It’s always a good idea to know how to identify hail damage on your roof, just in case you get hit by an unexpected hailstorm. The most common signs of hail damage are buckling shingles or tiles that have been popped off the roof and broken window panes. It’s also possible for there to be holes in the metal flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights, or pipes. If you see any of these signs on your home after a storm, it may be time to contact a professional to assess damages and repairs. Although hailstorms can be destructive, the amount of damage they cause can vary greatly depending on a number of important factors.

• Hail Size and Density – The size of the hailstones can greatly affect the degree of damage to your property. A hailstone can be as small as a pea, or as large as a softball. Most hailstones do not have smooth edges, which can also impact the type of damage they cause.
• Wind – The speed and direction of the wind during a hail event plays a role in how much, if any, damage will occur.
• Building Materials – Different types of building materials absorb the impact of hail strikes differently. Hail can cause very noticeable dings and knicks in aluminum siding, gutters, or asphalt shingles, but can actually crack vinyl siding. Very large hail even has the ability to puncture a roof under certain circumstances.

What Does Hail Damage To A Roof Look Like?

What to look for when trying to identify hail damage to a roof varies depending on the type of shingles. Hail damage to composition shingles can look very different than hail damage on wood shingles. It’s important to understand the way different shingle materials absorb hail impacts so that you can accurately assess the damage to your roof should it occur. The most common types of shingles are asphalt and composition or wood shingles.

Asphalt and Composition Damage:

• Hail hits that are black in color
• Exposure of the roof felt due to the loss of granules
• Hail hits that are soft to the touch
• Asphalt that appears shiny

Wood Shingle Damage:

• Splits in the shingle that are brown or orange in color
• Splits in the shingle that have sharp corners and edges
• Dents or impact marks along the splits

 

What Looks Like Hail Damage Might Not Be

It’s not always easy to identify hail damage on a roof. There is plenty of other damage to shingles that can occur naturally due to other types of weather events or even just the age of the roof. If you suspect your home has been damaged by a hailstorm, the best thing to do is contact your insurance company as soon as possible and potentially file a claim. You may also want to get a good professional to take a look.  If you do file a hail damage claim and it’s denied, contact us for a free case review.