When hail comes your way, get your roof done the Proway!
Proway Exteriors is here to help you understand the importance of getting your home back in shape after a storm. Check out some key points of hail damage and how they can effect you.
What is Hail Damage?
In many parts of the US, hailstorms are a way of life. For many homeowners it's not a question of whether a hailstorm will hit, but when damaging hail will hit. Many areas in the U.S. receive hail six or more times a year and many homes are damaged every year. By definition, hail damage is any damage resulting from hailstones and hailstorms. Hailstones that are 0.75 inches or greater are large enough to cause substantial damage to homes, automobiles & property. For comparison, 0.75 inches is the diameter of a penny.
How to Identify Hail Damage?
You may think that just because you can't see any signs of damage, or because your roof isn't leaking, you don't have damage. Remember, hail damage can be particularly difficult to identify and many homeowners discover major roofing damage years down the road, after it's too late to file a storm damage claim with their insurance company. If you have any reason to suspect hail damage after a storm, you should have a full property damage inspection performed by a reputable contractor, right away.
HAIL DAMAGE
Roof Hail Damage
Roofs are the most commonly damaged part of a home or business in hailstorms. A damaged shingle may allow water to seep through the roof causing additional damage to the roof deck, support structure, interior walls, or windows, and can cause leaking, staining on walls and flooding inside your home. Leaking roofs lead to costly damages and many insurance policies have strict time limits on submitting claims after hailstorms, so it's in your best interest to act fast after hailstorms and start the repairs process, if necessary.Asphalt Shingle Damage: On an asphalt roof, hail damage looks like a dark spot, or bruise, where the roofing granules have been knocked away (look in gutters for accumulation of granules). In some cases you may find holes, cracking, or missing shingles on roofs with hail damage. This can result in leaking and serious water damage, which can lead to mold formation and wood rot, which can compromise the structural integrity of your roof resulting in collapse. In severe wind storms, it is common for shingles or sections of the roof to be missing altogether.
Other Types of Shingle Damage:
Shake (wood), metal, tile, and slate roof shingles can all suffer damage from hailstorms. Due to the materials, each type of shingle shows unique signs of damage from hail. If shingles are cracked, missing, torn or split at seams, you should definitely have a damage inspection performed. Similarly, if you notice leaking inside your home after a hailstorm, get an inspection.