Perhaps the biggest threat that faces roofs in the Houston area is hailstorms. Although hail is often small and harmless, the larger stones pose a major threat to your roof—and in a variety of different ways.
We often handle roofing repair in Houston, TX to fix hail damage, and in this post we want to share with you the ways that hail can inflict damage on your roof, as well as how to recognize it after the storm is over. It’s important to move fast to have hail damage professionally repaired, otherwise it will lead to greater damage down the road, including the need to replace the entire roof years early.
How Hail Damages Your Roof
Hailstones come in a range of sizes, from tiny pellets to golf ball-sized stones that can shatter weaker shingles with a single blow. Here are some of the ways that hail can damage your roof:
- Shingle Damage: Shingles receive the major damage from hail. Hail often dents, cracks, and punctures the surface of asphalt shingles, and this weakens their ability to stop other weather conditions from infiltrating the lower parts of the roof and harming its integrity.
- Loss of Granules: Hail can strip away the protective granules on asphalt shingles. These granules play a crucial role in protecting your roof from UV rays and other environmental effects. Granule loss can also lead to premature aging of the roofing material.
- Underlying Structure Damage: If hail impacts are powerful enough or frequent enough, they can cause damage to the underlying roof deck and support structures, which can be among the most costly of roof repairs.
- Gutter and Downspout Damage: Hailstones can dent or damage gutters and downspouts, harming your roof’s ability to shed and channel water away from the side of the house and into the storm drainage system.
Identifying Hail Damage
After a major hailstorm, go outside to give your roof an inspection. Don’t get up on the roof. Instead, get a ladder and climb up far enough that you can survey the roof’s surface. Here’s what you’re looking for:
- Damaged shingles: Hail damage on shingles often looks like shiny dark patches on the shingle’s surface. Look out for shingles with cracks in them, or places with lost granules. Pay special attention to the parts of the house facing directly toward the storm.
- Damaged gutters and downspouts: Look over the gutters and downspouts to see if there are dents or dings. Additionally, look for granules in the gutters, which means that hail has been knocking granules off parts of the roof.
- Water Leaks: Meanwhile, inside your house, check the attic or highest ceiling to see if there’s any leaking or signs of water damage. Look for water stains or peeling paint, which often warn there’s damage to the roof underneath.
If you notice indications of hail damage, call us for a complete professional evaluation. We’re experienced with hail damage and can quickly identify it (even the smallest signs) and evaluate its extent.
Rely on Reign Roofing to handle any hail damage to your roof. Redefining the Roof Buying Process!