Here in Texas, we’re no strangers to hail storms.
That’s why, the vast majority of people in the Downers Grove area know that, after a hail storm, it’s always advisable to take photographic evidence of the damage for your insurance company. This will help to make the process of filing a claim easier and more painless. However, when it comes to your roof, spotting the evidence of hail damage can be easier said than done. But, luckily, our local roofing contractors at Adept Construction are here to help. In this blog series, we’ll be touching on everything you need to know about hail damage, including how to spot it, what affects the severity of it and what you should do about it.
A Few Tidbits About Roof Safety
Before we go into the details about hail damage, we first want to touch on a few safety issues that are associated with do-it-yourself roofing inspections.
- Do not get on top of your roof – DIY inspections can be tricky because they should always be done from the ground. Not only do you risk your own personal safety when you get on top of your roof, but one misplaced step could cause serious damage to your roof.
- Never climb a ladder without someone below to hold it – If you’ve decided to climb a ladder to get a better picture of what’s going on on your roof, always make sure that there’s someone at the bottom, holding the ladder to keep it steady.
- When it doubt, leave it to the professionals – It can be tempting to try to handle your roofing inspection on your own, but there are serious risks to DIY inspections, so don’t hesitate to call in the professionals.
How to Spot Hail Damage on Your Roof
As we mentioned, don’t be tempted to get on top of your roof to look for hail damage. Believe it or not, many of the signs that you have hail damage can actually be spotted safely from the ground. Here are a few signs to watch out for:
- Shingle granules in the gutters – Take a look at your gutters and downspouts to watch out for tiny, pebble-sized granules that may have come off of your shingles.
- Damage to the gutters – If a hailstorm was bad enough to damage your roof, chances are, it will also have an impact on your gutters. Look for dents in your gutters, gutter screens or downspouts.
- Bruised shingles – Hail can leave your shingles with depressions or dents that resemble bruises, some of which, you’ll be able to spot from the ground.
- Cracks – Probably the most obvious sign of severe hail damage you’ll be able to see from the ground is a rooftop crack. However, keep in mind that hail can also cause hairline cracks to form that are almost completely invisible; so even though you don’t see a crack, it doesn’t mean it isn’t there.
In our next blog, we’ll be going over what impacts the severity of hail damage, as well as what to do if you think your roof has sustained damage after a hail storm.
In the meantime, if you suspect that your roof has been damaged from hail or anything else, contact our roofing contractors in Downers Grove today! Our estimates are free, so you have nothing to lose!
