After a big storm rolls through, homeowners are often justifiably worried about damage to their homes. And if there was hail in the storm, hail damage is a huge concern. In particular, hail damage to your roof can lead to more damage inside your home. When it’s time to look for hail damage after a storm, use this checklist to quickly determine what kind, if any, hail damage you have.
Quick Signs
There are some obvious signs of hail damage that you may be able to see just by taking a glance around your home and the land around it. Just by looking at the pavement in the driveway and sidewalks, you may be able to see hail splatter marks, which are lighter areas where hail hit and removed dirt and grime. If the force of the hail was strong enough to move dirt on the ground, it could have been strong enough to do damage on your roof.
You should also check for things like mailbox damage, torn window and door screens, broken or cracked window glass, and damage to your siding, paint, cars or plants.
Finally, if you notice neighbors getting roof damage repaired after a hailstorm, you likely have some roof damage too.
Ground-Level Signs Roof Damage
Before climbing a ladder, there are other things you can look for on the ground that can tell you if there might be roof damage. These include shingles that have been blown onto the ground, damaged outdoor furniture and lights, scratched or cracked fencing, and dented AC units, heat pumps, and vents.
You may also find damaged plants around your yard. For example, fallen tree limbs or an excess of plant debris littering the ground, like leaves and twigs, could indicate that the hail had enough force to damage your roof.
Roof Damage
Once you’ve checked for obvious signs of hail damage and damage on the ground, it’s time to actually check the roof. There, you may find damaged gutters or downspouts, dented roof vents and metal flashing, cracked skylights, loose or cracked shingles, and dark spots on otherwise uniform shingles.
Remember that getting up on your roof can be dangerous, particularly if there’s hidden damage from previous storms. Instead of checking out the potential damage yourself, you may want to call a residential roofing services company to do it for you. They can look for damage and then help you determine whether you can repair the roof or if you need a whole new roof in order to eliminate the damage.
Signs Inside Your Home
Finally, you may actually notice signs of hail damage inside your home. While new hail damage is unlikely to show up inside your home immediately, you might see signs of old hail damage inside.
Water leaks that seem to come and go with rainy or wet weather indicate roof damage. Additionally, water stains on ceilings, on walls, and around lighting fixtures indicate water damage in your home, which could have initially been caused by damage to the roof. You may also notice water stains or mildew in closets or garage, and you may find damp insulation in the walls or in the attic.
Hail can cause damage to your roof, from the mild to the significant. Because your roof protects everything you own inside the home as well as your family itself, it’s a good idea to have your roof checked out regularly to make sure everything is okay. An annual inspection can go a long way toward giving you peace of mind.
