How Does Hail Damage Roofs
Most hail damage is not obvious to the untrained eye, but looks can be deceiving. Hail creates small fractures in commercial roofs as depicted in the drawing below. Moisture slowly seeps through these fractures and is absorbed by the underlying roof insulation. 3 to 18 months later, when the roof insulation has become fully saturated, interior leaks finally appear. By this point, the storm is often long forgotten .
These fractures in built-up and modified bitumen roofs are typically not visible from the roofs surface. By cutting the roof membrane and examining the bottom side, the true extent of the damage is revealed. This exact situation is depicted in the pictures below.
Singly ply roof membranes react a little differently. Fractures are visible on the surface, but are often very small and hard to detect unless an inspector has been forewarned that potential hail damage may exist. Roof inspections focused on annual roof maintenance frequently overlook this type of damage as the inspector is focused on seams, flashings, and other common sources of leaking that require periodic maintenance to maintain water tightness. The field of the roof membrane where hail damage will be found is largely ignored as non hail related failures in this area of the roof are extremely rare.
Signs Of Hail Damage To Roof Shingles
Hail damages to shingles are classified as cosmetics and functional. Cosmetic damage affects only the aesthetics of the shingles. In comparison, functional damages are those that affect the integrity and the lifespan of the roof.
This type of damage diminishes the ability of the roof system to perform its function. Some of this type of damage is not easily detected, especially if you have no expertise in spotting it.
Here are examples of functional damages to your roof:
Factors That Determine How Much Damage Hail Does To A Roof
March 26, 2021 by
The roof is responsible for shielding residents and personal belongings inside a home from severe weather elements, such as ultraviolet rays, snow and hail. Consisting of irregular lumps of ice, hail is considered one of the most dreaded powerful forces of nature and can damage homes, along with cars and outdoor furniture. In fact, even a minor hailstorm can dramatically disfigure or impair roofing structures in the long run, especially when one is old, not kept in the proper condition or has been significantly damaged by harsh weather in the past. It is also important to be on the lookout for hair-splitting signs, such as shingle granules collecting in the gutters or chipped corners on clay roof tiles, for they are quite easy to miss. If left unchecked, the damage will exacerbate over time, resulting in expensive repairs or an urgent need to replace the roof.
In this article, a reputable roofing contractor explores the factors that determine how much damage hail does to a roof, including indications of hail damage on a roof.
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Why You Shouldnt Ignore A Hail Damaged Roof
Most times, its easy to detect a hail damaged roof because of the leaks that are apparent over time. While the effect on your roof is gradual, finding a roof repairer sooner can ensure that you avoid dealing with more substantial damages. Hailstones can knock off the protective granule coating around the roof shingles, which may pose a precarious safety concern to your family.
On top of posing obvious safety concerns, a hail damaged roof can also cost you additional repair costs. But how do you know that hail is destroying your roof?
How To Fix Hail Damage On Your Roof
Because hail damage varies depending on the severity of the storm, fixing the damage can be an easy job, or a little more comprehensive.
For light damage, it can be as simple as replacing a shingle or patching it up. If your roof encounters a nasty hail storm, a whole roof replacement may be necessary. The older your roof is, the more likely it will need a more thorough repair after a hail storm. After a storm, you should always have a professional come and take a look to inspect for damage.
Unless you have extensive experience in roof repairs, you should let a pro like Eagle Eye Roofing handle your hail damage repairs. This is because if the damage isnt completely remedied, youre leaving the door wide open for your home to sustain more damage the next time a storm rolls through. At Eagle Eye, well come to your home for a FREE inspection. Based on what we find, well lay out your options and make recommendations for how to best repair your roof.
In addition, we are great with insurance claims and will work with you to ensure that youre only paying for what you should be. With over 70+ 5 star reviews on Google and over 10 years of experience, we know what it takes to ensure that youre completely satisfied with your roof repairs. To get in touch with us, head over to our contact page, and fill out our brief form. Or, you can reach us at !
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What Does Hail Damage Look Like
*We do NOT advise climbing up on your roof to check. Instead, walk around the perimeter of your home and look for any visible damage. If you are concerned there may be deeper damage that is not visible, please call a professional to come to take a look.
- Check for missing pieces in the asphalt of the roof. Look for areas on the shingle that have exposed, black substrate. This means the granules of the asphalt have been compromised or knocked off by something.
- Search for bruising in the shingles. Dents from hail are not always completely visible. Run your hand over the shingle to feel for small dimples on the surface.
- Look for cracking in the shingle. Large hail can make a circular crack if the hail hits it hard enough
How To Know If Hail Damaged Your Roof
If you’ve seen or heard anything about a hail storm in your area, then it’s a great idea to consider the fact that your roof or other exterior surfaces may have been damaged.
