How To Tell If Your Roof Has Hail Damage
Do you live in an area with intense storms? When a storm happens, your roof is the first line of defense against water entering your home.
Having an efficient roof is essential to keeping hail and storm damage minimum. But when your roof is already showing signs of wear and tear, it might not be up to the challenge a storm poses.
A homeowner must recognize storm damage signs and address them immediately to avoid further damage and expenses.
Do you know the signs? If not, you’re in the right place.
Rescue My Roof has dealt with the nasty Wisconsin weather for a decade. Blizzards, Rainstorms – we’ve seen it all. So we know a thing or two when it comes to signs of hail damage on a roof.
Today, we will be covering the top signs of storm and hail damage to your roof and the next steps you need to take to remedy them. You’ll be in the post shape possible to keep your roof in impeccable condition.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like On Your Roof?
Hail damage can be either tough to notice or very easy. When the damage is severe enough (1 inch in diameter or more), it will be easier to spot it on your roof.
We like to compare hail damage to the dimples on a golf ball. Typically your roof is flat. When hail damage occurs, it will make the texture of your roof comparable to the dimples of a golf ball.
But just because your roof doesn’t have those large dimples or dents doesn’t mean you don’t have hail damage.
You may notice that dents/splatter marks appear on your roof vents, gutters, flashings, and other penetrations.
If your roof has the damage mentioned above, you may have to file a homeowner’s insurance claim.
Call your homeowner’s insurance first. While a roofing contractor can help you navigate the insurance process, the work cannot begin until the insurance adjuster approves the hail damage claim.
To learn more about what homeowner’s insurance will and won’t cover, read “Will Insurance Cover My Roof Repairs or Replacement?”
Can You Spot Hail Damage To Your Roof From The Ground?
Not everyone has a ladder or feels comfortable climbing onto their roof. However, this problem shouldn’t prevent you from examining your roof after a big storm.
If you want to file an insurance claim without the hazard of climbing on your roof, here are some of the things you can see from the safety of the ground:
- Downspouts
- Dents or other damage to your garage door
- Holes in your window screens
- Dents in any painted wood or shutters
- Dents to your mailbox or other soft metals
- Dents in your car
If there’s damage in any of these spots, there’s a good chance there’s also damage to your roof.
Again, you’ll want to call your homeowner’s insurance first. When they send an adjuster out, the adjuster will get a better and closer look at your roof.
How to Get Insurance to Cover Your Roof Replacement
Have you recently experienced a severe storm and noticed your garage door, mailbox, or shingles have tiny dents in them? It might be time to repair your roof to avoid further damage.
The next step is to start the claims process.
Call your homeowner’s insurance company to determine if the damage meets your policy criteria, and the insurance company will send an adjuster out.
The insurance adjuster will evaluate your roof. If they find significant damage, they will approve roof repairs or a replacement, and then you can contact a local roofing company.
You can read more about roof repairs and replacements with “9 Questions You Should Ask Before Hiring a Roofing Contractor” and “4 Reasons You Should Get Multiple Roofing Quotes.”
Are you ready to file an insurance claim in the greater Milwaukee area? Rescue My Roof has got you covered. Contact us today to speak to one of our specialists.