Some people work as roofers for a summer or two. Others become lifelong devotees to the profession. Those who commit to roofing as a long-time profession really take the time to learn the details. Not only do they learn how to put roofs in place, but they also learn quite a lot about various roofing materials. This equips them to make good recommendations to homeowners who are looking for the right roof. We will also make some recommendations and tell you a bit more about roofers on this blog. While we are not roofers ourselves, we know a lot about the profession and are always happy to share.
Did a hail storm recently come through your part of town, and now you are concerned about the potential damage that it caused to your roof? If so, you'll want to know the answers to the following questions to determine if you need professional roof repair.
How Big Was The Hail?
It's important to look at what size hail actually hit your roof, as there is such a thing as hail that is too small to do any immediate damage. A severe hail storm is anytime you have hail that is about ¾" in diameter, which is roughly the size of a penny. Anything smaller than that should not be a reason to be concerned about potential damage that needs to be fixed immediately, even though it can impact the overall lifespan of your roof.
How Can You Identify Hail Damage?
Hail tends to leave a small divot on your shingles when it makes a big impact. However, it can be a bit confusing, because the divot is not always the same size as the hail that hit it. If you can see these divots from the ground, you should be concerned about potential hail damage.
You'll also want to pay attention to any loose granules that have come off the shingles due to the hail. You may notice these at the bottom of the downspouts in the splash guards, or they may be stuck in the gutters because of debris that is preventing them from flowing out. Having loose granules means that your shingles are missing the protection that they need to protect your home from the sun.
It's also worth looking at the flashing to see if it looks compromised at all. Metal flashing can have indentations that cause the metal to become weak, and may even require replacement if it is no longer keeping water from getting underneath the roof's surface.
What Do You Do When You Have Roof Damage?
It's always worth reaching out to your insurance company to find out what kind of coverage you have for hail damage. They'll confirm what they'll cover, and likely have an insurance adjuster come out to inspect the roof to see that it's actually damaged. Then you'll need to hire a local roofing contractor in your area to perform the repairs for you. It's the best way to ensure that the repair is done correctly the first time.
Contact a roof repair service today to learn more.