Hail Damage On Your Tennessee Roof

The damage that hail can inflict on a car is visibly obvious. But surprisingly few people are aware of the damage that hail can do to a roof. With summer storms lurking just around the corner, now is a good time to get familiar with the tell-tale signs of hail damage on a Tennessee roof and the actions you should take to avoid water damage and high repair costs.

SIGNS OF HAIL DAMAGE ON YOUR TENNESSEE ROOF

Hail damage can be very deceiving. From the end of your driveway, you probably won't notice that anything is wrong at all. But if your roof has suffered hail damage, sooner or later, you'll feel the effects.

So, it is critical that you detect hail damage on your roof as soon as possible, before water leaks are given a chance to occur. There are two things you can look for as evidence of hail damage.

The first clues may be found in your gutters. If you find mineral granules in your gutters after a hailstorm, it's possible that hail has knocked them loose from your shingles. So, you should take the next step and have the shingles examined.

Hail damage appears on shingles as irregular-shaped bare spots where the underlying black asphalt layer is visible. Hailstones have impacted your roof and knocked off the mineral granules in these areas.

CONFIRMING HAIL DAMAGE ON YOUR TENNESSEE ROOF

To the untrained eye, animal damage and blister damage can be mistaken for hail damage on roof shingles. However, there are some reliable ways to distinguish between the different forms of shingle damage.

Blister damage, for example, usually has a very distinct circular shape, as opposed to the odd/irregular outline associated with hail damage. The round shape exists because blisters are formed by round bubbles of steam that have been trapped within a shingle. When moisture gets trapped inside a shingle (due to inadequate roof ventilation or poor shingle construction), it can vaporize as the shingle gets heated by the sun and air. Given enough heat and moisture, the trapped steam bubble, or blister, can burst. The end result is a circular-shaped exposed area of asphalt.

Animal damage can be harder to distinguish from hail damage, since it also appears in an irregular pattern. In most cases, animal damage is the result of a squirrel trying to dig through a roof shingle to obtain food. Although the squirrel is usually unsuccessful, in the process, it manages to scratch away some mineral granules from the shingle, leaving behind an odd-shaped, exposed area of the asphalt layer.

Separating animal damage from hail damage requires additional detective work. This work is easier if you have performed routine roof inspections that allow you to have a good idea of your roof's condition at any given time. Then, if a hailstorm hits, you can perform a post-storm inspection to determine if any new damage has occurred. If additional damage is observed, it is likely a result of hail impact.

Even if you haven't performed a recent roof inspection, there are still other ways to confirm hail damage. If you inspect your roof immediately after a hailstorm and notice irregular-shaped, exposed areas of black asphalt, these areas are possibly the result of hail damage. On the other hand, if these exposed asphalt areas are gray in color or cracked, they are likely the result of other damage that occurred months earlier. The cracks and faded gray color are signs that the asphalt has been exposed to sun and heat for a relatively long amount of time.

When all else fails, you can rely on common sense. If you see other evidence of hail damage on your roof vents or around the outside of your home, it's reasonable to assume that the shingle damage you see is indeed hail damage.

IS HAIL DAMAGE ON MY tENNESSEE ROOF A SERIOUS PROBLEM?

Hail damage to your roof should be taken very seriously because it can result in a shorter lifespan for your roof and water damage to your home. The mineral granules stripped away by hail are an important part of your roof's protective system. Without them, your shingles will age and wear down more quickly. They will also be more susceptible to further damage and more likely to crack and leak.

The importance of the problem is verified by the fact the insurance companies are willing to authorize complete roof replacements for hail damaged roofs. They understand that the risks of severe water damage are too great to chance.

WHO CAN REPAIR HAIL DAMAGE ON MY TENNESSEE ROOF?

If you believe hail has damaged your Tennessee roof, you should call your AUTHENTIC CONSTRUCTION so that we can meet with your insurance adjuster and maximize your claim from all damages. 

If you have more questions or concerns about hail damage, we invite you to contact us today for a free consultation.AUTHENTIC CONSTRUCTION is pleased to answer all of your roofing questions or provide you with a free estimate for any roof repair or replacement needs. We are ready and able to work with you and your insurance company to make your roof durable, dependable and beautiful again.