3 Things That May Not Be Reliable Indicators of Hail Damage
Some inexperienced homeowners may worry that their roofs have been damaged by hail due to some signs that they observe after a hailstorm. However, an inspection of that roof can often reveal that it didn't suffer the storm damage that the homeowner feared. This article discusses some of those things that may mislead you into concluding that your roof was damaged by hail:
Gutter Dents
Some homeowners can conclude that the roof shingles must have sustained hail damage if those homeowners observe some hail damage to other components of the building, such as the vents, gutters, siding and air conditioning units. Such damage may be misleading if one wants to determine whether the roof sustained hail damage. This is because those dented materials may not be as strong as the roof shingles on the building. Secondly, roof shingles are anchored on a strong substrate, such as a wooden deck. That support mechanism protects the shingles from being damaged in the same way as other materials that aren't supported. For example, gutters can be easily damaged because they are only supported at a few points. It is therefore easy for dents to form if pressure or impacts occur at unsupported points.
Damaged Roofs in the Neighbourhood
Some people can also be convinced that their roof has sustained hail damage if they discover that a neighbour's roof is being repaired or replaced due to hail damage. While the same size and quantity of hailstones may fall on neighbouring properties, it may be erroneous for you to assume that your roof was also damaged in the same way as the neighbour's roof. This is because various factors, such as the quality of the roof shingles used, may influence the extent to which a roof is affected by hailstones. Each roof should be assessed for hail damage without being biased by what happened to other roofs in the area.
Granule Loss
Some homeowners may notice that a lot of shingle granules have flowed down the rain gutters on the roof. That may lead them to conclude that the roof has sustained hail damage. However, such a conclusion may not be valid in all situations. This is because granule loss may occur without a corresponding level of damage to the roof. Roof damage can only be confirmed if the shingle mat has been fractured during the hailstorm.
Do you see how hard it may be for a layperson to determine the extent of hail damage to a roof? Avoid making the wrong conclusion by hiring a professional to inspect your roof after a hail storm. That expert will quantify any damage sustained and advise you on what needs to be done.
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