How to Recognize Hail Damage on Your Roof

Hail damage isn’t as easily recognizable as storm damage. An inexperienced homeowner may not recognize the immediate need for repairs, not seeing the extent of the damage until it’s too late. In this blog, roofing replacement contractor Exterior Pros discusses how hail affects your roof.

Common Signs of Hail Damage

Hail damage comes in many forms. A close inspection conducted by a roofing professional is needed to determine how much repair work is needed and how much it will cost. However, you should be able to see signs that indicate damage:

Loose Granules — If it has rained some time after hail hits your home, check the rainwater runoff from the gutters. Granules may have been knocked loose by hail impact. Alternatively, you can spray the roof with water using a garden hose for a few minutes and observe the runoff as it flows from the gutters.

Dents — Sometimes hailstones can be so large that it causes small craters on the roofing surface. This can be easily spotted on roofs with solid colors, but may be more difficult to see on textured roofing. Experienced roofing contractors like us should have no problem identifying dents.

Loose, Broken, Missing, or Damaged Shingles — Instead of merely denting the roofing surface, hail impact may cause cracking. In case you find cracks, contact your roofing contractor for repairs immediately.What You Should Do If You Find Hail Damage

Depending on your coverage, your homeowner insurance policy may cover the repair costs. Not all insurance adjusters are trained to recognize hail damage. A common mistake is misidentifying hail damage as roofing blisters, which is caused by manufacturing issues and therefore can be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty.

What you should do is contact your trusted roofing contractor first and have them conduct a full inspection. In addition to the results of the roofing inspection, your insurance adjuster will need an estimate of the repair costs, which will become the basis for calculating the final payout amount.

Exterior Pros is your leading provider of roofing and siding replacement services. Give us a call at (414) 215-0927 or fill out our contact form. We serve customers in Milwaukee, WI, and surrounding areas.