Hail season is upon us and your roof is very vulnerable to damage. If experience a hail storm, chances are you may see obvious signs of damage, like pings on your car and dents in your siding. But hail can also cause significant damage to your home’s roof, and often, it’s not so obvious. Every year, the cost of repairing hail damage in the United States averages about $1 billion, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Insidious in nature and not always visually evident, hail damage can dramatically shorten the lifespan of your roof. A significant percentage of roofs that are hit by hail never get replaced, because homeowners don’t see the damage. But if the damage is there, your insurance company will most likely pay to replace your entire roof, gutters and siding, provided it’s correctly assessed and that you act quickly to ensure your claim is filed within their limited claim period.

Hail Damage: What to Look For

Insurance adjusters will require the opinion of a professional roofing contractor before they will approve the roof repair/replacement, but there are a few basic things you can look for that will indicate hail damage to your roof. Remember to be careful and, if you suspect your roof is damaged, contact a trained professional for verification.

Hail Size

Depending on the size of the hail that fell, the damage may be more or less obvious:

  • Less than 1 inch: When smaller than an inch, or about the size of a quarter, hail can inflict damage to asphalt roofing. Damage to a roof from hail this size can be more difficult to identify. A trained roofing inspector can accurately identify any hail damage.
  • 1 – 2 inches: If the size is between 1 and 2 inches, or between the size of a quarter and an egg, hail damage should be more easily found on the asphalt shingles themselves as well as any soft metal on the roof.
  • Greater than 2 inches: Any hail greater than 2 inches will almost always cause some level of hail damage to an asphalt roof. Contact us for a complimentary assessment of damages.

Susceptible Areas on Your Roof

Check these susceptible areas on your roof for immediate signs of hail damage:

  • Soft metal: Check roof vents, skylights, flashing, metal valleys and any other soft metal on the roof. Soft metal damage will not only show signs of hail, but also indicate the size of the hail that damaged the roof.
  • Ridges: Ridges are more susceptible to damaging hail hits regardless of the direction from which the hailstorm came.
  • Shingles: Check not only the interior of an individual shingle, but also the edges where it is weak.

Choosing the Right Roofing Contractor

It’s important to choose a professional contractor that has an in-depth knowledge of the claims process, what is covered, what is excluded, and how to help prevent you from spending more than your deductible out-of-pocket. You also want to be sure your roofing contractor is not a “storm chaser”, and has an established business in your area, and can provide references and a written guarantee. Gen 3 Roofing has a deep history in the construction trades and proudly represents three generations of ties to the Colorado roofing industry and serve all of Colorado. With an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, Gen 3 Roofing understands that your home, investment property, or commercial building is one of your largest investments and needs to be properly maintained to help ensure its value. Gen 3 Roofing doesn’t just want to install a new roof on your property; we want to become your long-term trusted consultant when it comes to your roof.

We have extensive experience in identifying and fixing storm-damaged roofs and will also make sure that everything on your insurance claim is clearly and specifically identified as legitimate hail damage, so that you’re protected against insurance fraud and its heavy penalties.

If you suspect your roof may have been damaged in a hailstorm contact us today. The roofing professionals at Gen 3 Roofing have the experience and expertise to provide you with a comprehensive inspection both inside and out. Schedule your no cost, no obligation roof inspection today or give Gen 3 Roofing a call for more information at 303-923-5039.