If your location has just recently experienced a hail storm, you might see apparent indications of damage, like pings on your car and dents in your siding. Yet hail could additionally create significant damage to the roof of the building which is often not obvious. Annually, Americans spend about $1 billion for fixing hail storm damage, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Naturally dangerous and not always visually obvious, hail storm damages may reduce the life expectancy of your roof covering. A significant part of roofs struck by hail storm never get substituted, because homeowners don’t see the damages. Yet if the damages exist, your insurance company will probably pay to replace your entire roofing, rain gutters as well as siding, provided it’s properly inspected and that you act rapidly to guarantee your case is filed within their claim period for storm-related roof damage.
Hail Damage: What to Look For
Insurance appraisers will require the point of view of an expert roofing contractor prior to their accepting of the roofing repair or replacement. However, there are some typical places where you can find the hailstorm damage. Keep in mind to be attentive and if you suppose that your roof is damaged, call a skilled expert for confirmation.
Hail Size
The damages depend on the size of the hailed that fell, and so maybe less or more obvious.
< 1 inch: Hail with a size of less than 1 inch could cause damage to asphalt roofing and may be very difficult to recognize. An experienced roof inspector can accurately identify any hailstorm damage.
1– 2 inches: If the size is between 1 and 2 inches, or looks like an egg, hail damages should be extra easily located on the asphalt shingles themselves in addition to any kind of soft steel on the roof.
>2 inches: Any hail storm above 2 inches will almost always trigger some level of hail storm damage to an asphalt roof. Contact your preferred professional roofer for a complete evaluation of problems and notify the insurer.
Roof Areas That Are At Risk
Examine these areas on your roof for prompt signs of hailstorm damage:
Soft metal: Check roofing system vents, flashing, skylights, metal valleys as well as any other soft metal on the roof. Damage in those areas will not only tell you about recent hail but also its size.
Ridges: Ridges are more at risk during the hail falling down, no matter which direction the hailstorm came.
Shingles: Check not only the interior of the specific roof shingle but also the sides where it is weak.
Indicators of Hail Damage
Missing shingle granules: Check for missing granules that have actually exposed the substrate, or black layer below them. The exposed substrate must look fresh, otherwise, it means it has been in the sunlight for an extended amount of time. This will certainly indicate new hail storm damages rather than anything prior to it.
Bruising: Stroke your hand over some roof shingles and feel for dimples or indentations in them. These are the signs of hail storm hits. If you feel something soft and squishy like a bruised tomato while pressing your thumb against the indentation – the shingle may fail prematurely over time
Circular cracking: When large enough, hailstones could trigger circular splitting around the hit itself in a half-moon or full-circle form. This type of breaking indicates bigger hail and a shingle that has been harmed through to the fiberglass matting, which can make it highly at risk of water penetration.
Finding the Right Roofing Contractor
It’s essential to select a professional roofing service provider that has a comprehensive understanding of the claims process, exactly what is covered and excluded, and the best ways to help you avoid spending more than your deductible out-of-pocket. Also, you want to be sure your roofer is not a “storm chaser”, as well as works for a recognized company in your location and can give recommendations and written reports. A professional with extensive experience in identifying and repairing storm-damaged roofs will also make sure that every little thing on your insurance policy claim is accurately and clearly identified as legitimate hail damages so that you will protect yourself from insurance coverage fraud and as well as its heavy penalties.