What does hail damage look like on a roof?
What can I expect from hail damage roof repair services? What about insurance — how do I file a roof insurance claim?
We’re sure you have lots of questions, but don’t worry! We’re here to walk you through the first step of dealing with hail damage: identifying the roof hail damage through a thorough roof inspection. Maybe you’ve already gotten up on your roof to look, but at first glance, you can’t really tell if it’s damaged or not. So what does hail damage look like on a roof after all?
We recommend always hiring a professional to come to take a look.
But first, let’s get informed by going over what to expect from roof hail damage and the steps to take when identifying damage during an inspection. Because the sooner you can catch and repair the roof storm damage, the better you can prevent any further damage like water leaks and mold growth. Today, we’re going to cover:
- How to check roof for hail damage
- What does hail damage do to a roof
- The dangers hail and wind damage to roof
What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Roof?
There are a few tell-tale signs that homeowners can look for if hail came through and they suspect damage to their roof or siding. If you notice any of the following, call Northface Construction for a more comprehensive inspection and to get a repair estimate.
- Missing, broken, or cracked shingles. These should be pretty easy to spot as they are leaving open areas on your roof or cause a break in the straight line of your installed shingles.
- Changes in color can indicate where granules have been knocked off. These spots will be darker because they are exposing the tar shingle underneath that protective layer.
- Granules in your gutters or at the bottom of your downspout. Another sign that granules have been knocked off your roof during a hail storm is if they made their way into your gutters and out with the water at the end of your downspouts.
- If your gutters are clogged with hail remnants or debris, that’s a good sign your roof got pummeled with hail large enough to clog your gutters, thus large enough to cause damage.
- Water spots in your attic can indicate a severe leak caused by hail blowing off or cracking your shingles. Checking the attic can be much easier and safer than getting up on your roof to check.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Roof: 2 Signs
1) Shingle Granule Loss
The very first sign of roof hail damage can be discovered with a close-up look at your roofing shingles.
First, we look for spots where granules are knocked away, and you see a change in the texture on the shingle itself, exposing the matting underneath. It may be subtle or more obvious, but either way, what’s really happening with shingle granule loss is that the rough, protective layer of your asphalt shingles is being eroded away.
When a professional roofer performs a storm damage inspection, they should mark every nick they find with washable chalk. This will make the extent of the damage very clear for any insurance claims.
2) Cracks and Blisters
Shingle cracks will look like jagged lines running across your roof. They can be short and sporadic — hairline cracks — or long and deep — full splits. When dealing with fissures in your roof, it’s best practice to tarp the area right away and then get the damage repaired and the shingles replaced. This is due to the fact that these punctures can result in a water-logged roof deck and lead to full-scale roof leaks.
Untreated Hail Damage Compounds Over Time
Over time, the hail damage to your roof can build up into more and more issues. For example, when your roof suffers shingle granule loss, the tiny granules can not only end up in your gutters — clogging up your home drainage system and leading to gutter hail damage — but they can also expose more the asphalt matting underneath. This, in turn, exposes the more vulnerable layers of your roof to the elements, including excess moisture and UV sun rays. The weakening of your roofing system will result in:
- Leaks
- Poor insulation
- Structural damage to your roof and home’s foundation
The asphalt can also bubble up, losing its viscosity. This is another way your home’s roof will end up failing sooner than your roof would normally.
That’s why it’s so important to learn what hail damage looks like on a roof as well as how to inspect your roof — and do so regularly. If you want to extend the lifetime of your original shingles and maintain a longer-lasting roofing system, then it’s key to know the signs of storm damage.
Hail Damage Lowers Your Home’s Value
A damaged roof may never get worse, or may never leak, but this doesn’t mean that it doesn’t need to be repaired.
The “it’s fine” attitude will only last you so long. We’ve already gone over what hail damage looks like on a roof as well as the reasons to identify and treat it, but if you’re thinking it’s a problem best left for later — we’re here to tell you to rethink that mindset.
The second that your roofing system is compromised by hail, wind, or other storm damage, the value of your home plumets. And another piece of advice — insurance isn’t an option forever. Most roof insurance plans only cover storm damage within a specific window. So you’ll want to take advantage of insurance opportunities right away. Check out Travelers view of roof hail damage.
Your home is a big investment, one you want to last, and loss of value is a major factor of hail damage on your roof. This will hurt you in the long run, by depreciating due to the condition of your home’s roof.
Repairing Hail Damage On Your Roof
Roof hail damage does not have to be obvious or extensive for it to become a problem.
So, if you notice hail damage on your roof or other parts of your home and property, don’t hesitate to get your roof inspected and file a roof insurance claim to get the damage repaired ASAP.
If a storm recently went through your neighborhood, check out our post on the first things to do after a major storm.
Then, there are two things you can do:
1) You can think the damage is minimal, and wait until your ceilings start showing signs of leaks – in which this will be too late for easy repairs. Or,
2) We can come to repair the minimal damage early before any further damage occurs. Take care of your investment, and give us a call!
