Hail damage can become very costly for your roof, even if the damage may seem minor at first. It helps to be aware of how hail can affect the rest of your home so that you can better prepare yourself before it causes significant damage to your roof. Storm damage contractor STARR Roofing & Gutters explains what you need to know:
Checking Your Roof For Hail Damage
There may be times when hail damage won’t be too visible at first. But if left unaddressed, the minor damage can soon affect different parts of your home, which can lead to more costly repairs. Here’s what hail damage can do to your roof:
- Cracked Shingles – Strong winds plus hailstones constantly falling on your roof can make hard impacts that put too much stress on your shingles. This causes them to crack, which can lead to spots that are exposed to water and other weather elements. If you have this on your roof, it won’t effectively protect your home from the weather.
- Fractured Fiberglass Mat – When hail impacts your shingles, it can shatter their surfacing and cause breakage from the fiberglass mat underneath. This can be harder to detect, so you’ll need to get it checked by professional roof maintenance contractors.
Which Hail Size Can Damage My Roof?
Even with hail coming in different shapes and sizes, it can potentially cause either minor or significant levels of damage to your roof. This is because it depends on the speed at which the hailstones impact, as well as the current condition of your roof. Here’s what you need to look out for:
- Dime-Size – Hail that measures about ¾ inches or the size of a dime can be problematic to your shingles if they were already old or previously damaged. But this won’t usually damage newer shingles or harder materials such as tiles or metal, even at a high velocity.
- Quarter-Size – This won’t immediately damage your shingles, but it can still speed up its deterioration. If hail of this size falls at a higher velocity, it can cause more tearing and cracks if you have damaged shingles.
- Half-Dollar Size – Any hailstone that’s the size of a half-dollar or bigger can easily damage shingles even at a low velocity. Higher impact speeds are even capable of breaking the slate tiles and dent metal roofs. Make sure to have your roof checked for damage after getting through a storm with hailstones of this size.
When it comes to reliable roof repair and gutter installation, STARR Roofing & Gutters is the only name you can trust! Call us today at (512) 736-6539 for more information. You can also fill out our contact form.