During hailstorms, most people worry about their landscaping and vehicles. However, hailstorms also pose a damage to your roof. Even though you cannot see the hail hitting it, you can rest assured that the hail is forcibly hitting all over your shingles. Hailstorms can be destructive, although not all types of hail will destroy your roof. Here is a brief overview of how hail harms your roof and what to be on the lookout for. If you see any of the following signs of hailstorm damage it is time to call a company that specializes in residential roofing in Anne Arundel County. Discover Cox Roofing, we can come out to inspect your roof right away.
How Does Hail Damage a Roof?
Size is not the only factor that determines whether a hailstorm will do damage or not. Density, the strength of the wind, and the actual building materials used in your roof all factor into roof damage. Additionally, natural barriers like trees or fencing play a role in how harshly the hail hits your roof.
Asphalt shingles tend to lose granules when hit repeatedly by hail and start to look like they have been bruised like a piece of fruit. The telltale sign is when the bruised areas of the asphalt shingle are soft to the touch.
Wood shingles, on the other hand, will usually split and leave behind sharp edges and corners that are brown to orange in color. You also might see a split in the wood. Natural aging can cause splits, but you will see other signs like deterioration. In the case of hailstorm damage, the splits will be random since they were caused by force. You may also see dents or marks near or on the splits.
Signs of Hailstorm Damage
Generally speaking, hailstorm damage will be random without any noticeable pattern. Since hail is unpredictable as it falls, the damage is irregular. When damage is caused by hail, the number one sign is usually granule loss at random points of impact. Plus, surface depression, as in the case of asphalt as mentioned above, is also usually present.
Hailstorm damage can also shatter or split the shingle surface depending on whether it is asphalt or wood. As a result, the fiberglass mat under the shingles may be exposed. Eventually the fiberglass mat fractures creating more damage. If you see any signs of hail it is important to talk to someone who specializes in residential roofing repairs.
Residential Roofing in Anne Arundel County
If you are unsure whether your roof has sustained damage after a hailstorm, it is always better to err on the safe side and call a professional roofing company to take a look. With over 30 years of experience with residential roofing in Anne Arundel County, Baltimore County and beyond, Cox Roofing offers reliable and efficient emergency and insurance repairs. Contact Cox Roofing today for your free estimate.
