It’s that time of year again! Yes, here comes the hail damage. Hail season in Colorado started April 15, and last year one storm alone caused $1.4 billion in destruction.
Fortunately, Paramount Siding and Windows in Denver is here to offer roofing services to address any damage that occurs as a result of a storm. If it’s a big one, we also have you covered for windows and siding as well. No matter the carnage, our experts will get your house back into shape.
After a bad storm, getting a roof inspection immediately is certainly a good idea. If there’s hail damage severe enough to need fixing, calling sooner rather than later will help prevent further issues.
Read on to learn what to look for once the hail hits.
A Note on Safety
If you decide to check out your roof for hail damage, it’s essential to understand that it’s very dangerous work, and whoever gets the task of making the climb up, must use extreme caution while doing so.
Instead of putting yourself in peril, the best way to inspect the roof is to call a roofing professional like the team at Paramount. We’re highly trained with years of experience and have insurance coverage in the case there’s ever an accident.
So, why risk it? Call us for a hail damage inspection and our knowledgeable roofers will come prepared to inspect your roof and make recommendations for any repairs needed. Your roof is essential, so take care of it properly with help from Paramount Siding and Windows.
On the Ground Hail Damage Inspection
If you’re still set on going the DIY route, there are a few spots that you can check out from the ground before heading up the ladder. Look for dented gutters, gutter protectors, and downspouts. If the gutters are dented, chances are that the roof is damaged too.
Check for any damage to the siding and windows, windowsills, and window casings. See if there is any damage to air conditions or other outdoor units. The AC unit, if damaged, may qualify for insurance compensation and replacement.
Do a thorough inspection of sheds, patios, porches, decks, patio covers, painted wood surfaces, and other surfaces around your property, looking especially for chipped paint and dents which may also be an indicator that the roof sustained some degree of hail damage.
Hail Damage Inspection for Shingled Roofs
Whoever heads up the ladder to check out the roof will need to wear soft-soled shoes or roofing boots, adhering to safety precautions during the roof inspection. Bring some chalk too, as this will help mark and uncover hidden hail damage on the roof. Sliding the chalk along the surface may reveal a dent more substantial than expected. This is a useful trick to have up your sleeve to be able to see and assess the extent of the hail damage more clearly.
Also check the roof vents, chimney, chimney covers, skylights, and look for chipped surfaces, dents, and dings. Check the shingles and know that hail damage can be conspicuous or inconspicuous. While a professional’s trained eye can typically spot issues immediately, the DIYer will need to take a slow, long look and really pay attention. Look for tears, punctures, and fractures in the shingle layer.
If hail has damaged the shingles on your home, it can also appear that the granules have been knocked off either very visibly or subtly. You may think this is no big deal, but the amount of force needed to knock off these shingle granules is much higher than you would expect. Therefore, if you find this specific type of damage, the very integrity of the shingles has been damaged and will inevitably lead to a leak over time. Even a small impact from hail can lead to leaks.
Additionally, exposing the tar layer below to the sun’s UV rays will degrade the protective benefits much quicker. This will lead to accelerated cracking, edge damage, blistering, algae growth, and leaks.
A roof inspector will mark the damaged areas with chalk and take pictures. These will help immensely during the insurance claim process.
Hail Damage Inspection on Wood and Metal Roofs
Metal roofing often shows hail damage the easiest. Use the chalk trick to see it more clearly if you are having trouble spotting it. Holding the chalk horizontally, run it along the surface of the metal roof to reveal any dents and marks present.
Wooden shingles and shakes may split right down the middle demonstrating hail damage. Slate and clay tiles may crack, split, or even have gouges knocked out of them. All of these are signs of hail damage.
And then there’s the 10 factors that contribute to the level of hail damage:
- Type of roofing material
- Age of roofing material
- Number of roofing layers
- Roof slope
- Quality of construction
- Hail size
- Hal density
- Hail shape
- Hail angle
- Hail velocity
Functional vs. Cosmetic Hail Damage
Back in 2013, rules changed about insurers having to provide coverage for cosmetic hail damage. If it is superficial hail damage, then the roof will still function without a problem. Whereas, functional hail damage means that, the damage is severe enough to inhibit the function of the roof. The American Association of Insurance Services did this in order to avoid paying so much for client’s hail damage claims when it did not impede the functionality of the roof.
At Paramount Siding and Windows in Denver, we know all about hail and how it can cause problems to the exterior of your home – windows, siding, roof and more. Simply give us a call, and we’ll start with a thorough roof inspection to assess the damage and provide you with a plan.
And if you know for sure that hail has damaged your roof, we can get to work repairing it properly or replacing it if absolutely necessary. You can trust Paramount to protect your home and family.