Hail Damage
Hail storm roof damage can sneak up on homeowners
The byproduct of high moisture content and freezing cloud layers, hail can be one of the biggest threats to your roof during the spring and fall — and maybe even during the summer, too. Sometimes forming into stones are large and dense as softballs, hail can severely damage your roof, your car, other valuables—and threatens the safety of anyone caught outside during a storm.
One of the reasons hail can be so troublesome for homeowners is that the true extent of hail damage isn’t always seen right away. In fact, it often doesn’t surface until several more storms have come and gone. This delayed effect of hail damage becomes a serious nuisance, as many insurance companies have a limit on how long they will accept hail claims. If you don’t notice hail damage quickly enough, you often have to cover the costs without any assistance.
Knowing how to prepare for and prevent hail damage to shingles, flashing and other parts of your roofing system can be the key to prolonging the life of your roof and keeping your home and your family safe.
Factors that can impact wind and hail damage to roofs
While large hailstones are the most obvious contributor, there are a few more factors that can affect hail storm roof damage that you should keep in mind:
- Wind. The speed and direction of the wind can greatly increase damage to your roof caused by hail. A small hailstone on its own may not cause much damage, but put a powerful wind behind it and you may have some trouble.
- Size, density and shape. Some hailstones are large but light, which are unlikely to cause a lot of damage. However, dense and irregularly shaped hailstones have the potential to puncture old and decaying roofing materials.
- Age and quality of roofing materials. Asphalt shingles are typically better at absorbing the impact of hailstones, whereas cedar shakes can crack and splinter from the impact. The older your roof, the less likely it will be able to withstand the pressure of an aggressive hailstorm, regardless of material.
Read More: Your home is subject to roof damage year-round: Here’s what you can do
Signs of hail storm roof damage
Like most other forms of roof damage, hail storm roof damage really becomes a problem once water from subsequent storms begins to seep into your roof and infiltrate your home, causing mold growth, structural issues, wet walls and leaks. These problems can be easily avoided if you check your roof after storms and get the jump on possible hail damage to shingles before the trouble begins.
Some of the more common hail damage signs include:
- Dents on metal flashing
- Accumulation of granules in valleys and downspouts
- Dented, bruised or cracked shingles
- Loosened seals between shingles
If these signs of hail damage are not addressed, they can cause serious problems down the line for your home and your family.
Read More: I suffered storm damage to my roof. What should I do next?
How to get a hail resistant roof
Securing an entirely hail proof roof is a pretty tall order, so the best thing you can do to protect your roof against these falling granules of ice is to use roofing material of the highest caliber. By using materials specifically engineered to withstand even strong hail storms, your roof can have its best chance for survival.
On top of a sturdy, high quality roof, there are some other precautions homeowners can take to prevent potential hail damage throughout the year. Making sure to prune back trees near your roof can help prevent hail damage to shingles, as broken-off tree limbs and excess debris caused by wind and storms can also contribute to roof damage.
Read More: How to tell when you need a roof replacement
It’s what you don’t see that often matters the most
Thanks to our long-standing record of expert installation and commitment to quality, Long Roofing® has earned the SELECT ShingleMaster™ roof replacement accreditation — a special distinction that’s given to less than 1% of roofing professionals across the country.
We’re proud to offer the CertainTeed Integrity Roof System® on all our roofs. Some top features of this top-notch roofing system include:
- Winterguard waterproof underlayment
- Roofer’s Select or Diamond Deck high-performance underlayment layers
- CertainTeed shingles
- Installation of ridge vents, hip and ridge caps, drip edge, new metal flashing and specified intake venting
Read More: Does insurance pay for a new roof?
Don’t let hail heighten your stress — we’ve got you covered
Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a 100% hail resistant roof—even the best materials may not hold up against several monster hail storms. That’s why with any roof replacement we perform, we also cover any future labor and materials that may be required with our SureStart PLUS five-star, transferable, 50-year warranty.
Quality that shows year after year
With more than 75 years of experience, we’ve become a trusted name in the home improvement space. Our 4.6-out-of-5-star rating on GuildQuality based on over 5,000 reviews has earned us the coveted Guildmaster award and the respect of our customers.
As you inspect your roof after strong storms, don’t hesitate to give us a call if you notice hail damage to shingles or other parts of your roof. Visit us online to schedule your roof replacement today.
