Hail Damage FAQs
After the storm, Apex Construction and Roofing has you covered. We’ll ensure your insurance claim contains all necessary elements needed to receive full coverage. Interested in learning more? Here are a few frequently asked questions about hail damage and how to keep your home’s foundation:
What Does Hail Damage Do to a Roof?
While minor damage can be difficult to spot with the naked eye, there are several factors that indicate can significant damage to your roof and can result in a full roof replacement or shingle repair. To properly identify damage, it is important to trust your roofing contractor in knowing what to look for.
Signs of Asphalt or Shingle Hail Damage
- Random damage or observable pattern on roof
- Hailstone hits that are black in color
- Soft to touch hail hits
- Loss of granules
- Cracks in shingles
- Exposed or fractured fiberglass mat
- Weakened self-seal strip
What Other Factors Contribute to Hail Damage?
Factors like roof slope can be a huge factor in the impact of hail damage to your roof. A steep roof is usually shielded on one side, stopping hailstones from ricocheting while accumulating the most damage from hail hits. The angle of your roof as well as wind pressure during the storm are also factors that can contribute to hail damage.
Other Risk Factors:
- The severity and length of the storm. Some hail storms pass through in a matter of seconds, while others stick around a little longer and do more damage.
- Hail Density. A light hailstorm generally won’t cause as much harm as one where hailstones are falling thick and fast.
- Roofing Materials. Asphalt roofing absorbs the impact of hail storms fairly well while wood and vinyl shingles frequently crack after a hail storm.
- Substandard Contractors. Bad construction is a huge factor in poor foundational damage to your roof over time.
Why Can't I Fix Hail Damages Myself?
It is important to call a trusted roofing contractor rather than take on the project of fixing your own roof after a hail storm. Not only is there the potential to cause more damage to your roof and spend more money than if you had filed a claim, but you may void your own homeowner’s warranty. Homeowners insurance policies cover all repairs and replacement if the damage is caused by nature. If you took on the task of repairing your roof, you might not be eligible for insurance. If you already have a policy and your insurance company finds out that you tried to fix your roof, your policy can be canceled, and you can also hurt yourself in the process.
What Size Hail Can Cause Roofing Damage?
The severity of roof damage due to hail storms can differ on the size of hailstone. After a hail storm, the size of the hail can be the easiest indicator as to what types of damage you may face. Understanding the various sizes of hail and how they affect your home is an important of our process in gathering the proper data for your insurance claim.
Hailstones can range in size from 3/4 of an inch to 2 inches or greater. Picture hail the size of a quarter – the impact of which could result in little to no damages but to the landscape of the home. A walnut or golf ball sized hailstone could mean a full roof replacement due to severe shingle damage.
What Happens When You Ignore Hail Damage?
When ignored or addressed too late, roof damage due to hail storms can quickly turn into leaks or ice dams. These eventually turn into mold damage, electrical issues, or rotting wood — all of which can be costly to fix. Once your roof is riddled with wood rot and mold, it can not only be hard to detect, but it can severely impact the foundation of the entire home and roof. It is important to be proactive about potential issues like these which can save you thousands of dollars and keep your home in great condition.
Don’t let hail damage ruin your home or your good standing with your insurance company. If you are unsure whether or not your home has significant damage, contact Apex Construction and Roofing today and let us take care of your worries. We will determine whether your roof damage qualifies for shingle repair or a full roof replacement.