What Should You Do if You Think Your Roof Has Hail Damage?

During a hail storm, certain parts of your home are at greater risk of damage, including the roof. Several factors can affect how severe hail can harm your property. Some issues are easy to find, while others don’t show signs until water leaks inside more important parts of your property, like your living space. Get an inspection with a reputable roofing contractor following a storm to find and repair any problems early.

Here are steps to take if you believe hail has damaged your roof.

Factors Affecting the Severity of Hail Damage

Size of the Hailstones

The larger the hailstones are, the more likely they are to cause damage to your roof. Some are as tiny as a pebble, while others can be as large as a baseball. Usually, hailstones have textured edges, affecting how widespread the damage they can inflict on building materials. 

Wind

Wind direction and speeds largely vary during hailstorms. How badly hail can damage your roof and the rest of your property can also depend on changes in weather and wind conditions. 

Your Roof’s Material

A roof’s resistance to hail damage largely depends on its material. How your roofing contractor installed it can also affect its weather resistance. For instance, hailstones can cause dents to form on aluminum gutters and siding. They can cause vinyl siding and wood shakes to crack. When strong or fast enough, even small hailstones can severely damage shingles.

Obstructions near Your Roof

Are there trees near your property? Their position has an impact on how severe hail can damage your roof. Hailstones and high winds can cause debris to land on shingles and potentially scratch or puncture them. It’s the same for barriers around your property, such as fences, outdoor decor, and other nearby structures. 

Signs Your Roof Has Hail Damage

After a hailstorm, it’s essential to get a professional inspection on your property by a roofing contractor to determine if a roof repair is necessary. Dents and scratches on vehicles and damage on air conditioners and outdoor decors are common indications of hail damage on your property. Keep in mind that hailstones can fall in random patterns. Just because a neighboring property doesn’t have damaged roofs, it doesn’t mean yours also doesn’t. 

In asphalt shingle roofs, bruises, round black spots and tiny divots are typical signs of hail damage. Contact a professional immediately if you notice a significant amount of shingle granules in your gutters and on the ground. Your roofer can assess the affected shingles and reapply their adhesives if necessary. They will also check other system components on your property such as vents, flashing, gutters, skylights and chimney caps. 

What to Do if Hail Damaged Your Roof

Assess the Damage of Your Roof

Once it’s safe to go outside, walk around your property and look for hailstones on the ground. Capture photos of them and place the biggest one you can find inside the freezer. It’s also a good idea to check your yard for fallen shingle granules. 

As you look for shingle granules, inspect your gutters for dents and visible signs of damage. Shingles have granules embedded in them during production for protection against the sun and other outdoor elements. Once they lose these sediments, their appearance will change, and their performance will be compromised. Granule loss can also make shingles more susceptible to early failure. 

Speak to a Professional Roofer

Another reason to contact a reliable roofing contractor after a hailstorm is that not all signs of damage are apparent or something you can see until it has spread to other areas of your home. Proper damage assessment and repairs can help delay the need for a roof replacement. Professionals can tell if the damage on your roof is from the hailstorm or not. If they find any damage, they can give you an estimate and even assist in filing your insurance claim, if necessary. 

It’s not always easy to see if the damage on your roof will affect its performance or simply its appearance. Your roof’s efficiency can suffer if water has penetrated the system. If this is the case, you must deal with the issue as soon as possible to avoid water-related issues, such as mold growth and rot. Leaks can also affect your indoor air quality and comfort and reduce the lifespan of your roof.

File an Insurance Claim

Home insurance policies often cover hail damage. To be sure if yours does, read your policy carefully to know what it does and doesn’t include. Insurance companies often have conditions for filing weather damage claims. For instance, you might need to submit your claim within a year, or there might be a deductible payment before your insurer gives its compensation. Some areas have percent-based deductibles and issues that only concern the roof’s appearance may not be covered. Moreover, let your insurance provider know about your claim immediately.

With the assistance of reputable roofing contractors, roof replacement or repairs through your insurance adjuster doesn’t have to be a stressful or overwhelming experience. Before hiring a roofing contractor, do background checks, read reviews and get multiple repair estimates. At Deschutes Roofing, our team can guide you through your insurance claim process. We know the ins and outs of filing a claim and have replaced hundreds of roofs paid through homeowners insurance. Over the years, we have built good relationships with many local claim adjusters. We’re more than happy to answer all of your questions regarding the process. 

Adjusters are not as experienced in roofing damage as your roofing contractor. We can meet with your adjuster and point out the affected areas of your property. Many times, the damage would go unnoticed and homeowners won’t get compensated for the repairs. Fortunately, we’re here to help you avoid this scenario. 

What Can You Do to Avoid Hail Damage?

If there is a weather forecast of a storm, bring all outdoor furniture and decor inside your garage or shed. These items can get carried by high winds and damage your home or roof. Keeping them inside will also protect them from large or high-speed hailstones. 

Do you live in an area that’s prone to hailstorms? If so, it would pay to invest in a roofing material with excellent impact resistance. Class 4, impact-resistant shingle tiles are great at withstanding damage from hail and windborne debris. Depending on your insurer, they might even help you get a discount on your homeowners’ insurance. 

Reliable roof repair and replacement service are things you can always expect from Deschutes Roofing.

Call us at (541) 241-5720 (Bend), (503) 967-9590 (Portland), (541) 246-6860 (Eugene), (503) 468-7663 (Lake Oswego) or (503) 928-8750 (Beaverton). You may also fill out our contact form to get a free estimate.