Signs of Hail Damage Can Be Obvious or Subtle! Here’s What to Look For
With another busy hail season tapering off, it’s important to schedule a hail damage repair right away if your home was affected by recent storms. However, it can sometimes be difficult to tell whether your roof was damaged. What does hail damage look like on a roof, anyway?
At Dolan Roofing & Construction, we always recommend scheduling a hail damage inspection from a professional roofer if you suspect your home may have been damaged. This is the only sure way to tell if you need a roof repair. However, there are still a few signs you can look for that indicate a repair is probably necessary. Here’s what hail damage may look like on your roof, depending whether it’s made from asphalt shingles, tile, or metal roofing.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like on an Asphalt Shingle Roof?
Asphalt shingles are the most susceptible to hail damage overall, so it’s important to know what hail damage will look like if you have this type of roof. Hail can damage asphalt shingles in multiple ways, some leaving obvious signs of damage, and some more subtle.
Often, hail damage to a shingle roof will look like dark spots, indicating where hailstones impacted the roof and caused damage. In severe cases, large hail may cause roof shingles to crack all the way through—or even dislodge them from your roof entirely.
However, signs of hail damage are not always this obvious, and you should inspect other parts of your property to determine if damage has been done. For instance, hail will frequently affect the outer layer of asphalt granules on your roof, removing the protective surface and leaving your roof more vulnerable. To determine if this has happened, check your gutters, below downspouts, and around the roofline of your home to see if there are piles of asphalt granules. A few granules are normal, but excessive amounts indicate your roof may be vulnerable.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Metal Roof?
Though it’s fairly rare, hail can cause damage to metal roofs. Typically, though, any “damage” done to metal roofs will be merely cosmetic—significant enough to be visible, but not major enough to affect the roof’s performance in any way.
The major signs of hail damage to metal roofs will be dings and dents on the roof’s surface. In rare cases, direct impacts from large hailstones could puncture through weaker types of metal. More likely, though, hail may dislodge fittings, fasteners, and other roofing components.
Related post: Metal Roof Hail Damage? What Now?
Does Hail Affect Tile Roofs?
When it comes to hail damage, we find that both metal and tile roofs stand up very effectively against hail. What’s more, while metal roofs may be dented by hail, detracting from the appearance, even cosmetic hail damage to tile roofs is rare.
Whether they’re concrete, clay, or slate, tile roofs may outlast the property they’re installed on simply because tile roofs are so durable. While it depends on the type of tile you have, it takes some seriously large hail to cause damage to tile roofs. That said, the signs will be obvious if it does happen. Look for cracked or broken roof tiles on your roof, or chunks of roofing tile on the ground near your home.
Call Dolan Roofing & Construction for a Full Inspection!
As the hail storms subside, now is the time to book an inspection with a professional roofer in San Antonio to determine whether your home was affected by hail damage. Even hail damage that appears minor or cosmetic could leave your home vulnerable to moisture intrusion and further damage. Repairing hail damage now is a minor price to pay to avoid a premature roof replacement in the future!
Dolan Roofing & Construction is the top roofing contractor for hail damage inspections and repairs. Our team is standing by to fully inspect your property and ensure your roof is in perfect condition before the next storm arrives. Book your inspection today!
