How Do I Know If My Roof Has Been Damaged By Hail?

Things To Consider Before Inspecting Your Roof

If you live in an area where hail is common, you must be aware of any sign of damage to your roof. Understanding how hail damages roofs can help you take precautions to prevent water leakage and structural failure from hailstorms can be severe. Hailstone impact can bruise or crack asphalt shingles, causing potential water damage in your home. While you can’t always avoid hail damage to your roof, you can reduce the extent of the damage by detecting problems early and taking action to repair or replace your damaged roof as soon as possible.

Calling a roofing contractor in Sun City is usually the first step, but before that, you can check your roof to see if it’s been damaged by a hailstorm. Here’s a list of things to consider before inspecting your roof. 

How Do I Recognize If Hail Has Damaged My Roof?

It’s essential to have your roof inspected for damage after a hailstorm. Hail falls in random patterns, meaning that it may only cause damage to a few houses in a neighborhood, so your roof may be damaged even if your next-door neighbor’s roof is not.

Hail Damage Indicators

Look for hail damage signs in your yard and on your property, such as:

• Plants with their leaves removed
• Dents in automobiles
• Defective air conditioners, or
• Evidence of harm to other outdoor objects

Check For Hail Damage On The Surface

You should start by inspecting your roof’s surface for signs of damage. Following a hailstorm, you may notice the following signs:

• Minor divots
• Round black spots
• Bruises or loss of protective granules that may accumulate in gutters and downspouts

Have Your Roof Inspected For Hail Damage

You need to get as close as possible to the roof’s surface to perform a thorough inspection, and that’s not always easy. 

We suggest scheduling an inspection with a Queen Creek roofing company you can rely on to safely and thoroughly inspect your roof. The majority of roofing contractors offer free inspections and estimates. 

You must be extremely careful if you decide to inspect the roof yourself! 

Hidden Damage

Not all hail damage is visible on a roofing shingle’s surface. The impact of a hailstone can cause shingles to split, which is only visible from the backside of the roof shingles.

It’s best to hire a roofing contractor to help with this inspection because they can lift, inspect, and re-seal shingles as needed. A professional roofing contractor in Queen Creek will also check the flashing, roof vents, skylights, and chimney caps or covers for damage.

What Size of Hail Can Cause Roof Damage?

Even if the hailstones from a recent hailstorm were very small, they can still damage your home and roof. If the hail is as big as a quarter or smaller, it might not cause a lot of damage outside, but your plants could get hurt. 

Marble-sized hail, typically around 1/2 inch in diameter, usually doesn’t cause roof damage unless accompanied by strong winds, as it’s considered a mild hailstorm. Similarly, pea-sized hail is unlikely to cause roof damage on its own, but when combined with strong winds, the risk increases. Damage from smaller hail sizes can be difficult to detect without professional inspection. However, if occurrences of hail this size are frequent, it could lead to gradual damage to shingles over time.

If the hail is as big as a golf ball, about 1.75 inches wide, it can damage cars and buildings. Wind speed also matters as strong winds with hail can cause more damage. Don’t think your home is okay just because the hail was small. Always check for roof damage after a big hail storm in your area or contact experienced local roofing contractors in Arizona for a professional opinion.

Does Hail Damage Metal Roofs

Metal roofs are becoming increasingly popular among homeowners, offering durability against hail damage. While hail can potentially harm metal roofs during severe storms, they generally withstand average hail without issues, even enduring golf-ball-sized hailstones. For residents in hail-prone areas like Phoenix, Arizona, considering a metal roof replacement with Canyon State Roofing could provide long-term protection and peace of mind.

Roof Imitation Hail Damage

It is critical to correctly identify the type of roof damage to implement the best action plan, which may include warranty and insurance claims. An experienced roofing professional should be able to tell the difference between hail damage and other types of roof damage, including:

• Cracking and blistering due to UV degradation
• Scuffing damage from wrongly installed shingles
• Debris and wind defacement, and
• Damaged shingles 

These are a few examples, but you can find other types of damage that are not related to hailstorms. 

Once the damage is determined, your Glendale roofing contractor will be able to provide an estimate and advise you on the next steps to have your roof repaired or replaced.

Is It Necessary To Repair Roof Hail Damage?

It can be challenging to determine whether hail damage to your roof is merely cosmetic or whether it could affect the performance of your roof. If hail damage is causing your roofing system to leak, this is a performance issue that needs to be fixed right away to avoid major water damage to your home.

If hail damage has created granule loss on your roof, it may affect the shingle’s performance and its aesthetics. Granules on shingles protect the asphalt from UV light degradation caused by sunlight. While you may not notice a leak right away, shingles that have lost granules are more likely to fail prematurely.

How To Handle Hail Damage Claims

Before hiring a contractor, always get references, read reviews, and compare estimates. It’s also a good idea to double-check insurance and licensing certificates.

Notify your insurance company about the damage. Some companies offer mobile apps and online tools to simplify the filing process.

Depending on the case, you may benefit from the Goodyear roofing company. For example, the contractor may agree to collaborate with your insurance company. In that case, ensure you understand exactly what each will do and what steps you must take.

Is Insurance Coverage Available For Roof Hail Damage?

Although most insurance policies cover hail damage, it’s best to thoroughly review your policy, especially if you live in an area that frequently experiences hailstorms. Some of the most common conditions associated with hail-related insurance claims are:

• Homeowners typically have one year to file a claim.
• Before the insurance company pays its share, most policies require a deductible payment.
• Filing a claim may increase your premium rates.

Hire A Roofing Contractor On Time

Remember to contact a roofing company if your roof has suffered severe damage, especially after a hailstorm. At Canyon State Roofing, we can do our best to ensure your roof is as new as it was before any damage. We can also perform any roofing project, including roofing installation and re-roofing. Contact us!