5 Ways to Identify Hail Damage on Roof Areas

Living in the Midwest means you have probably experienced a hailstorm. Hail can damage cars, roofs, siding, gutters, and windows. Some damage is very obvious. However, determining if you have hail damage on roof areas can be challenging.

Damage caused by wind and hail cost State Farm and its policyholders more than $3.9 billion in 2012.

Source: State Farm

Identifying hail damage on roof areas is not always a simple or easy task but there are some tips that can help you decide whether to call in a professional roofing company or not. Sometimes hail damage occurs in spots that are not visible from the ground, and in some cases, it may be hard for an inexperienced person to tell whether hail is the cause of the damage or not.

Some indications that hail has damaged your roof can include:

• If you suddenly develop leaks in the home, especially right after a severe storm, then you may have damage that needs to be repaired.
• If you need to replace vents because these are dinged up, damaged, or blocked by hail then this is a sign that hail could be the culprit.
• Check the metal components of your roof and look for dings, dents, or other signs of impact on the metal.
• If many shingles are damaged, destroyed, or missing after a storm with hail then a complete replacement of the roof may be necessary.
• Mineral deposits are a sign that you need to look for damage, because these minerals can be knocked off of the shingles by hail.

1. Hail Damage on Roof May Cause Leaks Inside the Home

If you have hail damage on roof areas then one of the first signs you may notice is the appearance of sudden leaks. When large hail hits the roof shingles can be damaged or even knocked off in severe cases, and this will allow water to get into the inside of your home and the leaks will start. Any leak should be quickly located and repaired.

Roof insurance claims require a lot of knowledge about roof construction and history of the roof in question.

Source: Chip Merlin

2. If You Need to Replace Vents Because of Damage Hail May be the Cause

Sometimes you may discover that it is necessary to replace replace vents because these have been damaged or destroyed, and this can indicate hail damage on roof areas where these vents are located. An experienced roofing professional can determine whether the cause of the problem is hail or another source.

…if patio furniture, screens or roof vents are dented, there may be roof damage.

Source: Flash.org

3. Look for Dings in Metal Components Like Gutters, Flashing, and Downspouts

When you have hail damage on roof areas then one of the ways to determine this is to look at the flashing and other metal components of your specific roofing system and configuration. If you notice a lot of dents, dings, or other evidence that something has hit the metal then hail could be the cause.

4. Damaged Shingles May Require Roof Replacement, Not Just Minor Repairs

When you have hail damage on roof areas then minor repairs may not be sufficient, this will depend on the extent and severity of the damage to your roof. Sometimes the entire roof must be replaced, and this will include the need to replace vents, flashing, gutters, eaves troughs, and other components as well.

5. Check for Mineral Deposits, These can Indicate Roof Damage of Some Type

Whether you need to replace vents or just deal with damaged shingles one way to identify hail damage on roof is to look for mineral deposits on the ground near the drainage components. When hail hits shingles the protective mineral crystals on the shingle can be knocked off, and these will build up on the ground where the water drains from the roof.

Do you know of any other ways to identify hail damage on roof and determine whether to call in a professional?