Hail Damage Repair
Unlike storm damage caused from a tornado, hail damage is often times less obvious (from the ground at least). In fact, if you are not home during the hail storm, it is quite possible that when you return, you might not even notice that your roof has been damaged by hail.
How can you tell if you might have hail damage?
- You were home during the hail storm, heard the hail hit your roof, siding, and windows and have noticed dented gutters/downspouts.
- A lot of your neighbors are getting their roofs replaced.
- A representative from “Kentucky’s Pretty Good Roofing Co” just knocked on your door and told you that you have hail damage.
- If you have an asphalt roof, you’ll most likely notice small granules of grit from the asphalt shingles in your gutters, downspouts or very near the house.
- If you have a cedar roof, you might notice some of the shakes/shingle have cracks, splits or small pieces of cedar might have collected on the ground or in the gutters.
- Check all of the metal around your house – vents, plumbing stacks, flashings, skylights, window sills, air conditioners, cars, fences, etc. If the hail was large enough, you will actually see physical damage, indent marks from the hail.
- Check the internet and/or local weather for hail reported events.
What should I do if my house is hit by hail?
- If you can, take photos. Try to include something in the background that is unique to your house. (DO THIS SAFELY AS TO NOT PUT YOURSELF IN HARMS WAY)
- Document everything – date, time, duration, approximate size hail.
- Try to collect a sample of the hail and keep it in your freezer as proof.
- Call Kuhl and have them inspect your roof/property to see if you have any damage caused by hail. If you do, then we’ll suggest getting your insurance company involved.
How badly can your roof be damaged by hail?
Well, it depends on three key things – (1) size of hail that impacted roof, (2) direction of wind speed when hail impacted roof, and (3) slope of roof where hail impacted roof. Given the right combination of those three things, hail can damage your roof in a wide variety of ways. Hail can puncture holes in the roofing material and surrounding roof flashings. This type of hail damage can cause roof leaks and water damage. Hail can leave lasting impressions in roofing material or cause the roofing material to split or break apart. This type of hail damage can greatly shorten the lifespan of a roof.
How do you repair hail damage?
It depends on the size and severity of the area affected. It also depends on the type of roofing material that is installed on your roof. Kuhl’s Contacting works on all types of roofing, from cedar to asphalt, from tile to slate. Flat roofs, metal roofs. In each case, there are different repair techniques. In some cases, the entire roof and its components need to be replaced. In others, only one side of the roof needs replacing. Still in others, only small sections or individual pieces need replacing.
Hail Damage Inspections
If you would like a professional opinion on whether or not your roof has hail damage, call Kuhl. We have been in the roofing industry for over 20 years. We can do an inspection, determine how bad the hail damage is, and whether or not there is a good chance your insurance company should get involved. Click here for more information on why you’d want Kuhl to help you through the insurance claim process.
Blog:
Read this Blog Post About Hail Damage on Cedar Roofs
Here are a couple of Kuhl Case Studies that relate to hail damage in Minneapolis:
Storm chaser leaves Edina Homeowner Screwed – Kuhl Case Study #29
Cedar roofing with hail damage – Kuhl Case Study #19
What does hail damage look like up close – Kuhl Case Study #20
