How Can I Tell If My Roof Has Hail Damage
Hail damage is often challenging to spot. After severe weather, you should be on the lookout for the following signs of hail damage to your neighborhood, home, or roof:
- Dents in your roofing shingles, roof vents, chimney covers, gutters, and downspouts
- Missing, blown-off, or curling roofing shingles
- Dents or holes in your homes siding or fascia
- Dents in your mailbox
- Broken or cracked glass in your windows or doors
- Damaged flowerbeds or broken/fallen tree limbs
- Debris in your front or backyard or swimming pool
- Algae growth on your roofing shingles
- Cracks in your roofs skylights or splatter marks on your satellite dish
- Water stains on your ceilings or walls
- Mold or mildew growth on your walls or ceilings
What If My Insurance Adjuster Says There Isnt Any Damage
While its possible your roof is the only one in the neighborhood that wasnt damaged in a hail storm, its also possible that your adjuster is inexperienced and overlooked the damage. At Scros Roofing, weve been able to get insurance companies to cover roofing claims they had previously denied.
Youre entitled to receive a re-inspection from another adjuster who works for the same firm. This means you dont need to settle if youre not satisfied with the results. Request another inspection, and we will work to get you what you deserve.
Do I Have To Pay A Deductible For Hail Damage To My Roof Or For Other Hail Damage
Following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, insurers decided that homeowners in states susceptible to hurricane and wind damage needed to pay more for protection.
“There are two kinds of wind damage deductibles: hurricane deductibles, which apply to damage solely from hurricanes, and windstorm or wind/hail deductibles, which apply to any kind of wind damage,” according to Barry, which notes that these deductibles are based on a percentage of the home’s insured value.
Typically, he says, the deductibles range from 1% to 5% of the home’s insured value, depending on where the home is located and the historic storm and hail damage in the region.
“In some states, policyholders may have the option of paying a higher premium in return for a traditional dollar deductible,” according to the III.”In some high-risk coastal areas, insurers may not give policyholders this option, making the percentage deductible mandatory.”
Again, Barry says homeowners need to discuss their situation with their insurer to know exactly how much coverage they should consider and how much it will cost.
There are currently 19 states that have mandatory hurricane deductibles, which also cover hail damage. They include Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
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Questions To Ask After Your Home Has Been Hit With Hail Damage
- Amanda
Hail storms can be scary for homeowners. Your roof is the first line of defense against the weather outside, and severe hail damage can compromise that defense overnight. If your home has just weathered a hail storm, its hard to know what to do first. But as a roofing company with years of experience helping families keep their roofs intact, Elite Roofing knows how to deal with hail. Here are the five biggest questions you should ask after your roof has been hit with hail damage.
When To Replace Your Roof: How To Tell If Its Time
At HomeLight, our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying. Therefore, we promote strict editorial integrity in each of our posts.
Last time you climbed up a ladder and cleaned out your gutters, you got a magnified view of your roof. A few turned up shingles, moss, some rust action are these blemishes normal, or are they signs that you need a new roof?
When you start noticing your roofs age, bring in the experts to determine if its time for a replacement. Roof damage can lead to leaks and cause significant structural damage. Plus, beyond protecting your home, your roof plays a key role in curb appeal when its time to sell.
We want our houses to look as good as possible from the curb and from the photographs. And now that we use a lot of aerial shots and drone shots, the roof is much more visible. So its just that much more important that the roof looks good, shares top real estate agent Andrew Oldham, who, along with his partner Jennifer Oldham, sells 70% more single-family homes in San Jose than the average agent.
Dont let a roof in disrepair bring down your homes value. Follow these six steps to determine if you need to replace your roof.
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When Should I File A Roof Claim
Depending on how severe the hail storm is, you may not see the damage from the ground. To determine whether you require our help at Scros Roofing, examine your car and the rest of your property for anything unusual. If there are indentations on your car or damage to your neighbors property, you may want to seek a professional inspection.
File a roof claim as soon as possible after your roof sustains hail damage. The sooner we find problem areas, the faster we can order supplies based on what you prefer for color, texture and style.
What To Do After A Hail Storm: Call A Roofer Or The Insurance Company For Inspection First
After a punishing storm, many homeowners will have two competing thoughts in their head about whom to contact first, but many will lean toward calling their insurance agent to report the possibility of damage. Dont do this because a misfiled claim with no actual damage can lead to an increase in your premium.
The right move is to . A professional will come to your property, inspect the entire roofing system for any damage and will help you decide whether or not you should open a claim. Due diligence is required here because you want to be able to fully trust your contractor, so shop around and get referrals before making that call. Furthermore, when you are paired with a trusted professional, you insurance company will also appreciate it and be more likely to work in tandem with someone they also respect.
