on December 22, 2020 storm damage

Roof Inspection for Hail Damage

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After a hail storm, it’s critical to check for storm damage to roof shingles or panels. Hail is one of the biggest risks for roof damage, costing American homeowners $15 billion annually. It even leads to 40% of insurance claims.

What Does Hail Damage to Roof Systems Do to Your Home?

All kind of roofs are vulnerable to the effects of hail. Still, hail damage to roof shingles presents the most serious problems. Here are the most common issues you might encounter:

Granule Loss

Granules are the tiny, reflective features on the outermost surface of the shingle. Granule loss exposes the shingle’s asphalt coating to the elements, causing the shingle to age faster. Significant granule loss is often noticeable when you check your gutters after storms.

Cracked or Shattered Shingles

Cracks impair a shingle’s ability to protect your roof from rain. They also make it more likely the shingle will fall off in the future. Hail impacts can break a shingle away from the fiberglass matting underneath or even fracture the mat, which causes a web of cracks.

Weakened Shingle Seals

Hail can break the seal provided by shingle self-seal strips and leave affected shingles flapping in the wind. Roofing nails and other fasteners might also be affected. Ultimately, the shingle is likely to blow off, and should be replaced before it is lost.

Recognizing Signs of Hail Damage to Roof Surfaces

You can usually spot severe hail damage from the ground using binoculars. What about “minor” issues? Damage you can’t see can still compromise affected shingles and leave the roof as a whole in danger. If your gutters or downspouts are dented, odds are good your roof has been damaged, too.

Be sure to remove granules from gutters as soon as possible to unclog them and get them flowing.

If you notice signs of hail impact on your siding and deck, it’s a wise idea to get in touch with an Austin roofer. A hail damage roof inspection will get you on track for a roof repair before problems get worse.

Hail Damage to Roof by Hailstone Size

Even very small hailstones have the potential to damage a roof. Some roof systems are actually more vulnerable to smaller stones due to a greater potential for moisture intrusion beneath the shingle layer.

Let’s review what hail damage to roof shingles usually looks like by size:

¾” Hail

Small hailstones present danger to shingle granules. Gutters may be dented or dislodged, but major effects are usually on the surroundings, not on the roof itself: Vinyl siding, window screens, and decks.

1” Hail

Hail at this size can bruise shingle underlayment and cause substantial damage to gutters, potentially even knocking them off. At high wind speeds, the damage can be comparable to much larger stones.

1¼” Hail

Even when winds are calm, hail at this size has potential to cause severe cracking and tearing to roof shingles. Accompanied by high winds, it’s not unusual to have dozens of lost or compromised shingles.

Large Hail (1 ½” and Up)

Hail at this size can cause substantial damage in a short time by penetrating ridge caps, plastic roof vents, or any other soft spot. With high winds, siding can be completely torn off a home.

Most Hail Damage to Roof Systems Can Be Repaired

When storm damage is repaired fast, its effects are limited and the roof’s performance is restored. On the other hand, delaying repairs leaves the roof vulnerable to ongoing water damage to underlayment or structural elements. That can necessitate a complete roof replacement.

For advice from local experts, contact Longhorn Roofing today.

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