How To Identify Hail Damage

1/11/2021 (Permalink)

One-inch sized hail balls will cause significant damages.

Hail Damage Affects Many Homeowners 

A storm that brings hail up to one inch in diameter is sure to deliver hail damage to your roof. You can count on there being severe roof damage if the hail is combined with high wind speeds. To identify hail damage to your property, look for structural destruction signs such as cracks or broken windows, dented siding, or damaged gutters.

Be mindful that small-sized hail balls can cause some hidden damages to your roof, so it is essential to contact restoration storm damage specialists for hail damage. Storm restoration specialists know how to inspect your roof after you get hit by a hailstorm, whatever size the hail may be. 

When hail strikes Dayton and surrounding areas, almost all homeowners will be affected by hail damage, either with more prominent or minor destruction to their property. Take into consideration that hail storms are unpredictable and can happen at any time of year. Without knowing the signs of storm damage, it will be difficult to determine how much damage a hail storm has done to your roof. 

Signs of hail damage

Hail damage can cause minor to major types of damages on your roof. It can crack or even shatter tough materials on the roof like shingles, clay, or concrete. While severe damages can be easy to spot, some more complicated issues can only be detected by a professional eye. Some common types of hail damages we see on roofing are:

• Dark patches
• Granules loss
• Bruised shingles
• Dents 
• Broken ends of shingles
• Splits on shingles

Hail damage insurance claim 

Before contacting your insurance company and filing a hail damage home insurance claim, it is recommended to hire professional help independently to evaluate the damage that a hail storm has done to your property and roof.

Insurance damage professionals know what kinds of documentation insurance adjusters are looking for and can help you file a claim. After they help you get the claim processed, they will then help with all property damage cleanup. When there is significant damage to your roof, the storm damage professionals will use mitigation tactics to save your home from further damages. 

Identifying hail damage

Did you know that a hail smaller than an inch in diameter can cause damage to your property? After a hailstorm hits, evaluating the hail's size can be the simplest way to identify what types of damage your property might have faced. Knowing the size of the hail balls that have damaged your property will be critical in the insurance claim process.

Various assessments are done depending on the hail size, and its damages increase with the increase in hail size. 

• ¾" Hail: This is the smallest measured hail, and it can cause considerable damages depending on the speed of the wind. It can damage the vinyl siding, windows, metal fascia, and also deck paint. Missing shingles have also been detected from wind and this size of hail. 
• 1" Hail: This size hits hard and will damage shingles and the underlayment of the roof. One inch hail can cause significant damage to gutters, siding, and fascia. High wind speed will cause damage.  
• 1 ¼" Hail: The damage is much more than the increase from 1". Even if it is not followed by wind, it can cause significant hail damage.
• 1 ½ Hail: This size may have substantial damage to your property. Depending on the duration, amount, and wind speed, it can result in disasters to your roof. 
• 1 ¾- 2" Hail: This size of hail can penetrate the roof and create damage to the underlayment, ridge caps, or even plastic vents. It can tear the siding off the roof, break the windows, and damage many metal fittings. 
• 2" Hail: This or higher proportions will cause significant damages to properties. When your property experiences this size hail ball, you need to immediately contact restoration professionals to avoid further damages.  

Does insurance cover hail damage?

In short, yes, but when your property undergoes hail damage, it is best to contact restoration contractors immediately to increase the likelihood of getting your insurance claim approved. The quicker you get your roof inspected after hail damage, the more likely you will avoid further damage. SERVPRO of East Dayton/Beavercreek specializes in storm damage and will help with your hail damage repairs and offer insurance guidance. Call us anytime at (937) 228-3433. Our IICRC trained professionals are here to help you, 24/7.