Hail storms can cause a surprising extent of long-lasting damage to your roof. However, it’s often difficult to identify signs of hail damage through simple visual inspections. Always have a professional roofer inspect your roof at least once annually and after significant storms. It can help discover minor issues early and make the proper repairs before they escalate into huge problems.
Signs of Hail Damage on Your Roof
The effects of hail damage can differ based on a wide range of factors such as:
- Hai size
- Wind direction
- Wind speed
- Roofing material
- Age of your roof
- Slope of your roof
Hail damage can cause roof leaks and other issues. Even though things like punctured shingles, broken edges, bruises, or granule loss might seem cosmetic at first, they can trigger severe complications down the road.
Granules, the top layer of shingles, naturally fall off shingles as they age and dry out. When hail or other debris hits your shingles with enough force, it causes rapid granule loss, leading to accelerated aging. It also can expose the roofing felt and lead to interior water damage. Check your gutters and downspouts after a significant hailstorm to see if there are granules.
High winds can bend and crack your shingles. Once shingles are cracked, they are more prone to falling off the roof. This leaves your roofing system with bare spots. Either way, the cracked shingles won’t effectively protect your home from the weather.
Overall, roof damage caused by hail is difficult to spot by an untrained eye. Here is what a trained roofer will look for when inspecting your roof after a hail storm:
- Random damage with no discernible pattern.
- Hail hits that are black in color.
- Asphalt and/or mat appears shiny.
- Hail hits are soft to the touch, like the bruise on an apple.
At Titan Siding and Roofing, we have decades of experience working with roofs in the Greater Cincinnati area. Whether you’re an individual homeowner or a commercial entity, Titan Siding and Roofing can help. If you suspect your roof has hail damage, contact us today for a free inspection!