Hail can be extremely damaging to a roof, in more than obvious ways.
Many times, homeowners do not even realize they need hail damage roofing repair until it is too late.
To prevent that, this brief primer on how this damage occurs and when to seek hail damage roof repair services should help homeowners understand what can happen and when to seek hail damage roofing repair services from roofing professionals.
Hail Is Unpredictable
Hail damage roof repair services advise that the first thing that homeowners should understand about roofing hail damage is that hail is unpredictable, so the damage it can cause is equally so.
The basic cause of different degrees of hail damage is impact, which can affect shingles in a variety of ways.
Small hail may bounce right off, but once hail is ½” to 1 inch in diameter, it can be much more damaging.
Hail that is 2” or greater in diameter can destroy a roof by causing widespread damage over the whole installation.
What Is Common Hail Damage?
Dents and divots on the shingles are a common type of hail damage caused by larger hail.
Per hail damage roofing repair services, dark spots and areas where the granules are broken off are another type.
Dinged flashing is another sign that hail has potentially damaged the roofing materials.
Broken-off granules collected in the gutters after a storm is yet one more suggestion that hail damage repair may be necessary.
Can There Be Hidden Damage?
None of these obvious symptoms are the most common type of damage that requires extensive hail damage roofing repair, as that tends to be impacts that leave hidden damage on the underside of the shingle.
Shingles that have been pelted with larger hail, even if not displaying any obvious signs of damage on the top, are frequently seriously damaged on the underside with cracks through the shingle materials.
These hidden cracks can result in a fast deterioration of the whole roof due to leaks and other water damage.
Inspect Roofs for Hail Damage After A Storm
Based on the different ways that hail damage can occur per hail damage roofing repair services and considering that not all of it is obvious to the untrained eye, seeking hail damage services in the form of a post-storm roofing inspection is recommended.
While small hail is unlikely to cause a major problem, hail damage roof repair services know that much of the damage may not be visible to the homeowner.
Unless this damage is detected in a timely manner before it can lead to other, long-term damage, homeowners insurance claims for hail damage repair may be rejected.
In Summary
So, the next time a hailstorm blows through, homeowners should do a little detective work.
Note the size of the hail, then look for the damage it is likely to cause.
Look to the shingles to detect surface damage from small hail and call a hail damage roofing repair service to check for other damage from larger hail.
That contractor will make the best repair recommendation based on the degree of damage present.