Hail storms are dangerous, and they can cause serious and costly roof damage. While roof damage as a result of a hailstone might sometimes be mild, in most cases, it can be fairly severe. If your home area experiences summer hailstorms quite often, it's important to be prepared for the possible damage your roof might experience when the hailstorm strikes. Hailstorms don't just damage the roof; they can also damage the windows, skylights, and other parts of your home.
Although you can shelter the windows from hail damage by installing storm shutters, you might not be effectively protecting the roof. For this reason, ensure you are constantly checking the roof so you can know when it's damaged and call in a roofer for roof restoration. If a hail storm hit your home and significantly damaged the roof, here are three steps that should guide the roof restoration process.
Contact a Roofer to Inspect the Roof
Usually, a roofing contractor should inspect your home after a hailstorm. Where possible, they should start with the foundation and then proceed to the roof. Although the hail pellets also affect the other home parts, the roof is often the most severely affected. Sometimes it's not easy to differentiate when the hail storm is responsible for the roof damage and when other culprits are the cause. However, certain signs will help you do it. For instance, the roof damage caused by the hailstone pellets has no distinct pattern.
Also, the roof sections hit by these pellets will form small depressions. It's also crucial to know that the roof might lose granules after being hit by the hailstones. You could also notice an increase in the volume of granules flowing inside the gutters. In this case, get a roofer to assess the roof and give a comprehensive report on the damage and restoration process.
Check the Interior for Leaks
The second component to watch out for is the roof's interior. If the roof sustained severe damage, the house interior is likely to suffer extensive water damage. For this reason, the roofer should check the attic for water damage. They should also check whether the flashing got affected by the storm. Suppose the flashing broke, and you have a musty odor from the attic. In this case, you are dealing with possible moisture and mold damage. Have a roofer inspect these internal components to rule out water damage and also help you know how the roof could be restored.
Contact Your Insurer
The last step should be contacting your insurer to inform them about any damage caused. Where possible, it's advisable to attach the roof inspection report from the roofer because most insurers use it when evaluating your situation. The insurance provider should start the investigation to determine whether to approve your claim. Once approved, get a seasoned roofer to handle the repair work.
Dealing with roof damage associated with a hailstorm is usually complicated. However, it is easy to manage the situation and restore the roof with the help of a competent roofer. The roofer will inspect the roof and recommend the best way to handle the roof restoration process. For more information, contact a company, such as Kerry Roofing LLC, to learn more.
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