According to the NOAA Severe Weather Database, there were over five thousand big hail storms in 2016 alone. And that is just cases where the storms were considered severe. If you live in an Indianapolis, you know that this is just a very small percentage of the total storms.
As a homeowner, you will also know that big hailstones can leave a lot of destruction in their wake. What you not have known, however, is that your Indianapolis roof hail damage can be caused by stones that are relatively small in size.
In fact, all it might take is stones that are around an inch in diameter to start compromising the integrity of your roof.
Do you have Hail Roof Damage in Indianapolis?
Here at Authentic Restoration, we normally associate storm roof damage with leaking, or broken gutters or something similar. Hail damage can be subtler. You might not even notice it from the ground. So, after any severe hail storm, it’s advisable to do a full inspection.
Start by doing a circuit of the building and what you can see of the roof and gutters from the ground. Are there any dents, chips, or cracks that are obvious? What about paint damage on the walls?
If the hail hit hard enough to damage the paint on the walls or gouge other surfaces like a wooden deck, there is a good chance that it damaged your roof as well.
Check any external windows, and metal surfaces as well. If, for example, your air-conditioning unit has dings in it, you have hail damage. These dings do not have to be deep so keep a careful eye out during your inspection.
Severe wind damage during a hailstorm is another thing that might indicate that your roof has been damaged. If you suspect you have hail damage, contact the best roofers in Indianapolis, Authentic Restoration Call (317) 432-1971!
What should I do if I suspect I have a hail damaged roof?
If you see any of these tell-tale signs, it is a good idea to either get up on the roof yourself or get a professional out to check it out for you. If you are going to check if you need storm damage repairs done, always put safety first.
Make sure that someone is there to call for help if you get injured, make sure that you use a sturdy ladder and wear shoes that allow your feet to grip the roof properly.
Signs of hail damage on roof can be subtle., depending on the type of roof you have. If you have metal roofing, you should be able to see dents pretty easily. If you have tiles, the damage will usually manifest as cracked or chipped tiles.
Asphalt shingles are one roofing material that makes it hard to tell if there is damage or not. The shingles themselves may not look damaged at first glance. You will, if you look closer, however, be able to see that the asphalt has chipped off.
Also, check your gutters – if there is a fair amount of asphalt sediment, you probably need to get some repairs done.
Other tell-tale signs on your roof include damage to flashing, chimneys, etc.
Do I need to repair or replace my roof after hail damage?
The answer here will depend on how bad the damage is. You can call us in for a free roof inspection, and we will let you know what your best options are.
The extent of the repairs needed will also, to a large extent, depend on the type of roof that you have. For example, a few cracked tiles are usually easy to replace. Dented metal plates on the roof might pose a more serious problem if the denting is bad enough for them to start lifting.
On an asphalt roof, if a lot of the asphalt has been chipped off, it will mean that the roof needs replacing. The asphalt is what protects the shingles from damage. Without it, they are not able to withstand exposure to the sun and rain long and will no longer be watertight.
Depending on the age of the roof, it might be better to reroof the building. Either way, it is important to start looking at conducting repairs as quickly as possible. Water damage might not be immediately evident in the home until some serious damage has been done.
Will My Insurance Cover Hail Storm Damages?
This is often a thorny issue for homeowners, and the answer depends on the type of cover you have and the extent of the damage. Here’s the kicker – if your roof or part thereof is blown away during a storm, you are probably covered. Hail damage may not be as easy to claim for. Learn more about our roof damage insurance claims process.
Most companies will consider covering repairs as a result of hail damage only if the roof’s structural integrity is impacted. If your roof has a few dings it and they determine that it is cosmetic damage, they are not likely to pay for repairs.
Another issue that you may encounter with insurance in this instance is when you have an older roof. Check the specifications of any policies that you take out in this regard. If the roof is over ten years old, most companies will only pay for a portion of the repairs.
The older the roof, the less they are likely to pay. This is because the policy covers accidental damage, not damage as a result of normal wear and tear.
If you do plan to claim from your insurance, do get the roof professionally checked out as soon after the storm as possible. The longer it takes to put in the claim, the less likely you are to be fully covered.
Let us say, for example, that you put in the claim only three months after the initial storm. In this case, it becomes more difficult to prove that the damages were as a result of the storm. You also run the risk of serious structural damage to your home if you put off getting this seen to.
Your best bet is to take care of the situation as quickly as possible. If you think that you have hail damage, give us a call and let us take a look for you. Then you will know exactly what to do.
