Hailstorms can wreak havoc on your roof, not only impacting your home’s curb appeal, but also causing concern for weakened shingles, which could shorten their lifespan. But, worst of all, if hail damage to your roofing goes unnoticed, it can provide water with a direct pathway to your roof decking – ultimately leading to leaks that can severely damage interior ceilings, walls and floors.
In order to keep damage – and, therefore, repair costs – to a minimum, it’s important for homeowners to understand how to properly assess damage following every hailstorm, particularly when you see large hailstones!
5 steps to properly assess hailstorm damage and get it repaired as required:
Inspect your home’s exterior and roofing.
- If you see hail impact marks on decks, driveways and siding, inspect the roofing next. If there are dents on the gutters, downspouts, roof flashing and roof vents, take a close look at your shingles. Search for randomly distributed, circular areas with missing granules and small cracks/dings that are soft to the touch. These “roof blisters” aren’t always pronounced, however, so you may also have to feel for them.
Check for damage on the inside of your home.
- If you notice water stains/slow drips on your ceiling soon after a hailstorm, consider it an emergency and contact a roofer immediately to locate and remediate the leak.
Call your homeowner’s insurance provider.
- If you notice damage to your roof or interior leaks that could have resulted from a hailstorm, reach out immediately to inform them that you’re filing a claim.
Contact an experienced roofer.
- Beware of “storm chasers” who show up at your door immediately following a storm to offer you “discounts”. Most of these providers aren’t trustworthy – they want to make a quick buck by preying on your emergency situation. Find a licensed roofing contractor who’s experienced in repairing hail-damaged roofs. Ask your friends and family for recommendations and always check references before having work completed.
Get your home inspected.
- As always, when in doubt, call in your trusted home and property inspector to assess the damage before and after repairs have been made to ensure you get your money’s worth out of the repairperson and protect your greatest investment.
Find an Inspector near you: https://abuyerschoice.flywheelsites.com/locations
