Dealing With Roofing Hail Damage

When there has been a severe summer hail storm, most people are initially concerned with their vehicles and assessing what kind of shape they are in. While the cars are certainly important, checking in on your home's roofing is just as important. Here is what you need to know.

Look For Hail Damage On Your Roof

Grab a ladder and climb up on your roof. If you don't feel comfortable with this, you can either use binoculars or call a roofing contractor to come and do the inspection for you. First, look for any areas with missing shingles. In addition to hail and rain, severe summer thunderstorms often show up with severe winds. Carefully inspect the shingles that are in place. If the textured granules are gone and only the black substrate remains, this constitutes damage. If the roof is asphalt, check for any cracks. With metal roofs, it's usually pretty obvious if there has been hail damage from all the divots left behind. Inspect your roof's metal flashing, valleys, ridge vents, and ridge caps for any wind or hail damage. This will likely appear as small dings.

Why Is Hail Damage On Your Roof A Problem?

You may not think a few shingles or missing granules or some unsightly divots on your roof are a big deal, and they won't be for a while, but eventually they are going to cause problems. Over time, rain will pool in those divots. The rain will continue to erode the shingles, except for now it will be at an accelerated rate. Ridge caps are important to the integrity of your roof as they prevent water from getting in the underlayment, and if they are damaged, they can't do their job.

Does Homeowner's Insurance Cover Hail Damage?

Most homeowner insurance policies from companies like Skipton Claims Management will cover any hail damage you have to your home, whether it's to the roof, siding, windows, or some other component of your home. If you suspect your home has suffered hail damage, it is imperative you contact your insurance company immediately. You should do this even before you call a contractor. Many unscrupulous contractors are storm chasers. These are people who swarm an area they know has suffered recent damage. They swoop in and prey on unsuspecting homeowners, promising the world in inexpensive, quick repairs and delivering shoddy workmanship — if at all. Your insurance agency will let you know who they prefer to work with.