We’ve all been there: a storm rolls in out of nowhere, and hail falls from the sky, causing severe damage. It’s scary to witness firsthand and even worse afterward when you assess the damage. You may see the glass windows shatter, your car gets dented beyond recognition, and your home takes a pounding from mother nature.
Hail impact occurs quickly. Often, without warning, what starts as small, penny-sized hail nuggets grow as they move up and down through the clouds until something resembling a golf ball hits your roof. Hail can cause severe damage to property, which is why those in Boulder, Denver, and throughout Colorado should educate themselves on what to do when it happens to their home.
How Hail Damages Roofs
When a hailstorm occurs, small drops of rain fall from high up in the sky, but they don’t reach the ground. Instead, the wind pulls the rain back into the clouds, freezing it slightly before making its way toward the earth again. This happens repeatedly until the hail is heavy enough to resist the wind and finally hit the ground. You can’t predict where exactly hail will strike, and that’s where homeowners get dinged during a sudden hailstorm.
Hail can range in size. While most of it is pellet-sized and the most it does is make noise as it rains down on your home, larger-sized hail can hit your roof repeatedly, causing dents, damage, and destruction. You may see the dents on your roof and think everything is okay until a leak occurs, or you start noticing a draft where one wasn’t before.
While some roofing materials can help your home weather a hailstorm, this isn’t foolproof. Sometimes you’re at the mercy of the storm.
What to Do After the Storm
After every hailstorm – no matter how big or small – you should visually inspect your roof.
Do not, under any circumstance, climb onto your roof after a hailstorm, especially if you suspect damage. You could injure yourself, others, or your property. This is where a roofing company like Axe can ensure your and your home’s safety.
Here’s what to do to visually inspect your roof after a hailstorm:
- Assess your windows and gutters. These will be one of the quickest ways to know if the damage extends beyond your roof. Do not attempt to pull down your gutters – call Axe Roofing. If your windows are cracked or broken, safely get them boarded up with wood before you schedule window repair or replacement.
- Check the landscaping and the entire yard around your house. You may find missing shingles or debris blown off the roof from the storm.
- Check your roof to ensure the damage is more than granule loss or everyday weathering. Look for dents, debris, missing shingles, or other roof parts that look out of place.
- Check for any water spots, leaks, or other water damage in the home, including ceilings and the attic. If you have a chimney or vents, check around that area in the home for leaks – these will be the most common leak culprits from roof damage. Leaks may begin days, or even weeks after, a hailstorm. Be vigilant.
If you notice dents, missing shingles, or anything that seems amiss, you need to schedule a hail damage roof inspection with Axe Roofing. We can get up on the roof safely, evaluate the damage, and recommend repairs or replacements if the damage is bad enough.
Read More: Do You Need to Replace a Roof After a Hailstorm?
Do You File an Insurance Claim After Hail Damage?
Yes, you do, BUT FIRST, call Axe Roofing. We can help you file an insurance claim and ensure that the insurance company has all the details needed to process the claim appropriately. Here is our step-by-step process on how roofing insurance claims work.
Need Help with Hail Damage? Get an Inspection from Axe Roofing
A hailstorm and the subsequent hail damage roof inspection can be scary for a homeowner. You don’t know what to expect or how much it’ll cost. Our team of experts at Axe Roofing is here to help. We can repair or replace damaged shingles or roofs quickly and efficiently, so the storm damage quickly becomes a distant memory. Contact us today to schedule a hail damage roof inspection.
