Insurance

Detecting and Repairing Hail Damage to Roofs

The roofs over our homes and businesses offer security, protection, and comfort from the environment and our surroundings. Funny enough is how we take our roofs for granted until something goes wrong. As soon as that first leak begins it seems all our minds can focus on is the roof. That being said, one of the biggest enemies of our roofs is hail. Hail is more than capable of damaging and destroying the important part of our home. Educating ourselves on ways to detect hail damage and how to repair it can save us all time and money.

While some companies may advertise that their roofing methods are hail proof, experts agree that there is no such thing as a hail proof roof. Some types of roofs are more or less resistant to hail, but there is no such thing as a roof that is 100% immune to hail damage. One of the most common types of residential roofing materials, composite or asphalt shingles, can be damaged by hail, and homeowners should learn how to detect hail damage.

Each homeowners insurance policy is different; therefore you should be conscious of how the policy handles hail damage. Some insurance companies give you up to a year to make a claim, while others give you less time. Keep this in mind so you make the claim within the time period, otherwise you could be paying out of your own pocket. Know what your policy covers and how to file a claim before you have to deal with hail damage.

Asphalt shingles often times are hard for people to detect hail damage. A common misbelief people have is that if there are no shingles missing there is no damage. This is not the case though. High wind is what causing missing shingles while damage from hail is harder to see.

The first thing to do after a significantly large hailstorm is to photograph the property while hail is still on the ground. Make sure the date is shown in the photograph. Next photograph the entire roof. Even if everything appears normal, take the photos. File these photos away in case they are needed at a future date.

Before you begin a thorough inspection of your roof and gutters, give it enough time to completely dry. A big sign of a worn or damage roof is asphalt granules building up where gutters drain. Be on the look out for weathered areas on your roof and photograph these also.

Once you know you have hail damage, or even if you are questioning if you do, it is important to contact a roofing contractor. Almost all roofing contractors offer free inspections, and it is better to be safe than sorry. Once you have a professional opinion and your photographs, you should have no problems handling an insurance claim.

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