Did you know that hailstones the size of baseballs fall at almost 100 miles per hour? That’s a pretty crazy fact! It’s important to protect your roof and your home from the damage caused by hail. Texas hailstorms can leave gaping holes in roofs and cause expensive repairs, but the damage depends on several factors.
First, it depends on the hail stones themselves, and their density, size, and shape. Second, it’s contingent on the materials of your roof. How old is your roof? Were quality materials used? Was the construction top-notch?
Has My Roof Been Damaged From Hail?
Hail damage is difficult to spot from the ground, but there are some ways to tell that your home has been affected. If the following items have been damaged from hail, it’s a good indication your roof has taken a beating too.
- Check for dented gutters or downspouts.
- Look for damage to the siding and windowsills.
- Inspect your air conditioning units and other outdoor items, like your patio covers and sheds.
- Check your decks and other wooden surfaces.
What Do I Look For?
If you are planning to inspect your roof yourself, there are specific areas to check: your chimneys, sky lights, vents, and shingles.
Determining if hail has damaged roof shingles can be difficult. Oftentimes, the hail will knock the surface granules off a shingle. Not a big deal, you think? Overtime, this can create a water leak – and lead to a much more serious problem. Circle the damaged shingles with chalk and take photos to show to your insurance adjustor.
It’s easier to notice damage on a metal roof, because hail create dents and dings on them. If you have wooden shingles, hail will split them down the middle, and a clay or slate roof will crack once it has been hit.
What Size Hail Causes Roof Damage?
Typically, a hail stone larger than 1” will cause damage to your home. Here’s a helpful chart to show the correlation between the size of a hail stone and the type of roof it can damage.
- 3-tab asphalt singles – 1-inch hail stone
- Cedar shingles – 1.25-inch hail stone
- Heavy cedar shakes – 1.50-inch hail stone
- Concrete tiles – 1.75-inch hail stone
- Built-up gravel roofing – 2-inch hail stone
Think your roof may have been damaged from hail? Give us a call today 972-420-6500 and we will provide a free roof inspection for you!
