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The Effects of Hail Damage on Your Roof

Hail damage can happen fast in this part of the country, and it can be devastating to your roof. When a hail storm hits your area, Options Exteriors is just a call away. Why not work with a roofing company that has seen it all before, does free hail damage roof inspections, and gives free repair estimates?

Options Exteriors knows hail damage roof repair inside and out, and always guides customers through each step of the claims process.

It’s important to understand the causes of hail damage and the signs behind the different types of damage that they can cause. This guide will help you find out how to deal with hail damage.

Four Factors That Influence Hail Damage

Anyone who owns a home should know about the factors that affect a house during a hail storm. The major factors are hail, material, wind and barriers. Whenever a storm brings hail, the amount of damage is based on the density of the hailstones, the material on a roof, wind, and whether there are any protective barriers in place.

Hail:

Small, dense hailstones can actually cause serious damage, so it doesn’t always have to do with its size. One major part of the equation is how dense the hail is. Soft, mushy hail might cause little or no damage. On the other hand, dense, icy hail can be devastating.

Wind:

As with all weather events, wind speed and direction are important considerations. When it comes to hail damage, high winds can amplify the impact of the hailstones by increasing their speed and causing them to shift direction.

Material:

Roofing material is another key factor in determining how much damage hail can do. Aluminum, vinyl and wood all react differently. Hailstones can leave thousands of dents in aluminum, can break vinyl, and can cause wood to splinter or split. Also, older, poorly maintained roofs tend to suffer the most in hail storms. That’s why it’s important to keep roofs in great condition and get inspections twice a year.

Barriers:

Some homes are surrounded by protective barriers like large trees, adjacent hills, other homes, high fences, and even specialized landscaping features. Homes that stand alone within a big yard and have no trees or other houses nearby typically are the hardest hit by hail storms because there are no protective barriers.

Understanding the four factors of a hail storm can help homeowners know what to expect when a storm is on the way.

If You Need Hail Damage Roof Repair

It’s important to look at a roof after a hail storm and try to spot areas of obvious damage, but a homeowner should never attempt to climb onto a roof to do a manual inspection. It can be dangerous, especially if the roof has sustained damage. The Options Exteriors repair experts are happy to check out any roof, inspect it for damage, and give the homeowner a free estimate with no strings attached.

Insurance coverage for hail damage roof replacement or repair is essential. Most homeowners have insurance that covers the costs involved, but there’s still the problem of filing a claim quickly and correctly to ensure you get the compensation you deserve. Keep in mind that some insurers enforce “claim periods”. That’s why it’s so important to call us immediately after you notice hail damage, preferable right after a storm for a free inspection.

At Options Exteriors, our team is here to help. We walk our customers through the claim filing process and take care of every detail. Homeowners can relax and know that their insurance company won’t be bothering them about improperly filled-out claim forms.

If there’s been a hail storm in your area, call the experts at Options Exteriors for a free inspection and a free estimate. We’ll make sure all insurance claims are filed accurately and on time so that homeowners can get the damage fixed without hassles or delays.

How to know if your Roof has Been Damaged by a Storm?

Discoloration on interior walls and ceilings:

This symptom needs to be checked out by a professional to find the source of the discoloration and get it repaired before it can do major structural damage. Unfortunately storm damage isn’t often the most obvious thing. In some cases, people only notice stains on a wall or small areas of discoloration long after the storms have subsided. They don’t realize it can be due to a leak.

Missing or damaged shingles:

Wind and rain can cause shingles to blow off, break, split or get worn down. It may not seem like a big deal but even one shingle can cause a lot of damage. Water only needs one pathway into a home to wreak havoc with structural integrity.

Dripping anywhere in a home:

Roof storm damage doesn’t always cause obvious cosmetic problems that are visible to the naked eye. Suddenly, days or weeks after a storm, a homeowner will notice small drops of water falling from a basement, attic or living room ceiling. Dripping water anywhere in a home is a sign of exterior damage and needs to be professionally handled as soon as possible.

Musty, bad odor coming from walls or ceilings:

When water damage occurs within walls or other hidden parts of a home’s interior, owners might not even notice it for weeks. One sign of storm damage is odor that comes from a buildup of mold and mildew in unseen spots.

Roof storm damage takes many forms, and only a professional can correctly diagnose the condition. If it’s misdiagnosed, some homeowners can be forced to overspend when only a minor fix is needed. If a professional is called too late because a homeowner assumes the minor problem will resolve itself after the rains end, the error can lead to thousands of dollars in unnecessary repair bills in the future.

Why You Need to Address Storm-Damaged Roofing ASAP

Besides the obvious reason of keeping storm damage roof repair costs to a minimum, there are several important reasons to fix a roof as soon as any damage occurs:

Higher Property Value:

Storm damage is one thing that invariably leads to lower property values. Homeowners who keep an eye on damage and attend to it quickly can not only retain but actually boost their home’s value. This is particularly true when preventive measures are in place to deter future storm damage.

Maximization of Investment Dollars:

Money spent on roof repair is one of the smartest investments a homeowner can make.

Increased Energy Efficiency:

A damaged roof allows wind, water and unwanted heat into a home’s interior areas. When that happens, insulation is compromised; heating and A/C efficiency drops, and utility bills slowly rise. Every home has insulation, but the roof is the first line of defense against nature’s elements. An uncompromised roof means increased energy efficiency.

Better Curb Appeal:

A strong, well-built roof makes any home look better. Storm damage roofing problems can cause a home to look rundown and much older than it’s actual age. People shopping for homes often look at roofs first because they know that someone who takes good care of a roof will likely maintain other parts of a home.

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