Being a homeowner comes with a unique set of challenges, unlike any other. Many of these problems will hit you unexpectedly, so the best thing you can do is prepare! One of these unforeseen issues is wear-and-tear from hail.
Hail can strike your home at any time and cause a great deal of damage! It is crucial to be able to recognize signs of hail damage to keep your home in optimal shape and to avoid any further loss. If you find that your roof has such weathering, be sure to contact Advanced Roofing and Siding for all roofing repairs.
Be Proactive With Your Home
Damage causing weather will happen no matter what, and your home will be there to endure all of it. The sooner you can recognize this damage, the sooner you can look at repair options.
Roof damage from weather such as hail can be deceiving because it isn’t always what you see that can cause problems. These issues will act as a landslide and cause more significant issues in your future if you do not fix them early.
Should these hits to your roof go unnoticed, it will cause deterioration over time. These blows will lead to annoying leaks, causing further destruction to the inside of your home. If you choose to be proactive, you will avoid future headaches and hefty repair bills.
The Bigger They Are…
The more damage they cause! Since hail can vary so much in size, you can never be too careful when it comes to planning and inspecting for damage.
Many people don’t realize just how big hail can get! According to The National Severe Storms Laboratory, average hail is roughly pea to marble-sized. If the conditions are right, a storm can provide with hail 4 inches or more in diameter, or nearly softball-sized!
These balls of ice have a great distance to fall, where they will pick up speed. Adding on to this, since most hail forms during storms, there will be high winds. These winds will potentially launch the ice faster than it would fall, causing trouble for you and your home.
Another aspect to consider during heavy storms is debris. If a storm is causing hail to fall, it will likely have high speeds causing further problems. Wreckage could be falling, such as tree branches, or wind tossing random items around.
Branches and foliage may cover your home from large trees. The cover has both positives and negatives to it. On the plus side, the leaves could act as a cushion to the falling hail. On the downside, these branches could snap and fall on your roof, causing more issues.
5 Signs of Hail Damage
There are many indicators to look for around your home to identify hail damage. Some are obvious, and some are not. Let’s explore some of these warnings.
- The most obvious sign of roof damage is that to the shingles, slate, or metal on your roof. Shingles will have round or oval dents, the slate will have chips or cracks, and metal roofs will have scratches or small dents.
- While on your roof scanning for blemishes, be sure to check everything. Most roofs will have vents or the like on them. Since these vents are covered with metal or similar materials, spotting depressions or scrapes will be quite straightforward. Hail is wildly unpredictable. The diameter of the hail will determine the damage caused, and larger sizes are incredibly destructive.
- After inspecting your shingle or slate damage, you should expand your scope to items nearby. Gutters and downspouts are affixed to your roof and will show clear signs of wear. Look for small dents or discoloration to see if they might need repair. There are multiple reasons you would want to inspect this. First, it will be cosmetically damaged and look battered up. More importantly, if the hail was large enough, it will create openings and cause water to be poured randomly around your home.
- Another component to investigate is your air conditioning unit. The AC will be either on your roof or on the side of your home. Because the AC unit is generally large, it makes it quite easy to look over for hail signs. Significant hail damage will cause your air conditioning unit to stop working eventually. Depending on the location of your home, this could be dangerous to those living within your household. Bypassing your AC inspection could mean more troubles down the road.
- The last aspect to consider when inspecting for roof damage is everything else! If you have a wooden deck, it makes for an easy target for hail. You will see quite noticeable dings and dents, which could mean your roof also sustained this damage. Other items to look over include outdoor furniture, yard decorations, and siding or window sills to your home. All of these are susceptible to hail impacts and will show visible marks or scratches.
Act Now, Don’t Delay
Choosing to delay a roof inspection or repair could be incredibly costly with both your time and money. Staying on top of things will ensure your home remains cozy, and you get peace of mind.
With large enough or sustained hail, your roof’s integrity will weaken and be very problematic for you over time. Something to look out for is leaks from breaks or holes. These leaks will either cause interior damage to your belongings or cause water to go unseen and create mold or mildew.
Another downside to these openings is potential rusting to the inside of your home. Rust buildup on the outside of metal such as pipes will cause them to deteriorate. This is more difficult because it is damage you often can’t see until something breaks.
As you can see, hail damage can be much more tricky than what you see at face value. The damage sustained to your home will cause you to lose valuable time assessing the problem. You don’t have to worry any longer!The professionals at Advanced Roofing and Siding has you covered with their expert knowledge and determination to make sure you are satisfied. Give Advanced Roofing & Siding a call for all of your roofing needs. You will be glad you did.