Category: Hail Damage 101

Hail Damage 101: How Hail Impacts Roofing

At Roofing by Hernandez, we know the damage that hail can do to all kinds of roofing materials – for both residential and commercial customers. We should with decades of hail damage roofing experience on every crew and after helping thousands of home and business owners repair the damage that hail has done. With the increase in storms across the Midwest, it pays to know what you’re up against when hail comes to town. That’s what we’re here to do – give you insights into what can happen when hail impacts a roof, how to spot damage after the storm has passed and what to do about it when you find it. Let’s get started!

Why Hail Causes Roof Damage

When discussing hail and hail damage, the very first thing to get straight is that not all hailstorms are equal. If you’ve ever experienced hail, you know that the hailstones themselves can vary greatly in size. And that’s compounded by where you are in relationship to a storm. A house next door may avoid serious damage while yours is hit hard. There’s no rule of thumb when it comes to judging hail’s potential for damage. You just have to hope for the best!

Now let’s take a look at what factors can play a role in roof damage caused by hailstorms. These are just a few of them and we’re sure meteorologists would have more they could add. We’re just roofers and this is what we pay attention to:

• Hailstone Size: When it hails, the size of the hailstones that hit your roof will have a major role to play in the scale of the damage afterward. That should come as no surprise since hailstones that are pea-sized will be far less damaging than those that are the size of golf balls or citrus fruit. No one wants to see grapefruit-sized hail coming down on their home or business. Those sizes can literally puncture holes in the rooftop!
• Wind Speed: This may come as a bit of a surprise but wind speed plays a role – especially in asphalt shingle-roofed homes and businesses. The impact from hailstones can pull up edges that the wind then catches and sends flying. High winds in connection with hailstones can also cause damage that’s less obvious since it’s not a direct downward force but instead comes in at angles.
• Type of Roofing: Believe it or not, some roofing materials can stand up to hail damage much better than others. This is especially true for the composite flat roofing materials used across Chicagoland. Materials like TPO & PVC and EPDM roofing are good insurance against hailstorms and can be adapted to work with just about any roof imaginable. Single-ply, modified bitumen and asphalt shingles and metal roofing suffer more under hail and will require more repair work to set right.

How to Spot Hail Damage

Depending on what type of roofing material your home or business has in place, you’ll need to look for slightly different things when it’s time to inspect your roof after a big storm. While you can do this yourself, it’s much easier and more effective to call Roofing by Hernandez at (312) 439-0556 and have our highly-skilled and experienced hail damage roofer take a look and provide you with a clear estimate for their recommended solution. They’ll even help you with your insurance claim!

If you’re gung-ho on checking your roofing yourself, here’s what you’ll need to look for on a variety of roofing materials – remember we can do this for you or with you – it’s up to you!

• You may see random spots of damage throughout the roof.
• Dark coloration where impacts have occurred – especially with lighter tones material.
• Dislodged granules showing wear or even the underlayment.
• Shingles may appear shiny due to impact damage.
• Cracks of any kind in the flat roofing material.
• Dents and membrane blisters due to severe impacts.

When your residential or commercial property has been hammered by a hailstorm, don’t worry too much about it and just call Roofing by Hernandez at (312) 439-0556 to schedule a free estimate visit from our top-rated hail damage repair team. Whether you need a simple repair or roof replacement, we’ll work closely with you and keep you in the loop throughout the process – even meeting with your adjuster and helping with [paperwork. So, don’t delay a minute longer – call Roofing by Hernandez or use our contact form today!

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