If you’ve been unlucky enough to experience a hail storm, you may be wondering how to identify hail damage on your roof. Even a small amount of hail can cause significant damage, so it’s important to know what to look for and how to fix it. Signs of hail damage look like:
- Loss of granules
- Cracked or discolored shingles
- Dents to the exterior of your home
- Water leaks
In this guide, we will discuss what to look for and how to handle your hail damage roof repair.
How to Identify Roof Hail Damage 🔎
Some homeowners might think that hail needs to be massive, golf-ball-sized in order to damage their roof— this is not the case. And in fact, large hail of 1 inch or larger ends up shrinking in size by the time it makes impact, but could start much larger at first.
Even small, dime-sized hail can do a lot of damage if it hits your roof at a fast enough speed. Ultimately, the size of the hail doesn’t matter, but knowing if you’ve sustained roof damage or not, does. Here’s a terrifying fact: hail with a diameter of 2 inches or more can hit your roof at up to 100 mph. 😱
Here are some of the most common signs of hail damage on your roof.
Granule Loss
The most common type of hail damage is granule loss. This occurs when hail pellets hit the shingles and dislodge the protective granules. These granules are what give your shingles their color and protect them from UV rays. Without them, your shingles will be more susceptible to cracking and deterioration.
Cracked Shingles
Another common hail damage roof repair is cracked shingles. Cracked shingles can be caused by hailstones hitting your shingle at great speed. Once hard impact is even to crack your shingle right in the middle. You might also notice corners broken off from hail damage as well. Once a shingle is cracked, it’s much more susceptible to leaks and other types of damage.
Discoloration
Discoloration mostly means you’ve lost granules on your roof, which we’ve detailed already, however it is good to know what to look for. Large areas of discoloration on your roof can mean a lot of hail damage in one area or even that a water leak has already happened.
Water Leaks
If a big hail storm comes through and you notice any immediate spots on your ceiling or walls, it’s likely you have a roof leak. One cracked shingle from hail can be enough to let water seep into your home. This is especially true if the hail storm was accompanied by heavy rains. So even if you’re suspecting roof damage, your home’s interior can be a good place to check first.
Dented Shingles and Exterior
If you notice dented siding on your home’s exterior or unfortunate cracked windows on your home (or vehicles) it might be safe to assume you also sustained hail damage to your roof. Schedule a professional inspection right away when you first notice any signs of hail dents.
Cracked Flashing
Your roof’s flashing is one of the more exposed roofing elements and most susceptible to leaks and damage. If hail has hit your home, check the areas around your chimney, skylights, and vents for any cracks or missing pieces.
Exposed Roof Decking
In a hail storm, it’s possible for the hail to actually penetrate your shingles and hit the roof decking below. If this happens, you’ll likely see granules or even chunks of asphalt on the ground below your gutters.
If any of these hail damage signs sound familiar, it’s time to call in a professional roofing contractor to take a look and make hail damage repairs. But some homeowners might be tempted to hold off on repairs due to costs— this is not a good idea. The longer you wait to repair roof damage, the longer minor damage can grow and become an expensive mess. So how much does it cost to repair hail damage, anyways? Let’s dive in.
How Much Does Hail Damage Repair Cost?
The easiest way to determine how much your hail damage repairs will cost is to figure out how much your roofing material costs per square foot. Because chances are you’ll just be replacing the few damaged shingles vs. patching anything. For the most part, you can expect hail damage repair cost (by material) to average the following:
- Asphalt shingles: $100-200 per square (100 sq. ft)
- Architectural shingles: $150-$300 per square
- Standing seam metal roofing: $250-$600 per square
- Corrugated panels: $175-$200 per square
- Tile roofing: $500-$1,500 per square
- Flat roof: $300-$800 per square
- Solar: $2,200+ per square
When you are facing such repairs, you may wonder if it’s going to be more worthwhile to pay out of pocket or to go through insurance. I mean, you have insurance for a reason right? Well, it’s not always that straightforward.
Will Insurance Cover My Hail Damage Roof Repairs?
Short answer: yes.
For minor repairs, it can bode well for homeowners to just pay out of pocket and fix the issue right away. But for more extensive, widespread repairs, filing an insurance claim ensures you get the coverage you need and save on a load of out-of-pocket costs. For the most part, homeowners insurance should cover damages from:
- hail
- wind
- fire
- lightning strikes
All of those fall under the “dwelling protection” portion of your coverage. Unfortunately things like earthquakes, hurricanes, or floods are not generally under a standard policy. Those would have to be added on as additional coverage depending on where you live and the likelihood of such events occurring.
Also, while firing claims is a major benefit to having your homeowners insurance, filing too many can end up raising your premiums over time as you become a high-risk homeowner. So be mindful of when you do or don’t file claims. If out-of-pocket costs are less than your deductible, it could be worthwhile to just pay them or get a payment plan. But don’t take our word for it— always talk to your insurance representative for the best options for you and your hail damage.
What Happens if You Ignore Roof Repairs?
Leaving hail damage unrepaired might not seem like a big deal at first. But hail can cause serious long-term damage to your roof if left unchecked. While some adjusters may refer to hail damage as “functional” vs. “cosmetic”— we believe that even that damage deemed as only cosmetic can turn into something bigger when left untouched.
This is because hail damage weakens your shingles’ protective outer layer, making them more susceptible to leaks and wind damage in the future. As time goes on, that hail damage can also lead to:
- Granule loss
- Cracking
- Bruising
- Blistering
All of which leave your roof more vulnerable and shorten its lifespan. So while hail damage repairs might not be cheap, they are necessary to keep your roof—and home—safe in the long run.
Which Type of Roofing Material Is Most Impact Resistant?
There’s no such thing as hail-proof roofing, but there are certain materials that stand up better to hail than others. Here are a few of the most impact-resistant types of roofing:
- Slate
- Clay tile
- Metal roofs (copper, steel, and aluminum)
- Concrete tile
Even some brands of asphalt shingles are rated highly impact-resistant such as the Certainteed Class 4 Shingles (Impact’s preferred brand). The NorthGate asphalt shingle by Certainteed is SBS-modified meaning its material has a rubberized format which makes it flexible and durable and helps prevent granule loss.
What to Do if You Think You Have Hail Damage
If hail has hit your area and you think your roof may have been damaged, there are a few steps you can take:
- Inspect your roof for any visible damage such as cracks, missing shingles, or dents in metal flashing.
- Take pictures of the hail damage from different angles and distances. This will be helpful for your insurance claim.
- If you can safely access your attic, check for any leaks or water damage.
- Call a qualified hail damage roofing contractor like Impact Roofing to come out and inspect your roof.
The sooner you catch hail damage, the easier—and cheaper—it will be to repair. So if you think your roof has been damaged, don’t wait to get it fixed.
Work With a Hail Damage Repair Expert
At Impact Roofing, we have the experience of dealing with insurance claims that can help you get the coverage you need to fully repair your hail damage. Our three-step process makes it easy:
- Contact us online for a FREE estimate.
- We’ll schedule a time for a thorough inspection.
- Our team will come to your home, get the job done, and leave your yard as clean as we found it.
So when disaster strikes, contact the expert team at Impact Roofing.
