Hailstorms can cause severe damage to your home, especially to its roof and personal property. However, the extent of damage can differ based on various factors.
At Roof Depot, we know what to look for when determining if your roof has been compromised and may need to be replaced. Once we have confirmed that your home's roof has been damaged by hail, we will walk you through the necessary steps to ensure your insurance claim is processed correctly.
But first, here's a guide that explains the factors affecting the type and degree of damage caused by a hailstorm, as well as how to identify hail damage to different kinds of shingles and roofing materials.
Wind Direction and Speed: can vary during a hailstorm, affecting the severity and location of the hail impact.
Size and Density: of hailstones also determines the degree of damage they can cause. Hailstones can range from as small as a pea to as large as a softball, and their irregular shape can impact the type of damage they cause.
Building Materials: also play a role in how they absorb hail impacts. For instance, hail can cause dings in aluminum siding, gutters, or asphalt shingles, but it can crack vinyl siding or wood shakes. Softball-sized hailstones can even be strong enough to puncture a roof and the age and condition of a roof can affect the degree of damage.
Barriers: such as tree cover, landscaping, fences, or adjacent homes, as well as the position of neighboring structures, can reduce the ability of hail to cause damage.
What Does Hail Damage to Your Roof Look Like?
Hail can cause varying damage to different types of shingles. For instance, damage caused by hail to asphalt and composition shingles can appear quite distinct from damage caused to wood shingles. It is essential to understand the different impacts of hail damage in order to determine if your roof has been damaged accurately.
Tip! It is unsafe to inspect your roof for hail damage on your own. Please leave this task to the Roof Depot team, who have the necessary
safety training and expertise.
While on your roof, here is what Roof Depot will be looking for:
Asphalt and Composition Shingles Hail Damage
Damage occurs randomly without any identifiable pattern.
Hail hits that are black in color.
Loss of granules, which may expose the roof felt.
Asphalt and/or mat that appears shiny.
Hail hits that are soft to the touch, like the bruise on an apple.
Wood Shingles Hail Damage
Damage occurs randomly without any identifiable pattern.
A split in the shingle that is brown/orange in color.
A split in the shingle that has sharp corners and edges.
A split in the shingle that has little to no deterioration at the edges.
Impact marks or dents along the splits.
Warning!
There are several types of damage to shingles that could be confused with hail damage. For instance, exposure to harsh weather conditions and sunlight can make shingles brittle and give them an aged appearance. This type of damage is usually just normal wear and tear of shingles, which is sometimes misidentified as hail damage. Other normal wear and tear types may include blistering, cracking, granule loss, flaking, and algae growth. Also, manufacturing defects and mechanical imperfections in shingles can be mistaken for hail damage.
It is crucial to verify that hail damage is the cause of roof damage before filing an insurance claim.
Before you begin the insurance claim process, keep in mind these three important things.
Now that Roof Depot has determined that your roof has hail damage, there are some things you need to know before filing a claim. Below are 3 things to know before starting the insurance claim process.
1. The insurance process can be complex and bewildering.
Roofing and insurance industries are notorious for prioritizing profits over customers. Many companies within these industries have been known to act in their own interests instead of their clients.
Unfortunately, some roofing companies take advantage of homeowners who are desperate to fix their roof problems. At Roof Depot, we prioritize our homeowners' needs and ensure that they are protected throughout the entire process. We have been in this business for the long haul and have built trust with all our customers over the past 25 years. We plan to continue doing so for the next 25 years and beyond.
Insurance companies are often criticized for being unsupportive of homeowners. This is where Roof Depot comes in. We work closely with you and your insurance company to ensure that you receive fair treatment and that your roof can be replaced at no cost to you.
2. Please refrain from signing any paperwork related to your roof insurance claim until it is approved.
The roofing industry has a poor reputation because some companies force homeowners to sign something before they inspect the roof.
It is important to wait for your insurance claim to be approved before signing any paperwork from a roofing company, even if you feel panicked after experiencing storm damage.
If someone asks you to sign a document related to your roof damage claim, be careful. They might be attempting to tie you into a contract that would give them the right to work on your roof even before your claim is approved. As a result, you might not be able to pick your preferred roofing contractor.
On the other hand, a trustworthy roofing contractor, like Roof Depot, will help you navigate the insurance process and provide you with an honest evaluation of your roof's storm damage. Once your insurance claim is approved, we will ask for your business and provide you with the best options for roof replacement.
3. It is not uncommon for insurance adjusters to make errors in their work.
Insurance adjusters may occasionally miss storm damage, resulting in claim denial.
That is why, at Roof Depot, we are always present during the insurance adjuster's inspection. We ensure to be at your home during this process and collaborate with the insurance adjuster to ensure they haven't overlooked anything that could hinder your insurance claim.
If you need roofing experts who can help you get the most out of your insurance claim and install a beautiful, high-quality roof in Atlanta, Roswell, Alpharetta, Marietta, and all of North Metro Atlanta, Roof Depot is here for you! Call 800-MY-ROOFER or visit us at MyRoofDepot.com to schedule a FREE Roof Analysis.
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