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(What Does Roof Hail Damage Look Like Video)
We’ve had many cases where homeowners in Minneapolis will call us about a roof leak and we end up find out the roof leak was caused by a hailstorm that may have happened two, three years ago. The homeowner doesn’t even recall a hailstorm, but in fact, a hailstorm that might have lasted 15 minutes can cause significant damage to a home in Minneapolis.
Over time, your roof should be inspected, especially after a hailstorm in Minneapolis. If you have been wondering what does roof hail damage look like, we are going to get you educated on the topic right here in this article!
Keep reading, and we will identify different types of hail damage on different material types, and also describe what happens to a single when it is hail damaged, so you can better understand why you need to be worried and know what to look for if you ever inspect for hail damages after a storm.
What Happens When Hail Damages a Roof?
Because even minor damage to your roof may lead to much bigger problems in the future. As a matter of fact, it’s a good idea to inspect your roof multiple times if needed, because when hail hits the shingle roof, it loosens the granules, which are the protective layer of your shingle. Over a period of time, rain will wash off the loose and granules and expose the asphalt in the shingle, leaving it vulnerable.
What happens when hail damages a roof is, hail impact fractures affect the underside of the shingle, not just the granule surface. This damage is referred to as functional damage. What is actually happening to you shingle is, the hailstones are causing fractures on the underside of the shingle. In most cases, these fractures cause fractures in the shingle’s reinforcement mat. The damaged reinforcement mat, then lessens the shingle’s water-shedding capabilities.
In simpler terms, any exposed asphalt can cause shingles to deteriorate much faster than normal, causing roof leaks. It’s very important to recognize the signs of hail damage early on to avoid more severe damages from occurring down the road. Not to mention that the longer you wait, the harder it’s going to be for you to collect money from your insurance company.
So if you suspect that your home has taken on damages from a hailstorm, the next section of this article will show you some of the main signs of roof hail damage.
What Determines How Severity of Hail Damage?
Good question… And the answer is that it depends… Hail can fall at speeds of over 120 mph, ricochet off of the ground and be pulled by the wind in every direction. So it matters how fast the hail was going when it struck, plus how heavy it was, the shape of the hailstone, and what type of roofing material you have and in some cases, how old it is. Below, we have identified the all of the main signs that your roof has taken on damages from a hailstorm, so you can know what to look for if you think that your roofing system has taken on any damages.
- Size of the Hailstones
- Shape of the Hailstones
- Speed of the Hailstones
- Type of Roofing or Siding Material
- How Old the Roof or Siding Is
- The Angle In Which the Hail Falls
What Does Roof Hail Damage Look Like?
There are many different types of hail damage to roofs and siding. Most of the time when hail strikes your roof or siding, it will just ricochet off or leave a small dent in the surface. But in more severe cases, hailstones can crack, tear, split, or even puncture the surface. This next section will go over some of the main roof material types, and identify hail damage signs that are common on each type, so that you can know what to look for after a hail storm.
How to Identify Hail Damage to Asphalt Shingles
If you have an asphalt roof and you live in Minnesota, you will most likely at some point wonder how to identify hail damage to asphalt shingles. Minnesota is one of the worst states in the nation for hail damage claims each year, and our weather can be sudden and extreme at times. If you believe that your asphalt roof has taken on hail damage, here are the five main types of hail damages to asphalt shingles:
1. Granule Loss
Granule loss is a common type of hail damage to asphalt shingles. When hail strikes your roof, the granules are broken loose, causing shingle substrate to show in some areas. One telltale sign that your asphalt roof has taken on damages from a hailstorm is granules in the valleys, gutters, and downspouts. The granules wash down and collect in these areas when they come loose from the shingle. Areas of shingle that have lost enough granules to expose shingle substrate are a problem because the reduce the life expectancy of your roof, and once the granules are missing, the bare areas will lose protection from the sun and freezing temperatures.
2. Cracks in the Shingle Surface
After a hailstorm hits, you may notice cracks in the surface of the shingle. These cracks may radiate outward from the point of impact. Cracks are most common in cases where high winds blows the shingles back, causing the hailstones to do more damage.
3. Exposed Fiberglass Mat
It’s not uncommon to see areas of exposed fiberglass mat after a hailstorm. This happens when the hail strikes the asphalt so hard that the hail shatters the granule-asphalt surfacing, causing it to pull away from the fiberglass mat beneath.
4. Fractured Fiberglass Mat
Hail can also cause fractures in the fiberglass mat, which aren’t always visible immediately. Again, the tears may radiate out from their points of impact. With fiberglass mat fractures, the damaged areas may develop into cracks and tears over time.
5. Loosening of the Self-Seal Strip
When the self-seal strip is loosened by hail, the damage is not always immediately visible. The problem with that, is that if the damages are left untreated, they could weaken the integrity of the seal. This seal is important to prevent the possibility of shingle blow-off in high winds.
What Does Roof Hail Damage Look Like? 0 Final Thoughts
If you believe that your roof has been damaged by a hailstorm, a windstorm, or any other severe weather occurrence, getting the damages repaired is very important. Not only can the damages worsen with time, leading to more costly repairs, but your insurance company expects your storm damage assessments and repairs to be done in a timely manner. If you would like an expert opinion, our roof inspections are always free, and we would be happy to set up a convenient time for you to meet with one of our roofing experts. Just call us at (651)-560-6355 or click any of the buttons on our site like the one below to reach us!
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