Black Colored Dots/bruised Shingles
Dark-colored spots or bruises on your shingles may appear when smaller hail hits your roof. Spotting this type of roof damage may be difficult, but its not impossible. The dark spots are created when hail hits the roof, and granules fall from it. If you have a lot of bruising on your roof from a hail storm, youll likely have granule loss as well.
Hail Damage On Metal Roofs
An Oklahoma City homeowner may have two types of metal roofs: stone-coated steel or standing seam.
Stone-coated steel roofs are strong enough to withstand hail upwards of 2 in size. These types of roofs are so durable they will often last 50+ years without issue. Even if hail is able to dent the surface of stone-coated steel roof tiles, the damage is almost always cosmetic and wont impact the underlying materials.
Standing seam metal roofs are slightly different in terms of what hail damage looks like. Hail damage looks like denting or pitted areas at the impact sites. If the hail is big enough, it can puncture the metal roof.
Depending on the severity of the damage, the dents or pitted areas may pool water and/or cause rust to form. Metal roofs will need a proper hail damage inspection to determine if the damage is structural or cosmetic meaning the damage will lead to roof leaks later. This can be hard to determine unless you have roofing experience.
How Can I Prevent Hail From Damaging My Roof
Believe it or not, preventing hail damage is possible without erecting a circus tent over your house. The answer is using impact-resistant, otherwise known as Class 4, shingles. Of course, no shingle is hail-proof. But some withstand the impact of hail better than others. If youre in the market for a new roof, shop for shingles with a Class 4 rating. During Underwriters Laboratory testing to simulate hail hits, these Class 4 shingles did not crack when impacted twice in the same spot by a 2-inch steel ball.
Read Also: How Much Does A Gable Roof Cost
Can You Get Dents Out Of Aluminum Siding
Drill a couple of 1/8 inch holes in the part of the siding that contains the dent. Place a flat washer onto a sheet metal screw, and then screw it part of the way into one of the holes you drilled. Next, pull on the screw with a pair of pliers. Hopefully the dent will pop out and the siding will be good as new.
What Are The Factors Involved In Roofing Repair
Working around obstacles and the number of slopes entails more work from roofers. The steeper and the more slopes there are, the more difficult the job is. This inevitably drives the labor costs, higher which makes sense considering the risk and level of difficulty involved. That actually sounds better than fly by night roofers who will likely skip the difficult parts, simply because they are not trained or equipped for it.
Don’t Miss: How To Become A Certified Roof Inspector
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 Look Like On A Roof Ask A Roofer
A hail storm went through last night, and you could have sworn it sounded like thousands of rocks pummeling your roof. When you go to look, at first glance, you cant really tell if its damaged or not. So what does hail damage look like on a roof after all?
You may not be able to see the damage from the ground, or even up near the edge of your roof. We recommend always hiring a professional to come to take a look. We are going to walk you through our steps to identifying damage during an inspection. Because the sooner you can catch and repair the damage, the more you prevent any further damage like water leaks and mold growth.
Don’t Miss: How Much To Get A Roof Redone
You Have Hail Damage Now What
If you do a walk-through of your property and find you indeed have hail damage on your roof, youre probably wondering what the best next step is. First, you should document anything you found. And second, reach out to a local roofer to schedule a FREE inspection.
Its possible once you file an insurance claim, you may need to do another insurance adjuster inspection, but that can be compared against the contractors inspection to ensure youre getting the coverage you need and nothing was missed.
Working with a professional roofing contractor can be your best bet at getting the proper coverage for your roof repairs, a thorough hail damage roof inspection, and a promising solution to bring your roof back to its original glory.
How Much Does Hail
The cost of repairing a hail-damaged house varies greatly, as some damages are extremely minor and can be fixed in minutes, while others can take an entire day or longer, depending on the situation. In aggregate, the average repair would be around $550, but again, the price can vary depending on each unique situation.
Also Check: How To Fix A Tear In Rv Roof
Start Inspecting Your Roof For Hail Damage From The Ground Up
You can start things out on the ground, by looking for dents in the gutters, screens, or downspouts. Chances are that if there is hail damage to the top of the roof, there will be some impact to the gutters. Keep an eye out for even small impact areas, since that will help you predict the top portion of your roof.