We often are asked, “How do I know if hail damaged my roof?”. Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. Many homeowners make the critical mistake of taking a look around the exterior of their home to see if they spot any obvious damage. Once they are satisfied that do not see any obvious damage, they move on and forget about it. This is a major, major mistake! Here’s why.
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What Size Of Hail Does It Take To Damage A Roof
Hail needs to be around 1 inch or more in diameter to cause damage to your asphalt roof. If the hail is under an inch, which is about the size of a quarter, there will be less damage to your roof but your shingles may still need some repairs. Check out our Cenvar roof repair page if you want more information on common roof repairs. The amount of damage a storm can have to your roof will also depend on the quality and age of your shingles. Older shingles can not withstand storms or wind, as well as a newer roof.
Hail can also cause damage to your siding and aluminum gutters. To learn more about gutters or if you would like a quote go check out our Cenvar Gutter Installation Services. When it comes to metal roofs, they are a lot more resistant to harsh weather. It is uncommon for hail to be large enough to compromise a metal roof. If you have any concerns, call and get a roof inspection. When it comes to your roof, it is better to be proactive. When winter approaches, call Cenvars Richmond office for a FREE estimate so that you will have better protection over your house with any storm that may come your way.
What Does Hail Damage Do To A Roof
The severity of hail damage to a roof depends on several factors, including:
Type of roofing materials, age of roofing materials, roof slope, quality of construction
as well as hail size, hail density, and hail shape and the velocity and angle of its fall.
Hail damage can also be affected by the number of shingle layers on a roof. Second layer shingles are more susceptible to damage than first layer shingles, because the surface directly underlying the shingle is less supportive than dense wood.
Hail damage can either be functional or cosmetic in nature.
Functional hail damage refers to damage that affects the integrity and longevity of the roof. Cosmetic hail damage refers to damage that does not affect the viability of the roof to perform its function.
In 2013, the American Association of Insurance Services, introduced a Cosmetic Damage Exclusion to allow insurers to avoid coverage for cosmetic damage. However, sometimes, a roof that has been functionally damaged will be passed off as only cosmetically damaged by the insurance company.
A qualified, trained roof inspector will know the difference and can assist the homeowner to make sure the insurance designation is properly assigned.
INTERESTING FACT: Baseball size hail stones fall at nearly 100 miles per hour.
Wood shake, clay, concrete and other dense roofing material types can be instantly cracked or shattered by large hail stones.
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What Does Hail Damage Look Like On A Roof
Waking up in the morning after a strong storm and finding hail damage to your car isnt a great way to start the day. Depending on the hails size, it can cause significant damage not only to your car but the rest of your property as well.
One crucial piece of your property that you need to think about when it hails is your roof. Hail will shorten your roofs lifespan and can even lead to a full roof replacement.
But hail damage can be tricky to spot on a roof if you dont know where to look. Thats why were going to break down what hail damage looks like on your roof.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has provided help and guidance for homeowners in Nashville going through the insurance process since 1990. After your claim is approved, we work tirelessly to ensure your insurance company gives you everything your roof needs. Thats why we like to say, We work for you, not the insurance company.
Checking For Roof Hail Damage At Ground Level
Blown Off Shingles
Look for broken bits or loose shingles that may have fallen off around the house and in the yard. Hail is usually accompanied by high winds. If you see shingles in the yard, you may have wind or hail damage on the roof.
Outdoor Furniture Damage
Take a look at your outdoor furniture. Hail will crack or put holes in plastic yard furniture. It may also chip the paint or splinter the wood on wooden furniture.
Damaged Outdoor Lights
Look for cracked or broken light fixtures in the yard or on the sides of house.
Garage Door Dents/Dings
Check garage doors for dents, dings, paint chips, scuff patterns.
Damaged Swing/Play Sets
Check play sets and swing sets for dents, dings, paint chips, scuff patterns. Look for splintered wood or light discolored spots in the stain.
Utility Shed Damage
Check sheds or buildings for damage to metal roofing, siding, etc. Look closely at the roof of metal utility sheds for dents. Look at shingled utility sheds for small spots where shingles are dimpled or have missing granules.
Dented AC Condenser/Heat Pump
Check the air conditioner condenser unit housing for dents or damage from hail. Check the condenser coil fins for dent.
Window Well Covers
Cracks and holes in window well covers may indicate diameter and quantity of hail.
Dented Dryer Vents or Wall Vents
Dents in the soft metal of various wall vents may point to potential roof damage.
Damage to Fencing
Chips or Dents to Deck Stain/Paint
Damage to Painted Wood Surfaces
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Hail Damage Indicators On Your Roof
Gutter Leaf Guard Deformation
Look for tears or deformation in metal or plastic leaf guards and screens on gutters.
