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It’s an often forgotten part of our houses, but it is still one of the most important parts. Some might say it is the most important part. We don’t think about it until something goes wrong. For years everything is fine, but when leaks start we can think about little else besides our roofs. Hail can be one of the most significant causes of damage to this important part of our home’s structure. We save in the long run if before we ever have a problem we educate ourselves about detecting and repairing hail damage to roofs.

To being with, never believe the hype of hail proof roofs! There is no such thing; no roof is completely safe from a beating of ice chunks. There are roofs on the market that hold up better to hail than other types, but never believe your roof is 100 % resistant. Composite and asphalt shingles are two of the most widely used types when roofing residential properties. Both of these types are also susceptible to hail damage, therefore homeowners should be educated on detecting hail damage.

Before a homeowner even begins to examine a roof for hail damage, and preferably long before a hailstorm is encountered, the homeowner will know the insurance company’s policies on hail damage. Different insurance companies have different policies. Some allow for a claim to be filed up to a year after a hailstorm, and some companies do not allow the full year. It is best to know this information before a hailstorm, or at least call the insurance company as soon as possible after the storm.

Asphalt shingles often times are hard for people to detect hail damage. A common misbelief people have is that if there are no shingles missing there is no damage. This is not the case though. High wind is what causing missing shingles while damage from hail is harder to see.

The first thing to do after a significantly large hailstorm is to photograph the property while hail is still on the ground. Make sure the date is shown in the photograph. Next photograph the entire roof. Even if everything appears normal, take the photos. File these photos away in case they are needed at a future date.

The following day, or after the roof has had time to dry and all water has run off the roof, inspect the area near where the gutters drain. Look for an abundance of the granules that cover the asphalt shingles. Every few days the homeowner will need to climb onto the roof and look for weathered areas on the roof. If hail damage has occurred, the hail will have loosened the granules from the asphalt shingles, these areas will begin to take on a weathered look. Photograph these areas.

Once you find evidence of hail damage in the form of weathered hailstone size spots on your shingles, it is time to get a professional opinion concerning detecting and repairing hail to roofs. Many roofing companies offer free inspections. A homeowner can combine a professional’s inspection report with the photographs and submit the material to an insurance company.