Texas is known for its unpredictable and sometimes severe weather, some of which can bring damaging hail.
Not all hail is large enough to cause a need for hail damage repair, but every homeowner should look for signs of damage if any hail falls at all.
Failing to call for hail damage roof repair services after a hail storm could result in ongoing problems that greatly shorten the life of the roof.
To avoid this, homeowners should understand what hail damage to shingle roofs looks like, and when to call a roofer for help.
- Cracked or Broken Shingles - The most obvious sign of hail damage after a storm is shingles that are cracked and broken from the impact of the hail. Shingles can normally withstand being pelted by smaller hail that is less than an inch in diameter, but impacts from larger hail can cause this damage. Shingles that are dry and brittle might sustain even more hail damage, as they will break more easily under lighter impacts.
- Exposed Underlayment - When shingles are correctly positioned and sealed on the roof, no underlayment is visible. Though it is sometimes difficult to tell whether a shingle is missing due to hail damage, one sure sign is exposed underlayment. Whether it happens due to hail impact or high winds, exposed underlayment means hail damage roof repair services are necessary and quickly before the decking around that area starts to rot from the moisture.
- Loss of Granule Coating - The bumpy granule coating on asphalt shingles is there to reflect UV sunlight and protect the shingle against drying out and other UV-related damage. Hail damage in the form of granules being knocked off can result in widespread destruction across the whole roof. Thin spots or granules collecting in the gutters are the main signs of granule loss and a prime indicator that hail damage roof repair services should be called to closely inspect the roof and determine how severe the problem is. Without the granule coating intact, roof lifespans end up greatly reduced.
- Weakened Adhesive Strips - Every shingle has on its underside a strip of adhesive that sticks it down to the shingle beneath it. Sometimes, the only evidence of hail damage due to impacts is that strip letting go and the edges of the shingle lifting up when the wind gets under it. This requires immediate hail damage repair to prevent shingles from being blown off or broken or moisture from getting underneath.
When a hail storm passes, homeowners should look for these four main signs of hail damage right away or arrange for a professional roof inspection.
These symptoms may seem minor, but without hail damage repair, they can lead to other more serious problems as time passes.
Call a hail damage roof repair service at the first sign that there could be damage from hail and get a professional opinion on it!