striking this material. This can cause the appearance of pockmarks. These marks are very unattractive and can create a negative impression of the entire roofing appearance, even if the damage isn’t too serious.

• Granular Loss – The most commonly used material on roofs are asphalt shingles. This kind of material may be affected by the loss of granularity following the impact of a hailstorm. In the event of this, nail heads will appear and could signal the first sign of a leaky roof. The shape of the roof is what creates the difference between severe weather damage and normal losses. Normal wear and tear results in a uniform loss, while hail destruction tends to be more circular and isolated.

• Damaged Wood and Tile Hail size may range from pea-sized up to the size of grapefruit or softball. The force at which hail strikes a roof can cause significant damage. The frozen water that falls onto the roof may chip, crack, scratch, or split tile shingles and wood.

Hail Damage Roof Repair FAQs 

Sun, wind, rain and hail have all had a chance to damage your roof and the time has come to think about re-roofing. How do you know if your roof is ready for re-roofing? Who will give you trustworthy advice? Where do you start? How many bids should you get? What part should you play during the construction process? What is fair to expect of a contractor? What are the permit and licensing laws in the State of Your State?

If these are questions you are asking yourself, you have come to the right place! The Roofing Contractors Association of Your State (RCAT) is an organization of professional roofing contractors dedicated to the practice, and teaching, of the skills needed to protect your building from the elements. We offer this guide as a sincere effort to help the customer and contractor arrive at a happy conclusion to a successful effort.

Are you ready for a re-roof?

After a hail storm has hit your area, it may or may not be obvious that you need a new roof. While some hail may produce leaks that appear immediately, quite often hail may only fracture your shingles, which leads to premature roof failure. An inspection by a professional roofing contractor can answer this question. If you have a roof that is fifteen years old or older and it starts to show signs of deterioration, or produces leaks, it is time to call your roofing professional for an inspection and consultation.

Choose a member of the Roofing Contractors Association of Your State

The State of Your State has no licensing requirement in place for roofing contractors at this time (2000 – 2001). RCAT is a twenty-five year old organization that was founded with the expressed purpose of bettering the roofing profession through education and the pursuit of a quality product.

By choosing a member of RCAT to be involved with your project, you are assured that you have a contractor who has had a successful track record in this field. To become a member, a contractor has to produce qualified references and be known to his competitors in the roofing community.

What is a Certified Roofing Contractor?

In the absence of licensing laws in Your State, RCAT has developed a comprehensive testing program. These tests are strictly monitored and require thorough knowledge of commercial roofing, residential roofing, and business and contract law. Certified contractors are leaders in their field who are bringing a proven professionalism to your roofing or re-roofing project.