Why You Should Check for Hail Damage and What To Do If You Find It

Hail is one of the most destructive forces in nature. Hail damage to your roof can easily cause leaks and other costly repairs. If you reside in an area that is prone to hail, you should consider getting hail protection for your property’s roof. Hail damage is easy to spot in some cases, especially if the hail is larger than an inch. But many dings, cracks, and holes from hail are not easy to see. Without the right inspection and repairs, your roof can collect moisture and deteriorate. You might not find out in time to avoid extensive repairs without help. 

What Does Hail Damage Look Like?

Hail damage consists of dings, dents, tears, cracks, and missing pieces of material. You can check your gutters above the five-foot level for dents and holes as a starting point. You can also walk around the perimeter of your home to quickly assess the condition of the weather stripping and see if there are missing shingles.

Shingles may tear, split, crack, or lift off the roof due to hail damage. You can look up at the roof from the ground if you are near the gutter to get a quick look.

Hail over an inch is likely to puncture weather stripping, gutter pieces, and materials under shingles on the roof. If you see holes or gouges after a hailstorm, it’s essential to call for repairs right away. 

The Long-term Effects of Hail Damage

Hail damage causes your roof to collect water. Whether the damage is some minor cracking or many missing shingles, you’ll be fighting mold in no time if you don’t get repairs. In extreme cases, you may have to repair some of the underlying framing in your home. While many types of hail damage don’t require a roof replacement, extreme hail does have the power to ruin a whole roof. If you find yourself in a bad hailstorm that puts actual holes in your roof within 24 hours, you’ll have additional heating and cooling problems.

Dinged gutters, flashing, and weather wrapping may cause water to collect on the property near the home. This could eventually cause foundation problems and add overall moisture to the area. 

What To Do After Hail Falls

Take an initial look at your gutters and roof from the ground after hail falls. There’s no reason to put your safety at risk by climbing on the roof right away. Many people think that they need to immediately inspect their roof by themselves and then call a contractor to repair the roof. What you should do is first take a look to see if there is damage that is visible from the ground. Then you should call your insurance company. 

When you need to hire a contractor to make repairs due to hail, they need to get in contact with your insurance adjuster first. Your repairs and paperwork will go much faster if you make the insurance phone call yourself. Ask your insurance company if your homeowner’s insurance covers hail-related repairs. Your roof warranty may have some coverage also. Get your insurance adjuster out for the first look, and then call your contractor. 

While you can always climb on your own roof if you want to, it’s not especially safe to do this right after hail falls. There may be loose shingles, ice, water, loose granules from damaged shingles, and other major slipping hazards. It’s hard to notice many of the dings right away, and reliable inspections can take a while. Hiring an inspector is likely the most efficient option. But if you feel you need to look for yourself, be extra cautious.

Urban Exteriors LLC has over 25 years of experience in new construction and exterior repairs. Our customers trust us to repair the essential components of their exteriors using quality construction methods and materials. No matter what the weather has done to your roof, we will meticulously repair it so that everything functions properly.