The Aftermath of a Hail Damaged Roof Can Be Gruesome
A trained professional is your best bet for identifying hail damage on your roof, which can be as small as a pea or as large as a softball. These divots may appear as shiny spots on shingles and may only be visible from a certain angle.
Once you have established that your roof has sustained hail damage, you need to get it taken care of right away. Skilled roofers and even some general contractors can replace sections of your roof that have been damaged, and they can help you determine if replacing the entire roof might be a safer, more economical option in the long run.
Other than being unattractive, hail damage can have a lot of negative effects on your roof. That’s why it’s important to take care of the damage right away. Asphalt shingle roofs tend to be affected the most drastically. Hail damage can do all of the following to your shingle roof:
- Granules are lost – Granules will run off into your gutters and into your lawn or plant beds. In addition, the shingles are less effective at protecting your home once the granules are gone.
- Entire shingles are lost – This allows water, pests, mold and other unwanted things into your home. If entire shingles are torn from your roof, it’s imperative that they are replaced right away.
- The manufacturer’s warranty is voided – Once this happens, you have no protection against material defects. Keep your warranty up to date by choosing a preferred installer to do your roof repair or replacement.
Shingle roofs aren’t the only ones affected by hail. Hail can completely destroy a sheet metal roof, making it necessary to replace the entire thing rather than just repairing damaged sections. Even slate, clay, or wood roofs can be affected if the conditions are just right.
Here are the steps to take if you or a licensed professional has identified hail damage on your residential roof:
- Call the insurance company. They will come out and do an estimate of the damage. The adjuster will inspect everything from your roof to the gutters and even windows and siding, just to be sure that there is no other damage to be repaired.
- Get in touch with the roofer who did your initial assessment (if you had one) and set up an appointment to have your roof repaired as soon as possible.
Any professional roofer will understand that you don’t have control over when the insurance company will return your claim, so they shouldn’t bug you about a down payment or a deposit. The only time a deposit may be required is when the contractor has to special order expensive and/or non-returnable materials for your roof repair or replacement.
Above All Construction is a fully licensed, insured roofing contractor, and we are always willing to help customers in crisis! If you have had hail damage to your roof lately, we recommend that you stay calm and call a professional roofer to carry out your repairs!