Well unless you are an incredibly sound sleeper you know that we had our first hailstorm in a while roll through the area the other night. Have you ever wondered what roofing contractors look for to determine if your roof has been damaged? It is not as easy as you think.
Many severe hailstorms leave obvious damage in the form of broken and torn shingles and then it is simple case for the insurance company, roofing contractor and homeowner working together to repair the damage. However, often times hail damage can be difficult to detect on every roofing system. Sometimes the damage is not visible from above but the internal or underlying membranes could be compromised. Typically, the use of magnifying instruments or microscopic analysis are used determine if your roof has suffered damage. This can be especially true with low angle or built up roofing systems. Asphalt shingles tend to be the most susceptible to hail damage.
To assess for hail damage on your roof you should always call in a roofing professional but if you want to do a preliminary check here is what to look for:
1) Note the size of the hail during the storm. Anything approaching an inch most likely can cause damage. If you were not home during the storm check your metal flashing for the size of the indents. This will give you a good indication of the size of the hailstones.
2) Check for shingle granules in your gutters and near your downspouts. Significant accumulation is another indicator your roof may have suffered.
3) Roof indentations are obvious but you can also feel for soft spots and indentations. Look for bruises and if they feel squishy it could be hail damage.
Hail damage is not something to mess around with. Have your roof checked by a licensed contractor. If you do have hail damage you will be glad you did. Unrepaired roofs can lead to catastrophic repairs in the form of leaks later on. Your insurance company would much rather pay for a roof than a roof AND a remodel job!
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