Detecting Signs of Roof Hail Damage

The roof is among the most important areas to keep your business or home protected against the weather. When your roof is damaged due to inclement weather conditions, such as the possibility of a hailstorm, something that may appear to be a minor issue could quickly turn into an issue of a major magnitude. This article will provide warning symptoms of hail damage to the slate tile, as well as metal roofing.

Detecting Damage to an Asphalt Shingle Roof

Although asphalt is among the most sought-after roofing products due to its long-lasting and flexibility, it can be susceptible to damage, particularly by direct and constant collisions with hail. Asphalt is also subject to different types of wear and tear, including blister rash, foot traffic, and storm damage, making it crucial to differentiate between these kinds of damage and hail damage.

A clear evidence of hail damage can be seen on the flashing of metal that runs across the roof. Following a hailstorm, flashing could show a number of scratches on the surface.

The downspouts' area and within the gutters could be a sign of mineral granules, which have separated from the asphalt roofing shingles or the roof tiles that are rolled. Remember, this could be because of hail or other problems.

The direction of the hailstorm is an additional indication of the location where the most destruction could be seen in the roofing. With an asphalt cover, the area in which the granules are affected most is the one that will be exposed to the shingle's substrate.

The asphalt can also display signs of round, teardrop-shaped, or pitted spots in which hail struck the roof.

A damaged or broken shingle that is not replaced will eventually turn into water-absorbing and will channel water towards the decking and underlayment beneath that roofing material.

Hail can also cause cracking of the asphalt shingles. As time goes by, the possibility of water leakage is likely.

Hail Damage on a Slate Tile Roof

Slate roofs are a popular option for roofing because of their attractiveness, aesthetic appeal, and long-lasting. However, as with all roofing materials, the possibility of hailstorms could cause damage to this durable material.

Some of the signs to be on the lookout are the following:

The slate tile is prone to breaking to the point that it needs to be replaced immediately, especially when the hailstorm is extremely severe and the hail is huge by size or the slate tile has been damaged that it had already affected its structural strength.

The slate tile material could show indications of fractures or punctures inside the material. The slate isn't broken completely, but it does have a few fractures caused by the impact of hail.

Holes caused by hail, for the most part, are clean and crisp with sharp corners. Tiles made of slate may also have damaged edges or corners, indicating hail damage.

Signs of Damage to a Metal Roof

Metal shingles are available in a variety of choices of materials like aluminum, copper, and steel. It's durable and has longevity, but the roofing materials made of metal may exhibit signs of hail damage.

Following a hailstorm, the coating of the metal may exhibit signs of damage. The "scouring" effect is much like a line of scratches on the panels, which results in the removal of the coating.

Metal roofs can be affected by hail, causing small, medium, or large dents based on the extent of hail and how fast it traveled when it struck the surface. The result of being struck by hail causes the roof to end up getting smashed or dented with numerous indentations on the steel.

Although some hail damage might be cosmetic issues, cracks and dents could easily cause corrosion, which can lead to the deterioration of the damaged metal panel or panels. The severity of the damage could depend on the kind of roofing material used and the intensity and severity of the hail storm.