Next, look for hail damage to your siding, window sills and window casings, along with any other exposed metal surfaces. Any dents or other signs of hail impact may be a sign there is more damage up above. Hail storms generally involve high winds, so hail is just as likely to hit the side of the building as it is the top.
Inspect other outdoor elements of your property. Items like air conditioners often experience damage during a storm, which may qualify for replacement under your insurance.
You should also inspect any exposed vents, sheds, porches, mailboxes, decks and other painted wood surfaces. Chipped or scratched paint may be another sign of hail damage. Look for torn screens on windows and doors, dents in metal doors, and hail damage on your vehicles.
Also check out include damage to outdoor furniture, swing sets or play sets, debris and damage to outdoor swimming pools or fallen tree limbs around the neighborhood, and damage to plants, grass, bushes, or flowerbeds.
Finally, if your neighbors are getting their roofs inspected or repaired, chances are that you need to need check out your roof as well.
What Size Hail Will Damage A Roof
If you recently had a hail storm in your area but only saw very small hailstones, you might be assuming that everything is fine. Unfortunately, even relatively small hail can cause damage to your home, including your roof.
Hail thats about one inch in diameter or smaller likely wont cause much damage outside. With this size of hail, you might notice some damage to your plants but probably nothing else.
Hail any larger than that, though, can start to cause damage to your roof and other surfaces. Once the hail reaches about 1.5 inches in diameter , it can lead to severe roof damage.
If the hail is even larger, 1.75 inches in diameter , then it can start to cause significant damage to vehicles parked outside and buildings.
Another relevant factor beyond size in how much damage the hail causes is the wind speed. Hail storms are often accompanied by severe winds which add to the damage.
Never assume that theres no damage to your home just because the hail looked small. Go through the steps of looking for roof damage any time you have a major hail storm in your area.
Donât Miss: Where To Buy Roofing Material
Read Also: How Do I Keep Moss From Growing On My Roof
How To Identify Hail Damage
Identifying hail damage on your belongings, such as patio furniture or your car, is relatively
straightforward. The round dings in metal are obvious signs of hail damage. However, determining whether your roof has sustained damage from a hailstorm may be a little more difficult. Its important to keep your roof in top condition to avoid structural deterioration that may cause leaks.
Many insurance companies will consider paying for a roof that has been damaged by hail, but it must be correctly assessed. Insurance adjusters will require the opinion of a professional roofing contractor before they will consent to the work being done, in this case, you can call and we will inspect your entire home for hail damages. However, if you prefer inspecting it yourself we have a step by step guide below.
What To Do After A Hailstorm: Call A Hail Damage Contractor Or The Insurance Company For Inspection First
There are an average of four hailstorms per year in the Midwesterner, which means theres a good chance that you rarely have to think about what to do after one of these storms. For some homeowners, their first thought is that they pay an insurance premium every month, so they call their insurance agent first. At VIS Exterior, we know the best option is to before you initiate an insurance claim.
We offer a free consultation following storms that cause hail damage, so there is no risk of bringing us out to assist. After taking the initial steps of surveying the damage from the ground, your next step should be to contact us. Well take our findings directly to the insurance company and make sure everything you should be covered for in your policy is indeed covered.
From your roof to your siding, when a big storm comes through, well look over the entire surface area of your home and seek out even the tiniest damages. Should your home require repair or replacement of either the siding or the roofing, well meet your insurance adjustor when they do their inspection to ensure theyre seeing everything we found. With VIS Exterior on your side, you skip all the stress and leave the steps in the process up to us.
Read Also: What Length Roofing Nails Should I Use
Dented Shingles And Exterior
Your roof isnt the only place you can look to spot hail damage on your property. Take a look at your siding, landscaping, windows, or other parts of your homes exterior. If you noticecracked windows on your home you could assume youll also find hail damage on your roof. Schedule a professional inspection at the first sign of hail damage to any portion of your home.
What Does Hail Damage To Your Roof Look Like
Shingles can react differently when struck by hail. As an example, hail damage to asphalt and composition shingles can look very different than hail damage to wood shingles. It is important to know the different effects of the damage to properly identify whether or not you have roof damage from hail.
Asphalt and Composition Shingles Hail Damage
- Random damage with no discernable pattern.
