Hail Damage On Roof
Mighty Dog Roofing is an excellent roofing contractor located at Plano, Texas and we’ve helped thousands of homeowners over the past ten-plus year experience with hail damage repair on roofs. Unfortunately many of them have waited too long to get inspections done to assess the extent of their roofing damage from storms located in Plano Texas. This could lead to serious structural problems by allowing water to get into walls and ceilings. The costs for these repairs can be extremely high to repair.
Hail Damage to Roofs & Auto Hail Damage
There are hail-resistant roofs but to this day, you cannot find any hail-proof roofs in the market. These hail-resistant roofs have Class 1 through Class 4 hail-resistance ratings, 1 being the lowest and 4 the highest. These roofs are rated based on test results done by The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM). A steel ball is dropped from a predetermined height and the damage that the roof sustains is then measured. There are several roofs that carry this rating but the most likely to endure hail with minimal or no damage would be concrete tile, composite shingles and metal roofs. When you purchase a roof be sure to check with the manufacturer to determine what hail rating is given to a particular product.
Hail damage on vehicles can easily be seen but the damage that hail does to your roof will not be as obvious. Hail damage results in a random pattern of strike marks in different sizes. You may find dents, cracks or bare asphalt (if you have asphalt shingles on your roof). Additional signs of hail damage to an asphalt roof could be: granules that have settled at the base of your downspouts, metal air vents that have significant damage and damaged and dented siding or gutters.
What You Need to Know About Hail Damage Roof Repairs
Damage to your roof from hail is more common than many people believe. If you own a house that is in good repair, taking proactive steps to safeguard your roof from hail damage will help you save costs for roof repairs. You’ll not only ensure that your roof will last longer, but you will also save on roof repair expenses as well, if you take definitive steps to lessen the effects of the frozen balls on your roof. It’s a smart idea to invest in hail resistant roofing materials that can stop hail damage from damaging your roof.
Prevent Hail Damage Insurance Claims
April usually marks the beginning of the hail damage insurance claim season across the Mid-West. It is also the time of time when afternoon thunderstorms generate astonishing amounts of ice (hail) with sizes ranging from peas to softballs , falling to earth at high speed. It is difficult to comprehend the damage caused by severe hail storms in the shortest amount of time (typically less than 30 minutes). Here are some guidelines to make the most of your experience in the case of hail-related claim for hail insurance.
Roof hail damage is not preventable. To further protect a roofing structure from damage caused by hail, there aren’t any protective devices that can be installed. This issue has been addressed by the industry of roofing with new technology, materials, and methods of installation. Highly resistive roof material now can be UL certified to withstand severe hail damage for longer lengths of time as compared to non UL roof materials that are rated. With the UL roofing certification issued by an insurance company, contractors frequently offer homeowners and home insurance discounts between 5 and 15%.
Roof Hail Damage – 4 Tips for Homeowners
The storm has passed and gone, but did your home be affected by roof hail? Hailstorms can produce hailstones as large as 6 inches in diameter. The ice balls fall out of the sky without regard to your roof. The bigger a hailstone and the larger it is, the quicker it will fall, potentially causing more damage to your home. Roof damage can affect the effectiveness of your roof’s roof. Even if the damage is not evident immediately, it could cause large-scale problems if it’s not addressed quickly. Here are some suggestions to help you identify hail damage on your roof.
Tip 1. Are there visible damage to your home’s interior? You should immediately address any drips or water spots inside your home. If you notice a brand new water staining on the ceiling, it’s likely that your roof has been compromised. If left untreated the problem will only get worse and cause further damage that may require a complete tear-off of your roof and repairs to the inside of your house.
Tip #2 Are there visible scratches (blisters) on the roof’s shingles? If you aren’t able to see any evidence of damage on the interior of your house doesn’t necessarily mean that your roof isn’t damaged. It could give you a false sense security if there’s no apparent damage to your house’s interior. By neglecting the exterior damage, you run the risk of damage to your house in the years to come. It is also possible to be denied any benefits you are entitled to today if you don’t make your insurance claim before the deadlines stipulated in the homeowner’s insurance policy.
Tip #3 Take your own independent professional opinion. It’s impossible to deny that hailstorms have hit your city. The National Weather Service records all information related to storms. If you’ve information about a storm and contact your insurance company, they’ll likely send an adjuster. That adjuster represents your insurance company. He is responsible for identifying the cause of damage and determining the cost of repairs or replacement.
Tip #4 Get It In Writing. The majority of insurance companies won’t issue checks directly to the roofing contractor. This will protect the insurance company against the homeowner “pocketing” the funds instead of repairing the damage. This ensures that your roof is repaired as required. If your roofer agrees that the insurance payment will suffice to fix your roof hail damage, then they should agree to do the repairs for that price, nothing more.
How Do I Know If I Have Hail Damage?
Their swarm of vehicles closely follow hail stormsand anticipate an immediate rise in quick cash. After the initial rush of activity, they disappear just as fast as they arrived… on to the next area of concern. They leave behind a large number of customers who are not able to seek recourse if problems with their warranty arise. The liability, and cost of the financial burden, is on the homeowners. This has happened repeatedly to families in the area of coverage.
Hail Damage On Roof FAQS
If There is Only a Small Amount of Damage, Should I Still Repair My Roof?
Even if you only have a small amount of damage, you must have it repaired to protect the true structural integrity of your roofing system. Neglecting to repair small damages can lead to costlier ones down the line, like water damage.
Will My Insurance Carrier Drop Me if I File a Roof Repair Claim?
Since storm damage is something that is mostly out of your control, it is very unlikely that your homeowners’ insurance carrier will drop your policy. In fact, it is illegal for them to do so in most states. It is possible that there are exceptions to this rule, but in most cases, your policy will not be canceled for filing a storm damage repair claim.
Will My Insurance Carrier Increase My Rates if I File a Roof Repair Claim?
It is common for insurance carriers to raise everyone’s rates across the board after a severe storm or natural disaster. One way to look at this is that you should file a claim for repair since you are already going to help pay for everyone else’s. It is possible that there are exceptions to this rule as well.
Why is My New Roof Not Covered By the Manufacturer’s Warranty?
It is very common for roof product manufacturers to exclude hail repairs in their warranties. In fact, several warranties specifically name hail as a non-covered repair. Keep in mind that newer roofs are more prone to hail damage since they have not yet had ample time to cure and gain resistance against the natural elements. To avoid this problem, talk to a trusted contractor about the affordable hail damage protection options available to you.
Do I Have Storm Damage if All My Shingles are Still Intact?
Missing shingles are not the only indication of storm damage. A storm can cause all sorts of problems for a roof, many of which are undetectable at first glance. For this reason, it is important to understand that your roof may still have been damaged in a severe storm even if it looks like it is in the same condition as before.
Can I Repair Hail Damage From Years Ago?
The answer to this question is “yes.” You can have your roofing repaired anytime, regardless of age or condition. However, the cost and time it takes to do so will likely be higher, and there is a possibility that you will need to replace your entire roof. The issue here is filing a claim with your homeowners’ insurance company. They may not cover the repairs if too much time has passes. This varies from case to case, of course.