Are You Ignoring Your Hail-Damaged Roof?

Hailstorms are not unusual in many parts of the country—the great state of Texas included. Hail is basically ice that falls like rain, making an impact on vehicles, property and people in its path. When hail hits your roof in a violent manner, it can damage the areas of impact and significantly affect the integrity of the roof’s structure.

One key thing to consider is that residential roofs vary in the types of shingles and roofing materials used during the construction process, but no matter the kind of roof you have, it’s important not to ignore a hail-damaged roof. From the signs of damage to the factors that affect the type and severity of the destruction, here’s what you need to know to identify roof hail damage in Tyler, TX.

The top factors that play into hail damage

The scope of a hailstorm has a big effect on the extent of damage it causes. Sometimes, hail’s consistency is slush-like, or like tiny blunt pieces of glass. Then there are those wild hailstorms that cause considerable damage because the hail is so big. Here’s a closer look at some of the factors that affect the type and extent of damage hailstorms can cause:

• Wind: The wind direction and speed will vary during a hailstorm. Therefore, changes in wind conditions will likely affect the location and severity of the damage from hail.
• Size and weight: Hailstones are not always small, perfectly rounded and smooth, and they don’t always fall gently. The reality is that some hailstones are as small as peas, others as big as golf balls and still others the size of softballs. The size and density of the hail can determine the degree of damage to your roof.
• Roofing materials: Different types of building materials hold up in hailstorms differently. For instance, hail can ding aluminum gutters or asphalt shingles and can crack vinyl materials or wood shakes. When it comes to dense softball size hailstones, don’t be surprised if they puncture your roof. The age and condition of a roof is another factor that affects the degree of damage.
• Shields: Having nearby structures and barriers like tree canopies, fences and landscaping can work as shields against potentially damaging hailstorms.

Description of hail damage

You may not know what hail damage actually looks like. The truth is that shingles can react differently when hit by hail, and hail damage on asphalt shingles will look very different from hail damage on wood shingles. Here’s how to identify roof damage from hail:

• Asphalt and composite shingles: First, you’ll notice seemingly random damage with no discernible pattern. When hail hits these types of materials, the marks left behind are black in color and will knock granules from shingles. Hail-impacted spots feel soft and appear shiny.
• Wood shingles: Damage to this material is random, with no discernible pattern. Damaged shingles tend to have splits that are brownish-orange in color with sharp corners and edges. There will be impact marks along the splits.

If you need help with repairs after roof hail damage in Tyler, TX, call the team at Canfield Construction Management.

Categorised in: Roof Contractor

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