Hail Damage Roof Repair
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Hail damage of roof is quite common than what most people think. Taking some proactive steps will help protect your roof against damage and will help you save considerable amount on your roof repair, if you own a home. You will not only ensure that your roof lasts longer but also have less roof repair expenses as well, if you take definitive steps to lessen the effects of the frozen balls on your roof. Investing in hail resistive roofing materials would be advisable and prevent hail damage of roof.
Hail Damaged Roof – Professional Tips That Will Save You Time And Money
Damage to the roof caused by hail is quite common. It is possible to save money on roof repairs if you take proactive measures to protect your roof from hail damage. By taking definitive measures to reduce the impact of these frozen balls of precipitation on your roof, you not only ensure longer longevity of your roof but you will also save on roof repair costs also. It’s a good idea to invest in hail resistant roofing materials.
To assess the seriousness of matter you must know that in the recent past, hail storms have produced baseball-sized hail. The storms have already caused massive damage to the roofs of residential properties in major cities as well as the suburbs. Given the magnitude of the hail, it is easy to imagine the extent of damage they could do to your roof specifically if it is made of asphalt roofing shingles.
Repairing Your Hail-Damaged Roof by Hiring a Roofing Specialist
It is possible that you are thinking that your roof may have suffered storm damage from the ravaging storms that have affected your region. It’s not always easy to answer this question. You can start by looking around your house. Your driveway may have hail damage. Look at your mailbox, your air conditioner, window screens, vinyl siding and your windows. If you notice any damage to these particular items around your home and it is likely that you will, as these things will be smashed by hail, particularly when the hail is large in size.
You may also notice shingle granules at the bottom of your downspouts and even dents. The hail storm will usually weaken the protection of your roof, and thus reduce the roof’s lifespan. This is due to the hail storm’s water damage.
How to Identify and Repair a Hail Damaged Roof
It isn’t always easy to identify hail damage especially if your home is constructed with two or three stories. The damage from hail could cause damage to your home due to water and can reduce the lifespan of your roof. As a result, you must identify and deal with damages as quickly as you are able. If you delay, you could be refused by your insurance company when you finally submit an insurance claim for repairs. Have you experienced any recent hailstorms in your region? Are you concerned that your home may have been damaged by hail storms? The steps below can help you determine the extent of damage, and will outline the steps to getting it fixed.
Step One: Check around the exterior of your house to see if there is visible damages. Find signs like fresh damaged paint or dents in the siding. If you are able to safely access your roof, look for shingles that are missing or that have blisters or dents. Also, check for dents and dings in your downspouts and gutters.
Step Two: Look inside your home for any visible damages. The presence of water stains or the flow of water through your walls are indicators that you should take action immediately. If you fail to fix a roof leak in a timely fashion you could end up having to completely replace your roof as well as significant repairs to the water that is leaking into your home.
Step 3: Contact your insurance agent right away and ensure that they’re aware of damage. They’ll probably send one of their adjusters come out to inspect your house and create an estimate of the cost to repair the damage.
Step Four: Call your local roofing contractor to request an independent review. You should always seek another opinion from a trusted roofing company, even if your insurance agent and adjuster are reliable. Because they don’t work for the insurance company, they’ll be less biased in their assessment. The roofing company you choose to contact will be able to talk to the insurance company if there are any differences between the two appraisals.
Step Five: Put everything in writing. The roofing contractor you decide to hire should provide you with a contract detailing the work that will be completed and what it will cost. Your insurance provider should supply documentation that outlines the details of your claim. You can protect yourself by obtaining all the information you require in written form.
Important Steps to Take for Hail Damage on Your Roof
Damage to the roof can result in damage during a storm. When severe weather strikes, it can create a minimal to severe loss. The impact could cause holes, dents, painted pockmarks; chipped or split tiles, and loss of granularity. There may be several symptoms that indicate that the injury occurred.
These are indicators of major hail damage:
- Dents and Pits – This is major evidence of the destruction caused by storms. The angle of the structure may influence the outcome. When hail strikes flat roofs, they may show more severe dents than pitched ones. Metal roofing can show more damage than asphalt or slate shingles.
- Paint Disturbance The materials used for house construction are painted in various colors to beautify their appearance. The flaking of paint could be caused by hail striking this material. This can cause pockmarks. Even if there’s no major damage, these marks could make the roof look very ugly.
- Granular Loss – Asphalt shingles are by far the most commonly used roofing material. This kind of material may occasionally suffer from granular loss after a hailstorm. This can lead to the roof becoming leaky. Nail heads can occur when this happens. The main difference between normal granular loss and severe weather damage is in the shape. Normal wear and tear is the same amount of loss, while hail impacts are circular and more localized.
- Damaged Wood and Tile The size of the hail could vary from a pea-sized size to a softball or grapefruit size. The force at which hail strikes a roof can cause severe damage. The frozen water that falls on the roof can chip, crack, scratch or split tile shingles and wood.
Hail Damage Roof Repair FAQs
Sun, wind, rain and hail have all had a chance to damage your roof and the time has come to think about re-roofing. How do you know if your roof is ready for re-roofing? Who will give you trustworthy advice? Where do you start? How many bids should you get? What part should you play during the construction process? What is fair to expect of a contractor? What are the permit and licensing laws in the State of Your State?
If these are questions you are asking yourself, you have come to the right place! The Roofing Contractors Association of Your State (RCAT) is an organization of professional roofing contractors dedicated to the practice, and teaching, of the skills needed to protect your building from the elements. We offer this guide as a sincere effort to help the customer and contractor arrive at a happy conclusion to a successful effort.
Are you ready for a re-roof?
After a hail storm has hit your area, it may or may not be obvious that you need a new roof. While some hail may produce leaks that appear immediately, quite often hail may only fracture your shingles, which leads to premature roof failure. An inspection by a professional roofing contractor can answer this question. If you have a roof that is fifteen years old or older and it starts to show signs of deterioration, or produces leaks, it is time to call your roofing professional for an inspection and consultation.
Choose a member of the Roofing Contractors Association of Your State
The State of Your State has no licensing requirement in place for roofing contractors at this time (2000 – 2001). RCAT is a twenty-five year old organization that was founded with the expressed purpose of bettering the roofing profession through education and the pursuit of a quality product.
By choosing a member of RCAT to be involved with your project, you are assured that you have a contractor who has had a successful track record in this field. To become a member, a contractor has to produce qualified references and be known to his competitors in the roofing community.
What is a Certified Roofing Contractor?
In the absence of licensing laws in Your State, RCAT has developed a comprehensive testing program. These tests are strictly monitored and require thorough knowledge of commercial roofing, residential roofing, and business and contract law. Certified contractors are leaders in their field who are bringing a proven professionalism to your roofing or re-roofing project.