Hail Roof Damages That Homeowners Could Spot

Damage might be easy to spot or difficult to locate, depending on the size of the hail. Look for pock marks in asphalt or cedar shake shingles and dents on gutters, skylights, roof vents, and the chimney cover. Also, look for dents and dings on the house siding, window casings, and sills. If a home experiences significant hail damage in these areas, the roof probably experiences similar damage.

Siding

Although a hail damaged roof is the primary concern, homeowners should also look for siding damage. If left unattended, this damage may result in moisture accumulation and subsequent water damage. When evaluating a home’s value, it is essential to look for siding damage since it can decrease the property’s overall value. It is common to see hail damage to gutters, shingles, roof vents, and other home exterior features. These areas can be easier to spot than a dented roof shingle since they are more visible. Homeowner’s insurance often covers siding repair. Still, it’s essential to have a professional assess the damage to see whether the cost of the repairs will be less than or equal to your homeowner’s insurance deductible. Look for dents, creases, chipped paint, and cracking in siding materials like wood, vinyl, and metal. If you cannot inspect the siding with direct sunlight, a flashlight, and some white chalk can help reveal hard-to-see damage.

Window Sills

You should examine the roof more closely if you notice hail impact marks on the exterior of your property. First, check the gutters and downspouts for dents. A heavily dented gutter indicates that the shingles were hit by severe hail. Next, look at the siding, windowsills/casings, and outdoor air conditioning units for dents. The shingles will likely need professional repair or replacement if these items suffer damage. Also, look at the bushes and flowers for dings and pitting in the foliage. These indicate that the branches and leaves were also impacted by hail. Finally, inspect any metal surfaces for dents, such as the chimney cover, roof vents, and fascia. You can use a stick of chalk laid flat on the surface to find more subtle dents. You should also check any satellite dishes for dents, spatter marks, and broken/missing components. If you find any signs of hail damage, contact roofers near me immediately.

Gutters

When shingles are damaged, it can lead to water leaks in the home. In addition, the damage can cause cracking and fractures that expose the underlying materials to water. A high-impact hailstorm will damage a home in many places, including gutters and downspouts, roof vents, skylights, wood siding, windowsills/casings, etc. After any hailstorm, conducting an elevated examination of your home’s exterior is a good idea to check for the following: Look for dents or marks on the shingles. These are usually black and not arranged in a pattern. These are signs of hail bruising or impact marks on the shingle surface and can indicate granule loss. The granules are the protective coating of the shingle that gets knocked off during a hail storm. If many granules are in the gutter or downspout, that is a sign that hail has impacted your shingles. The granules indicate that the shingles are not functional and need repair.

Shingles

If the shingles are impacted by hail, you will most likely see dents and dimples. The dents should not be too deep as that could cause the shingle to become damaged or even break apart. Also, look for bare spots in the shingle’s asphalt, which may expose the black substrate underneath. It is another sign that the shingle is compromised and will probably need to be replaced. Examine your gutters and roof accessories for dents as well. The dents may result from hail hitting these metal components, but they can also be from other weather or even normal aging of the shingles. Check for clean spots on other hard surfaces, such as the exterior of your home’s metal electrical panels, the HVAC condensing unit fins, and wooden siding. These clean spots result from hail hitting these surfaces and cleaning away the discoloration, leaving a spatter mark indicating the hail’s direction.