Meeting your roofing contract during the initial inspection is actually a great opportunity to get to know them and determine if they are the type of professional you trust to manage your repairs or replacement. But, as we said earlier, only request an inspection from one that has received high marks from former clients and from the Better Business Bureau.
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Hail Damage Roof Faqs
Here on the Front Range, storms can roll in with little notice and bring with them high winds and hail. A single storm can do a lot of damage to your roof, and its important to get it inspected and repaired as soon as possible. Our roofing company has repaired and replaced many hail-damaged roofs, and were here for you after a storm!
In todays blog post, the Pride Roofing & Construction team is answering a few commonly asked questions about hail roof damage. Continue reading to learn more, and keep our contact info close if youre ever in need of roof repair in Eastern Colorado or Southern Wyoming!
How Severe Was The Storm
Hail always sounds severe from indoors, so its only natural to think your roof has sustained damage after a hail storm. Not all hail can damage your roof, however. That means you should first try to determine the severity of the storm. Pay close attention to weather reports of hail storms, as these will often describe the nature of the hail in terms of size and color. Large, clear hail stones are more likely to damage your roof than smaller, opaque hail. If the hail is described as pea-sized, chances are your roof is just fine. Hail that is one inch or larger in size is definitely cause for concern, however.
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The Process Of Inspecting Buildings For Hail Damage
The damage from hailstorms needs to be assessed by an experienced Colorado roofing company. This specialist will look at several aspects of hail damage to your homes roof.
Roof storm damage is all too common during a hail storm. During the initial inspection, a Colorado roofer at B& M Roofing will look for cracks, splinters, dents, dings, etc. On the more extreme side, they may evaluate holes/punctures, rips, and overall lasting impact on your home. On your roof, they look for things that are present or potential problem leaks down the road. It is crucial that the roof of your home be in good shape. After all, your roof protects the interior of your home.
Hail damage must be assessed or inspected before your insurance company will cover the damage. Before repairs are approved, you will need to get an assessment and an estimate from a Colorado roofing company that specializes in hail damage. They will be able to answer, do I need to replace roof after hail?
Before you contact a roofing specialist, here are some areas to look at:
Will My Homeowners Insurance Rate Increase If I File A Claim
No, your rates will not increase if you file an insurance claim after hail damage. Homeowners insurance works differently from car insurance. If you file a claim, you wont be penalized. Rate increases for homeowners insurance depend on your location.
Even if you dont file a claim, your insurance rate may increase if you live in a location that has suffered significant storm damage. Filing a claim for storm damage wont cost you a penny, and you dont need to worry about your rate increasing, as the effects of a hail storm are not your fault.
Contact us at Scros Roofing after a hail storm hits your neighborhood. When the adjuster shows up to inspect your home, we want to be there. You have a legal right to be accompanied by a professional representative during the inspection. However, you may not want to depend on only your adjusters inspection. Adjusters work for and are paid by insurance companies. You deserve to work with a roofing professional.
If you install a new roof, your insurance company may actually offer a discount on your homeowners insurance premium. Of course, many factors go into your premium, and roof age is just one factor that plays a role in determining your rate. Since every companys process of determining rates is different, contact your insurance agent to determine whether you may be able to get a discount after replacing your roof.
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Damaged Plumbing Vent Boots
Plumbing vent boots can be all plastic, plastic and metal, or even two-piece metal units. Check plastic bases for cracks and metal bases for broken seams. Then examine the rubber boot surrounding the pipe. That can be rotted away or torn, allowing water to work its way into the house along the pipe. With any of these problems, you should buy a new vent boot to replace the old one. Replacing the boot will solve the problem and most likely not mean a complete roof replacement. But if the nails at the base are missing or pulled free and the boot is in good shape, replace them with the rubber-washered screws used for metal roofing systems. Learn more about replacing plumbing vent boots here.
How Much Does Insurance Pay For Hail Damage On Roof
When you submit a hail damage roof repair insurance claim, the amount the insurance company pays out will vary. Theyll base their payout on a variety of factors, including the type of damage thats occurred. If they estimate the damage doesnt meet your deductible, your claim may be denied and no check will be cut. Theyll base much of their determination on their adjusters documentation. When you file a roof hail damage claim, an adjuster will come out and inspect the roof and assess the damage. This is why you want to hire a trusted roofer to come out and inspect the roof before you file a claim. The roofer can determine the extent of the damage, document it, and provide you with a report and estimate you can file with your claim. You also want to gather as much documentation as possible. You want to take photos, for instance, and if you were out of town, you may want to gather news reports about the storm to verify hail occurred.