- Hail hits that are black in color.
- Loss of granules, which may expose the roof felt.
- Asphalt and/or mat that appears shiny.
- Hail hits that are soft to the touch, like the bruise on an apple.
Wood Shingles Hail Damage
- Random damage with no discernable pattern.
- A split in the shingle that is brown/orange in color.
- A split in the shingle that has sharp corners and edges.
- A split in the shingle that has little to no deterioration at the edges.
- Impact marks or dents along the splits.
There are many other types of damage to shingles that can be mistaken for hail damage. For example, exposure to inclement weather and sunlight makes shingles brittle and gives them an aged appearance. This type of damage is normal wear and tear of shingles, which is sometimes misidentified as hail damage. Other types of normal wear and tear may include blistering, cracking, granule loss, flaking and algae. Manufacturing defects and mechanical imperfections in shingles can also be mistaken for hail damage.
Don’t Miss: How To Seal Roof Shingles
What Is Hail And How It Is Formed
In simple terms, hail is pellets of frozen rain that falls in showers. Hail can cause massive damage to buildings, homes, and vehicles. When the temperature falls below freezing point, a hailstone forms around a particle of dust. The wind carries it high into the storm and causes the nascent to quickly freeze and grow in size. It then picks up more moisture from the water vapor and the rain while it is tossed lower into the atmosphere. Here, it is again snatched into the storm and freezes again. As the hail circles back the fourth due to the powerful storm winds, the hailstone grows in size. When it becomes quite heavy, it falls to the ground causing damage to homes and vehicles.
Also Check: Is Roof Covered By Home Warranty
Hail Damage Lowers Your Homes Value
A damaged roof may never get worse, or may never leak, but this doesnt mean it doesnt need to be repaired. The its fine attitude will only last you so long. This damage, the second it occurs, lowers the value of your home. 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 homes roof.
Don’t Miss: Can You Use Flex Seal On Camper Roof
Common Signs Of Hail And Wind Damaged Siding
When big windstorms sweep through the area, hail damage on vinyl siding is often the result. Vinyl isnt the only siding material type that is affected wooding siding hail damage is also prevalent. While wood siding is resistant to impact, cedar siding hail damage occurs when the storms are severe enough, the hail large enough and if the wood is nearing the end of its expected lifespan.
In some situations the storm will not be severe enough to cause obvious damage, but it might still be there. Hail damage siding events that occur over time result in subtle problem areas that need to be addressed and the only way to do that is through a thorough inspection by a siding contractor with years of experience investigating hail damage. If you notice hail damage to siding but think its only a cosmetic issue that you can deal with, be mindful that any visible damage is a sign that the home could be at risk for further moisture damage beneath the siding.
Just like your roof protects your interiors, so too does your siding. Whether the material is made of vinyl or wood, it can add curb appeal to your home, but its best quality is that it protects your home from the elements. To ensure your siding is fully protecting you and your family, contact VIS Exterior and schedule an inspection. We can make minor repairs that left unattended can lead to major issues.
Impact Marks Or Dents
Just like the dark spots or bruises on your shingles, you may notice something like dents. These impact marks will often be seen after a hail storm on roofs that come in contact with smaller hail pieces. These are the hardest things to spot when it comes to hail damage. Many homeowners will miss what roofing experts will be able to spot when it comes to impact marks and dents on a roof.
Don’t Miss: What Is A Sq In Roofing
How To Identify Hail Damage On Your Roof
If youve been unlucky enough to experience a hail storm, you may be wondering how to identify hail damage on your roof. Even a small amount of hail can cause significant damage, so its important to know what to look for and how to fix it. Signs of hail damage look like:
- Loss of granules
- Dents to the exterior of your home
In this guide, we will discuss what to look for and how to handle your hail damage roof repair.
What Size Hail Causes Roof Damage
On average, it takes a 1″ or above diameter hail stone to cause damage to common asphalt shingles. When referring to hail sizes, here are a few common objects to compare:
- Pea = 1/4-inch in diameter
- Dime or penny = 3/4-inch in diameter
- Nickel = 7/8-inch
- Golf Ball = 1½ inches
- Tennis Ball = 2½ inches
- Baseball = 2¾ inches
Also Check: How Much To Install A Flat Roof
