Hail is one of the leading reasons behind many roofing replacement projects. If your roof is exposed to enough hailstorms, especially if the hailstones are big, it will eventually get damaged.
How do you know if your roof has suffered hail damage? Here are the signs to watch out for:
- There are dents on your roof. The bigger the dents, the worse your roof’s condition will be.
- If you feel the shingles with your hand, you might find some bruised ones that don’t even appear dented.
- Granules have been knocked off your shingles. Check your gutters and the ground for loose granules.
- You can see the bottom layer of your shingles, which is black.
You have no control over the weather, but you can still defend your home from hailstorms by choosing professional residential roofers to install impact-resistant shingles. Ignoring the effect of hail on your roof can lead to costlier repairs or full replacement.
Here are some of the reasons it’s a bad idea to ignore hail damage on your roof:
- Hail impact can knock off the granules that keep your shingles protected from the elements, particularly the harsh heat of the sun. Shingles without granules don’t stand a chance against UV rays, which make them brittle and more prone to leaking.
- Hail impact can also make flashings weaker. If you have roof penetrations with flashings around them, those penetrations will lose the flashings’ protection and might start to leak. It might be too late before you notice the intrusion of water that can cause rot.
- Roof penetrations like skylights can get damaged by hail. Small cracks and gaps might escape notice, but before long the glass might fall off. This will leave your indoors without protection from the elements, and falling glass is also dangerous for your household.
- If you ignore hail damage to your roof, your home insurer might refuse to cover your restoration costs.
For your residential and commercial roofing needs, don’t hesitate to get in touch with MHI Roofing. Call us at (412) 831-9991 or use this form to contact us today.