Granules in Gutters
Hail damage on your roof will cause granules to break loose at the site of each hail stone impact. If you notice shingle granules in your gutters, you may have hail damage on your roof.
Dented Roof Vents
Roof vents are often made of lightweight metal. Dents in the metal or cracks in plastic vents often means your roof was hit with heavy hail.
Dented Metal Flashing/Roof Fascia
Inspect metal flashing around chimney or vents & fascia for dents or dings. These are relatively easy to spot.
Paint Chipped Satellite Dish
Look for chipped paint, spatter marks or damaged satellite dish components.
Broken/Cracked Skylights
Check for cracked or broken glass if your roof has skylights.
Dented Chimney Covers
Look for dents and dings on metal chimney covers. Be careful, these are difficult to access.PRO TIP: Turn your chalk sideways and rub on metal surfaces to reveal any hard-to-see dents/dings.
Missing Shingles
Check the roof for any missing shingles or shingle tabs that may have blown off.
Wind Damaged/Loose Shingles
Look for any shingles that are easily pulled up or flapping from the wind from storm damage.
Hail Hits on Shingles
Hail hits on shingles may show subtle spots of granule displacement, bruises in shingle surface, or holes. If you see any dark spots on uniform shingle surfaces or dimpled areas, you most likely have hail damage.
How Much Does It Cost To Repair Hailstorm Damage To Your House
While your contractor might have an idea of what it will cost to repair or replace your roof and/or siding, its the insurance adjuster who will make an inspection of their own to determine the damage. Sometimes the adjuster will find no damage, or they dont accurately assess the damage to the roof and siding, which is why its important to have your roofing contractor present while the adjuster makes their inspection.
Once the estimate letter and first check from the insurance company are in your possession, the roofing contractor reviewing the insurance estimate will determine if its an honest assessment, and if it is, work will begin. Should they find that there is a discrepancy in the estimate, the contractor will send the supplement to the insurance company.
The big question here is: whats it going to cost me? There are many aspects that come into play that will determine how much it will cost, but the big ones are the size and style of your roof determine the price. The same goes for siding. Home Advisor claims that the national average for a new roof cost $7,274. On the low end, roofs can be replaced for $1,200. The skys the limit on the high end, but a massive house using costly materials could run up to $30,000, which would be rare. Roof advisor says the following help determine the cost:
- Roof size
- Code requirements
- Pitch
- Type of application
- Location
- Obstacles, such as skylights, plumbing pipes, chimneys, etc.
Take advantage of our great financing offers
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Different Types Of Hail Roof Damage
The hail storm caused damage to the roof in various ways, and different parts got damaged. There are different types of roof hail damage.
Surface hail damage: Surface hail damage is the most common type of roof damage. The damage is more clear if you have a shingle roof. You can see black areas, bruises, and small divots on the roof. Protective granules also get damage, and you can easily see them in gutters.
Hidden roof hail damage: All roof damages are not on the surface of the roof. When you see the roof, you can see split shingles. If you see this kind of damage, its time to call the roof inspector. He will see the problem, and your roof may need resealing of shingles. Professionals will do a comprehensive analysis of damage and take care of roof vents, flashing, gutters, skylights, and chimney caps.
Correct identification of roof damage is very important. In some cases, you may need to claim a warranty from the company. For instance, if the damage was done during shingles installation, the company will be responsible for that. Similarly, if the damage is done due to UV radiations and the company claims to provide UV-protected roofs, you can ask the company to replace the roof. Other than that, wind and debris can also cause problems. Once the problem and extent are identified, the roof inspection can suggest the next steps. If the damage is less, repairing will be enough, but if the roof is greatly damaged, you must replace the roof.
Detect Signs Of Roof Damage From Hail
Hail damage is easy to detect. You will hear hail hitting your roof and windows, and you will see pellets of ice gathering on the ground. Hail damage is also usually easy to see it can dent your siding or even shatter your windows. Hail can also dent your roof or tear away shingles.
Hail damage usually causes the following damage to your homes roof:
- Missing Shingles: Look for gaps in the pattern or pieces of exposed roof. You may also see shingles on the ground near your home.
- Damaged Shingles: Check for shingles on your roof that are curled, buckling, dented, or cracked.
- Build-up in gutters and downspouts that have collected loose asphalt granules.Flashing and downspouts that are dented, hanging, or missing.
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Wind And Hail Deductibles
Depending on where you live, what insurance company you have, and a variety of other factors, you might be offered a wind and hail deductible. For example, if you have a 2% wind and hail deductible on a $200,000 house, you would be responsible for paying $4,000 for a wind or hail event before the insurance would cover the remainder of the claim. You can often get a wind and hail deductible policy separate from homeowners insurance policy, which would give you a lower-priced insurance policy and wind and hail event coverage.
