How To Inspect Your Roof For Hail Damage
If you suspect hail damage to a commercial or residential roof then you will want to inspect the roof following a hail storm. But, before you grab your ladder to inspect your roof for hail damage, there are a few things you should know. We have written this quick guide to equip you with a basic understanding of what to look for when inspecting your roof for hail damage.
Here are a few quick tips before we get started
- Regular Roof Inspections: If you are willing to venture onto your roof every spring, for an annual roof inspection, you should look for any changes since the previous inspection and detect any potential issues before they become serious.
- Always call a qualified roofing inspector: If you spot a potential issue during your annual roof checkup or suspect any wind or hail damage following a severe storm, you should always contact a qualified roofing inspector. Many roofing contractors specialize in insurance restoration and offer free inspections. A trained professional can discover hidden damages, separate recognize hail damage from natural wear, and educate you on your findings, making further recommendations concerning a repair or contacting the insurance company, if necessary.
- Be Careful: If you are not comfortable with climbing onto your roof for any reason you should not hesitate to call a roofing professional. The investment is well worth the time and will give you an accurate assessment of your roof’s condition.
When it comes to roof hail damage, size matters
If you are able to observe the size of the hail during a hail storm it can suggest the type of roof damage you can expect to find.
- Less Than 1 Inch: When smaller than an inch, or about the size of a quarter, hail can inflict serious damage to an asphalt roof but can make identifying the damage difficult Most often though a hail damaged roof at this size can be more difficult to identify. You may require the assistance of a trained roofing inspector to accurately identify any specific hail damage.
- 1 Inch – 2 Inch: If the hail size is between 1 and 2 inches, or between a quarter and egg size, the hail damage should be more easily found on the asphalt shingles themselves, as well as any soft metal on the roof.
- Greater Than 2 Inches: Hail greater than 2 inches will usually create some level of hail damage, especially to an asphalt roof. If this is the case, contact your preferred roofing contractor for a full assessment of the damages and notify the your insurance company.
Inspecting Hail Damage on an Asphalt Roof
When inspecting an asphalt roof for hail damage note these susceptible areas first:
- Soft Metal: Any area of your roof with soft metal should be inspected first. Areas like roof vents, skylights, flashing, metal valleys and any other soft metals on the roof should be inspected thoroughly. Soft metal damage will not only show signs of hail, but also indicate the size of the hail that caused the roof damage.
Ridges: The peak of a ridge or ridge cap, will take a direct hit from hail as opposed to the glancing blows received on the main pitched roof slopes. Due to their location, ridges are more susceptible to hail damage regardless of the direction from which the hailstorm hail storm came.- Shingles: You also need to look at the shingles themselves. Check the interior of an individual shingle, but also as well as, the edges where it is weak.
3 Primary Types of Hail Damage on Asphalt Shingles
There are three main signs that indicate a hail damaged roof, which include missing granules, bruising and circular cracking. With a basic understanding of each, it will help you to accurately identify the severity any hail damage.
- Missing Granules: Check for missing granules that have exposed the substrate, or the black layer underneath them. The An exposed substrate should look fresh, or and not as if it has been exposed to the sun for an extended period of time. This will indicate new hail damage rather than a preexisting condition.
- Bruising: Another indicator of hail damage is to run your hand over an individual shingle and feel for dimples or indentations. You should also press your thumb against the any indentations found and note if there is a soft spongy feel, like a bruised tomato. This bruising may be hidden, but will cause the shingle to fail prematurely over time.
- Circular Cracking: Larger hailstones can cause circular cracking around the hit itself in a half-moon or full circle shape. This sort of cracking indicates a shingle that has been damaged through to the fiberglass matting, making it highly susceptible to water penetration.
Hail Damage Roofing Professionals
We are the hail damage roofing experts and our inspectors have the the experience and training to take care of all your roofing needs. Contact us today to get more information about roof hail damage and to receive a free roofing quote to repair or replace your hail-damaged roof.
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