What happens when a hailstone the size of a baseball puts a dent in your roof?
Getting a little dinged up is a way of life. You dinged up your new special edition Batmobile when you hit that pothole on the way to the mall. Insurance takes care of bodily dings and dents.
So what happens when hail dings up your roof? You get to pay a lot of money to fix it.
The good news is that you can avoid thousands of dollars in unexpected home repairs if you know what signs of hail damage on the roof look like.
Lost Granules
These granules are pieces of asphalt shingle material that can be knocked off of the surface of the shingle, leaving the area looking dull and grey. Other signs of hail damage can be found in the form of asphalt granules embedded in the roof material around the affected area.
Few areas where asphalt shingle granules have been removed from the area by way of the hail. It’s important to take time to inspect your roof after a hail storm, as you may not be able to detect the signs of hail damage until you look carefully.
Also, if you notice granules falling from the roof, you will want to inspect the roof area thoroughly. You may also need to call a professional roofer, who can identify and repair the hail damage.
Roof Shingle Cracks
In particular, roof shingles may become broken or “bruised” from impact with large hailstones. While these damages may not always be visible to the naked eye, looking for damage to the roofing material is the best way to inspect for hail damage.
Shingles affected by hail will often have signs of splits and cracking from the impact. Additionally, granules from asphalt shingles may be knocked off, leaving the shingle more vulnerable to water damage.
Unveiled Fiberglass Mat
Roofing materials that are more prone to hail damage include organic-based materials such as asphalt, wood and slate roofing. Unveiled fiberglass mat is a relatively new roofing material that can withstand greater hail impact and damage.
Compared to traditional roofing materials, fiberglass mat is more resistant to cracking, splitting, and denting due to hail. Some manufacturers are offering warranties that guarantee no hail damage to fiberglass mat roofs. This is due to the superior hail resistance of this remarkable material.
Impact Marks or Dents on the Roof
These impact marks and dents can be small or large and may be scattered or concentrated in one spot. It’s important to inspect your roof to check for signs of hail damage, especially after a storm.
Look for irregularities such as round crater-like dents in the roof, denting along ridgelines, and signs of shingle granules on the ground or accumulated in gutters.
Find out more about these signs and contact a professional roofer to assess the extent of the damage. They may recommend a professional repair or sometimes a full roof replacement, depending on the severity of the storm damage.
Lowering the Risk of Hail Damage on the Roof
Hail damage on the roof can lead to further damage if not addressed quickly. If you suspect that your roof has been damaged due to hail, contact a professional roof inspector to accurately assess the level of damage and any needed repairs. Doing so will help to prevent further costly damage from occurring.
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