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Not All Hail Is Hail And None Is Rain
According to National Geographic, hailstones are not frozen rain. They are formed inside of a large cloud as water droplets circulate. A strong updraft will push balls of ice into the cloud to colder upper regions. As it falls again, it will gather other pieces of ice and water vapor. This cycle continues until the cloud lets go of the hailstones and they come down on your roof.
Frozen rain is actually water that freezes as it rains. It freezes near the ground, not high up in the cloud.
In the interesting facts category, National Geographic tells us that a piece of solid precipitation that is fewer than 5 millimeters in diameter is not called a hailstone. It is called graupel.
Here in Denver, were second only to Texas in hailstorms, but we havent had the worst storm on record. In fact, a storm in 1888 in Moradabad, India, killed 250 people.
So, hailstones are pieces of solid precipitation that form in a cloud and fall to earth. Golf ball to baseball-sized hail is not uncommon. In August 2019, the largest hailstone in Colorado history fell. It was 4.83 inches and fell in Bethune, Colorado.
Hail Damage To Roof Vents And Shingles
Once you’re up on the roof, there’s going to be a few things to look for. Vents, chimneys, sky lights, other features and shingles are on our inspection list.
Hail damage often accompanies wind damage to roofing systems, so you’ll want to look for both.
Check out all the roof vents and features to look for any damage. Look for dents, dings, chipped surfaces, etc.
For the harder to see impact areas like the chimney covers , run your chalk sideways over the surface and it will uncover the hail impact points. For the softer metal vents, the damage will be much more obvious.
The last, but most important thing to check is the shingles. Hail damage to roof shingles are what buys the roof. You’ll never get a solid insurance claim without shingle damage.
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Why A Roofing Inspection Is Important
A roofing inspection is the first step when you have concerns about possible hail damage. Homeowners should visually check their roofs from the ground. If damage is suspected, the safest and easiest way to assess the damage is to call a roofing professional, like PRQ Exteriors. Our licensed roofing contractors will provide an accurate assessment. Our professional interests directly align with yours as the homeowner rather than with the insurance companys side.
How To Determine Hail Damage To Shingles
When looking to determine hail damage on shingles, first look at the color of the roof. If it is brown or black, then there are a few reasons why that may be but one of them is most likely hailstorms.If youve ever seen hailstones up close before, chances are they were pretty big and hard as ice when they hit your roof.So what kind of damage does hail cause to roofs in general?For starters: High winds will likely allow any small holes created by smaller pieces of hail through which rain can penetrate a buildings interior. Larger pieces could create significant holes.
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Can You Claim Hail Damage Twice
Yes. But there are some things to keep in mind before you make this decision. You can file as many claims as you need, but the more claims that are filed means the higher your premiums will be. One claim won’t typically affect your rates but two claims in a row may cause an increase in your premium.
How Do You Know If Your Roof Has Hail Damage
Look for dents or holes in the roofing material
Look for broken shingles or shingles that are missing altogether
Look for dents or punctures in metal roofs
If you notice any of these signs, have your roof inspected by a professional.
If your roof has been damaged by hail, you may be able to fix it yourself or hire a roofing contractor.
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Do I Need To Replace My Roof After A Hail Storm
After your roof has sustained damage from a hail storm, theres a lot you need to worry about. Not only do you need to clean your lawn and surrounding areas littered with debris, leaves, and tree limbs, but you also need to check your roofs health. The roof takes the most beating during a hail storm, and while a robust roof can easily withstand a roof without much damage, it is always a possibility.
So, if you inspect your roof after a storm and it looks pretty beat up, there are plenty of questions that will do rounds in your head. Do I need to replace my roof? Is roof repair enough for the damage? Which is a better option between roof repair and roof replacement? And, so on.
Roof replacement is expensive and is a huge decision for any homeowner. In this article, we would discuss some of the pivotal factors to consider, helping you make an informed decision about whether you should replace your roof or not.
Working With A Colorado Roofing Insurance Specialist
If you have identified possible hail damage to your home or business, get in touch with a knowledgeable and trustworthy roofing contractor. At PRQ Exteriors, our team of licensed contractors has a proven track record for expertly assessing damage while helping clients get the appropriate compensation from their insurance company. A contractor will come to your home and complete a thorough roof inspection.
Roofing contractors will sometimes use chalk to mark damaged spots. Photos presenting these marks will be helpful when submitting insurance claims later in the process. Our inspectors will provide a professional report stating whether there is hail damage.
If the contractor determines hail damage is present, you should then contact your homeowners insurance company to file a claim. Homeowners insurance companies generally determine the amount of repair coverage based on the specific amount of hail damage based on the larger area. For example, some companies require at least three areas with more than eight hits within a 10 x 10-foot square to replace a roof entirely.
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