In 2022, Texas experienced more severe hail events than other state. As a homeowner, you need to know how to identify the signs of hail damage so that you can take care of them as soon as possible.
If left unchecked, hail damage to your roof can have a number of nasty effects, including:
- Roof leaks
- Structural weakness
- Saturated insulation
- Easy entry points for animals
For all these reasons, it’s important to get a professional inspection as soon as you suspect hail damage and submit a claim for your insurance adjusters to review.
Not sure what to look for as signs of hail damage? Keep reading to learn the signs of significant damage caused by hail.
1. Black Spots on Shingles
One of the most tell-tale signs of hail damage to your roof shingles is the appearance of black spots throughout your entire roof. These black spots are caused by the removal of shingle granules, leaving the lower layers of your shingles exposed to the elements.
Severe damage from hail can even appear as entire bald spots on your roof. This is when the upper layer of the shingle has been worn away, and the underlayers or the felt are completely exposed.
You or your roofing contractor should mark all these sites of impact to submit as proof of damage to your insurance company.
2. Missing Shingle Granules
While the damage on your roof might not be so extensive that it causes entire black spots on your shingles, you might find that a few shingles are missing some of their granules. It might not seem like a big deal, but even this kind of damage will reduce your shingles’ ability to protect your home from moisture.
In the days and weeks after inclement weather, if you find more shingle granules than normal in your yard, on your driveway, or washing down through your gutters, consider getting your roof checked for hail damage, even if you can’t see any signs of damage on your own.
Be aware that old shingle roofs will shed protective granules even if they haven’t experienced impact damage. However, it’s still a sign that you need to get your current roofing materials replaced— and soon.
3. Broken or Cracked Shingles or Tiles
When hail impacts your roof with enough force, it can cause shingles, shakes, and tiles to crack or split. Asphalt, wood, and clay are all particularly prone to this kind of damage.
In the wake of a severe storm, check your roof thoroughly for misshapen, torn, cracked, and missing shingles or tiles.
4. Bruised Shingles
Roof damage is best assessed up close because there are some significant forms of damage that aren’t noticeable from just a quick glance.
For example, shingles may become bruised after withstanding a hail storm. In the areas where hailstones connect with your roof, the integrity of your shingles may become compromised, leading to soft, squishy spots where the shingles should be rigid and firm.
This usually only happens with asphalt shingles; other materials are more likely to split or crack than to develop bruises.
5. Dented Roofing Materials
With all this talk of the damage that hail inflicts on asphalt shingles, you might be wondering, “Does hail damage affect metal roofs, too?” Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Hail impact can cause dents to appear across your whole roof when it’s covered with metal. While metal roofs’ high impact ratings mean that this shouldn’t happen for most minor hailstorms, extremely high wind speeds can still cause the hail to fall with enough force to inflict damage on your roof.
Asphalt shingles can also develop dents caused by hail damage.
6. Denting on Auxiliary Portions of Roof
Your shingles, shakes, and metal panels aren’t the only materials you have to worry about when it comes to hail damage on your roof. Your roof flashing, chimney covers, skylights, and vents can also receive damage from falling hail.
Check for dents, torn or missing materials, and broken glass on all of these roof fixtures.
7. Missing Portions of Your Roof
Finally, severe hail damage can lead to parts of your roof coming off completely. Parts of your roof with missing shingles, shakes, and metal panels should be covered immediately, then repaired as soon as you can get a contractor to come to fix your roof.
What to Do When You Have Hail Damage on Your Roof
The best thing you can do to protect your roof from hail damage is to have a plan in place. After a hailstorm, be sure to do the following:
- Submit a claim to your insurance company right away. Document the date and time of the damage-causing event and mark down any other relevant details. As we mentioned earlier, clearly mark out any spots on your roof that show undeniable signs of hail damage.
- Call a roofing contractor to perform a detailed inspection of your roof. Have them take note of the hail-caused damage with both a written report and supporting photo documentation. Ask them to create a detailed estimate for the repair costs.
- Make note of the impact resistance rating of your roofing material, if any. Not only may this give you a discount on your monthly insurance premiums, but it also may help your insurance claim if your roofing sustained damage despite being impact resistant.
When your insurance company sends a representative to assess the damage to your roof, provide any additional materials they ask for, including the repair recommendations and quoted costs from your contractor. Once your claim is approved, schedule a repair date with your contractor, and you’re on your way to getting your roof problems solved!
Let Bondoc Roofing Help You With Storm Damage
Hail damage on your roof is no joke. Keep these seven signs in mind when you’re deciding whether you need roof repair in the future.
Here in South Texas, we’re no strangers to the toll that storms can take on your roof. When Mother Nature decides to wreak havoc, give Bondoc Roofing a call. We’ll send a Roofing Advisor to you, and with our 17-point professional roof inspection, they’ll take note of all seen and unseen damage and use this information to help you get the insurance claims you deserve.
Ready to work with the best roofing contractor San Antonio has to offer? Reach out today to get started!
