What Does Hail Do to a Roof?

In the United States high-speed winds and hail topped $15 billion in damages last year. Hail and strong winds accounted for almost 40% of compensation claims and resulted in hundreds of homes being damaged.

Because hail may destroy just about anything outdoors, including your vehicle, window, and roof, the price of hail damage can add up quickly. 

A smashed window or a damaged car are apparent indicators of hail damage. The minor, unnoticed hail damage, on the other hand, requires a skilled eye to detect. Even if there are no evident holes in your roof because of hail damage, you'll need a hail damage roof inspection to determine the extent of the damage and how to continue with any necessary roof repairs.

What Does Hail Damage Do to a Roof?

The impacts of hail roof damage vary depending on several elements, including wind damage to roof (speed and direction), hail size, the material of the roof, and the slope. Hail damage is bad for a roof because it causes leaks and other problems.

Damage could be functional or visual, and the latter is often more severe than it appears. Broken edges, bruising, punctures, and granule loss can all lead to significant issues, despite how little they seem at first.

Let's look at some specific kinds of hail damage to have a better understanding of how it impacts a roof:

• Granule loss

Granules are the shingle's sandpaper-like particles. When a shingle's granules fall off, the asphalt layer is exposed to the outdoors, causing it to age faster. After a hailstorm, check your gutters and downspouts to see if any granules have fallen off your shingles.

• Shingles with cracks

The shingles can be gripped by hail or heavy winds, causing cracks. That might cause exposure and tears, resulting in bare areas on your roof. Your roof will not be adequately protected from the weather if the shingles are cracked.

• Exposed fiberglass mat

When hail strikes a roof, it can shatter the surfacing of the shingles, forcing it to separate from the fiberglass mat underneath.

• Broken fiberglass mat

The fractured fiberglass is a little more challenging to spot and typically needs a trained eye. From the point of hail impact, fractured fiberglass mats can cause tears and fissures.

• Weakened self-seal strip

Strong gusty winds and hail might compromise the shingle's seal integrity. When a shingle blows off, it exposes your roof to the environment due to a compromised seal. A shingle's integrity is permanently undermined after it has been damaged. That can result in leaks and cause other tiles nearby to tear.

You can start looking for indicators of damages on your house after a hailstorm if you know about these frequent types of hail roof damage.