When we conduct a free roof inspection we primarily look for past or current leaks and wind or hail damage. Do you know how to spot wind and hail damage to your roof? Here are a few of the warning signs to look out for.
Granule loss is very common with hail damage. You will be able to see small circular patterns with granule loss. If you touch the shingle in that area, you will be able to feel a soft bruise to the shingles, similar to a bruise on an apple when dropped on the ground. You will also usually find small dents to the soft metals on your roofing accessories, gutters, downspouts, etc.
Wind damage is usually a little more obvious as to you will see missing or creased shingles. When wind damage is found, we will usually do a brittle test to the shingles. With a brittle test, we actually take a shingle-tab and gently move it upward in a similar fashion as if we were making repairs to the roof. If a crease occurs on the shingle or it tears, then it failed the brittle test and your roof is not repairable. In this case we would recommend to your insurance company that your full roof be replaced.
Another way to spot wind damage to your shingles, although not so obvious, is when you see that your shingles are not sealed down along the edges. Gently apply pressure in an upward fashion to the edges of your shingles. If you find your shingles to be loose and they lift right up and you find leaf debris under the shingles, this is also considered wind damage. At some point the wind blew these shingles up and broke the tar strip seal that runs under the shingle and then with the wind-blown debris under the shingle, your shingles will never seal back down and shed water properly. You will generally see this in a zippering pattern in large sections across your roof.
Also, take into consideration that a lot of times with missing or wind damaged shingles, there will be exposed nail heads and exposed seams left, that are normally covered by the missing shingles. This is something that you never want to see on your roof, as to these are exposed openings where water will eventually penetrate right into your home when it rains.
It’s important to understand that taking care of our roof with regular maintenance and yearly inspections, is taking care of the very thing that protects your home the most. If you take your roof damage lightly and don’t take immediate action, you are in risk of developing leaks that can cause more serious issues to the inside of your home, including mold that can be hazardous to you and your family’s health.
A roof that has been damaged by hail will typically have large dents in the shingles and could even have some of the shingles missing. There may also be damage to the underlying roof decking and sheathing. If there is any water infiltration, you will likely see water stains on the ceilings inside your home.
If you have shingles, it’s important to know how to tell if they have hail damage. Here are some things to look for:
- Damage to the granules on the surface of the shingle. Hail can knock these off, leaving the shingle looking bald in spots.
- Bruising or indentations on the shingle. This indicates that the hailstone was large enough to actually dent the shingle.
- Tears or cracks in the shingle material. This type of damage is usually only caused by very large hailstones.
If you suspect that your shingles have been damaged by hail, it’s important to contact a roofing professional as soon as possible for an inspection and repair estimate.
Yes, pea sized hail can damage your roof. The hailstones will cause dents and punctures in the shingles and tiles, which can then lead to water leakage and other issues. In general, any hail larger than 1/4 inch in diameter can cause damage to roofs, windows, cars and other exterior property.
Keep an eye on:
- Random and irregular looking patterns to your roof
- Dark spots or hail dents on the shingles and soft metals
- Exposed nail heads or seams where there are missing shingles
- Shiny shingles from missing granules and/or exposed matting
- Soft shingle dents from hail similar to a bruise on an apple
Many people don’t realize that a lot of times your insurance company will cover wind and hail damage for full roof replacement. To get an expert opinion with pictures of your roof’s true condition or for more information about roof damage and help with your insurance company, call us today at 844-KEE-ROOF. You can also simply fill out the form on this page and we will contact you shortly to schedule a FREE roof inspection.
