Educate Yourself on Roof Hail Damage

It’s that time of year where damaging hail storms can wreak havoc on cars, landscaping, and, of course, the roof of your home. After experiencing a hail storm in your neighborhood, you’re probably a little nervous to go outside and inspect the damage. However, it’s important to know what to look for to determine whether or not your home sustained damage during the storm. Here are a few visual clues that should prompt you to call a professional roof inspector.

What You Can Look For

Missing or damaged shingles  Missing shingles are usually due to high winds rather than hail, but the two usually go hand in hand. If you have missing shingles or shingles with circular dents or granules missing, it’s a good sign that you’ve sustained hail damage. It’s important to know the difference between normal wear and tear and storm damage. If you don’t know what to look for, you should call a roof inspector.

Damaged gutters  Aluminum or steel gutters can be dented, damaged, or otherwise destroyed by strong winds and hail. Though they are not technically part of your roof, they do protect it from water damage and should be repaired. Gutter damage can also be an indication that your roof sustained damage as well.

Soft metal damage  If you feel comfortable getting on a ladder and inspecting your roof close up, you should look at the soft metal areas such as roof jacks, vents, and plumbing pipe flashing as these will be the most likely parts of the house to be damaged by hail. If you see any soft metal damage, it’s time to call a professional roofer.

What a Professional Roof Inspection Company Will Look For

There is only so much you can determine from visually inspecting your home, especially if you don’t feel safe climbing on your roof to look at it close-up. Even if you do know some of the warning signs of hail damage, structural damage may have occurred that you can’t see and that may not show up as leaks for years. For these reasons, it’s vital that you have a professional roof inspector come out and take a look at your home after a major hail storm. A Jacksonville roof repair company will usually come out and perform an inspection for no charge, so there’s no reason not to get their expert opinion. Those who specialize in flat roof repair and tile roof repair are excellent choices for these roofs and will also be able to professional inspect metal, wood, and asphalt roofs.

If you have experienced a recent hail storm and would like a professional inspector to take a look at your roof, please reach out today.