Unfortunately, roof damage is not something you can prevent when it comes to hail. However, you can learn how to identify it and what to do when you find it.
Sometimes, after a hailstorm, it can be obvious where the repairs are needed, but knowing what to look for in order to assess the impact of any roof storm damage can be helpful.
Signs of Hail-Related Roof Damage
The effects of hail storm damage on a roof can depend on many different factors, including the size of the hail, the age of the roof, and the roofing material used. Determining the specific types of damage will help you know if the repairs needed will be cosmetic or more extensive. Following are 10 common indicators of a hail-damaged roof:
1. Granules coming loose. If you are inspecting a hail-damaged roof closely, you may find that the granules on the surface of the shingles are coming loose or missing. While this may seem small, the quality of the shingle has been compromised and small impacts such as this can cause leaks. These are details to note and take pictures of when filing an insurance claim and quoting contractors about repairs.
2. Black colored dots. Colored dents or dots are a common indicator of hail damage to shingles. These are important to replace to prevent water from pooling on the roof.
3. Split shingles. Split, cracked, or raised shingles suffering hail damage will lead to massive water damage.
4. Impact marks or dents. A common identifier of hail damage to shingles is what seemingly looks like random dents or dings. If these marks look as though they appear in no similar pattern, it is most likely a hail-damaged roof.
5. Cracks in the shingles. After a severe storm, the high winds and hard hail impacts can cause the shingles to crack. This issue is more obvious to spot however, it is important to note that a cracked shingle on a hail-damaged roof will not be able to sufficiently protect your house from the weather, as it exposes tears leaving the roof with bare spots.
6. Bruised shingles. As a common sign of hail damage, bruised shingles can often be identified by touch. You will know a shingle is bruised if it feels soft. To determine, press down gently and see if there is any give. This is a key indicator that the shingle has started to deteriorate.
7. Missing or loose shingles. Of course, if there are obvious shingles that have blown off during a storm this would be a strong indicator of major hail damage. Look for any shingles that are easily pulled off or flapping in the wind and about to break off.
8. Weakened self-seal strip. During a storm, the high winds and hail can cause the seal of a shingle to weaken, which is what leads to it blowing off the roof. Although shingles may still be intact, without a strong self-seal strip the integrity of the shingles will be compromised. This can lead to exposed elements or cause other shingles to tear. Contacting a roofing professional to assess the impacts will increase the likelihood of identifying these subtle but significant damaged areas.
9. Exposed or fractured fiberglass mat. Hail damage to shingles will cause the fiberglass mat underneath to break away and shatter the surfacing. Any exposed underlying roof material can be a strong indicator of hail damage.
10. Damage to gutters, siding, and air conditioners. Sometimes, you'll be able to tell that your roof has suffered hail damage without ever stepping foot on the surface. Dents in the gutters or downspouts, dents or dings on siding or windowsills, and damage to air conditioners or other outdoor areas with apparent hail damage can give you a pretty good idea that roof damage exists, too.
Repairing Roof Storm Damage
Not all shingle damage will require a full roof replacement. But when addressing hail damage, roof repair will protect the integrity of both your roof and home, preventing small impacts from turning into expensive problems. Some of the key indicators of hail damage can only be found with a trained professional who will assess the roof and provide insights into what specific repairs are needed.
If you are looking for a trusted company to help you determine
whether your roof has suffered hail damage, get
in touch with the Findlay Roofing team today. While we can't prevent
severe weather from impacting your roof, we're there to help when it does.
