What Does a Roof with Hail Damage Look Like?
Here we’ll cover hail damage to roofs, how hailstorms damage a roof, and the next steps to take.
Hailstorms are a leading cause of roof damage. Even the strongest, sturdiest roofs can sustain damage from strong hailstorms. In the Carolinas, hail size has reached up to 4.5 inches in diameter, which is the size of a CD!
Hail can fall at any time of the year, especially during spring storms and summer storms. After a hailstorm—even if it was brief—it’s important to check your roof for damage. If left untreated, hail damage to roofs can lead to several costly problems:
Inspecting for hail damage to roofs immediately after a storm is crucial to prevent further issues.
- Water leaks
- Mold and mildew
- Animal intrusion
- Energy inefficiency (home too cold or too hot)
To minimize the effects of storm and hail damage to roofs, it’s best to have your roof inspected in the immediate days after a hail storm. A professional roofing company can inspect your roof and determine if repair or replacement is needed. Addressing hail damage to roofs promptly can save you from expensive repairs later.
How Does Hail Damage a Roof?
Hailstones are solid balls of ice. They can travel at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. Even hail that’s seemingly small can inflict damage on a roof because of its structure and speed. Essentially, hailstones repeatedly collide with a roof at fast speeds and cause weak spots, including cracks, holes, and splits. Understanding how hail damage to roofs occurs helps you take necessary precautions.
Hail Damage and Different Roof Materials
Hail damage to a roof largely depends on the size of the hailstone. Most often, hail causes damage if it’s one inch in diameter or larger. The type of roof and materials also affect how the hail damage to roofs will appear.
So, what does hail damage look like on a roof?
Metal Roofs
Metal roofs are the most resistant to hail damage. However, even metal roofs are not immune to hail damage to roofs, particularly from larger hailstones. Visible dents are the most common sign of hail damage to a metal roof.
Shingle Roofs
Hail damage to shingle roofs may not be as apparent. Homeowners should be vigilant for signs of hail damage to roofs after severe weather events. After a hailstorm, look out for these signs of damage:
- Dark or black spots
- Granule loss, which may expose the roof felt (See your downspouts and water diverters for excess granules.)
- Shiny asphalt
- Random damage with no distinguishable pattern
- A split in one or more shingles that is brown or orange in color
In addition to physical roof damage, there are other signs of roof damage from hail:
- Water leaks on the roof or in the attic
- Clogged gutters from loose granules
Need a professional inspection of your roof after a hailstorm?
Contact StaDry Roofing and Restoration today.
Three Steps to Take After a Hailstorm
1. Hire a professional roofing inspector.
Some homeowners decide to inspect their roof after a hailstorm, but this isn’t always smart. Before inspecting your roof for hail damage, determine if it’s safe to do. Can you safely access your roof? Do you have the tools to inspect your roof?
It’s best to contact a local roofing company in the days after a hailstorm. A thorough, professional roof inspector will properly examine your roof and connecting structures for damage.
2. Contact your insurance company.
After your roof inspection, your roofing company will let you know if there’s any damage. If you do have roof damage, you should immediately contact your insurance company to file a roof hail damage insurance claim. Filing a claim for hail damage to roofs can be a straightforward process if done promptly, and most roofing companies will assist.
3. Beware of roofing scams.
After a hailstorm, roofing storm chasers visit homeowners and try to convince them to get a new roof. These companies are known for shoddy roofing jobs and taking homeowners’ money without doing any work. Plus, many of them travel out of state to storm-affected areas and don’t live or work in your community. So, if you ever have a problem in the future, you won’t be able to find them. Learn the signs of a roofing scam here. Awareness of potential roofing scams can help protect homeowners from further losses due to hail damage to roofs.
Remember, early detection of hail damage to roofs can significantly reduce costly repairs.
Don’t wait to have your roof inspected after a hailstorm.
