Did you know that in 2021, hail damage was Texas’s number one weather-related insurance claim? Hail damage made up 9% of all AAA Texas automobile claims, with an average of $5,700 per claim. Now imagine what those insurance claims looked like for roof damage. 

It’s no secret that the state of Texas sees many hailstorms. Though hailstones might be small, they can cause immense damage. Texas residents see hail damage yearly. In 2016, a hailstorm set records with insurance companies that struggled to keep up with the number of claims coming after the storm. 

To receive the full benefits of your home insurance, file claims with them within a year of a major hailstorm. Most homeowners aren’t aware of any damage to their roofs months and even years after the event. This is largely due to the infrequency with which homeowners check the integrity of their roofs. Read on to learn how to determine if your roof has hail damage.

Hail damage to gutters

Spotting Hail Damage

Roof damage can sometimes be obvious, like wind damage taking shingles off your roof, but hail damage requires a more trained eye. This is when restoration services come in handy because they can perform a roof inspection to determine the presence of hail damage. Whether you or a restoration technician is looking for hail damage, there are several places to check aside from the roof. 

The first place to check for hail damage is your gutters. Hail that is capable of causing roof damage can dent your downspouts and gutters. If you notice dents on your gutters, this is likely a sign that your roof has been damaged, too. Additionally, clogged gutters can occur when the granules from your shingles shed. This is the easiest place to check for damage caused by hail. 

The second and third places to check are the deck and siding of your home. Dents in the deck or holes in your siding are easy indicators of hail damage and likely also mean that your roof has undergone some damage. 

Roofing

Effects of Hail Damage

Hail size, wind speed, wind direction, roof material, and roof age are all contributing factors that can cause hail roof damage to worsen. When hail damage is bad enough, it can cause leaks and many other issues. To go more in-depth, let’s look at more specific types of damage hail causes. 

  • Granule loss: The top surface of shingles is made of small, sandpaper-like bits called granules. Over time, these granules come loose due to weathering and become the gritty material on the top of a roof. Hail damage can also cause granule loss. As mentioned before, if you notice granules in your gutters, this is a good indication your roof has suffered from hail damage. 
  • Cracked shingles: Severe storms can cause shingles to crack or dislodge completely. This exposes the mat underneath and creates tears in the mat or water damage if not treated promptly. Though cracked shingles might not seem like a big deal, they cannot effectively protect your roof from the elements. 
  • Exposed fiberglass mat: Cracked shingles can expose the fiberglass mat underneath. This can lead to the fiberglass mat becoming damaged and further damaging the roof. 
  • Damaged self-seal strip: The self-seal strip is what keeps your shingles attached to the roof, but when they are damaged, shingles can fly away in bad storms, leaving your roof unprotected. Once a shingle is damaged or missing, the roof’s integrity is at risk of water or further structural damage. 

Calling in the Experts

If you have determined that the roof on your Texas home has sustained hail damage, give the experts at ASAP Restoration a call. We are fully familiar with all forms of damage and work tirelessly to restore homes and businesses as they were before. Contact ASAP Restoration for immediate water damage and roofing restoration. Our team of professional technicians and contractors work diligently to identify the cause of the problem and stop it at the source. If hail is to blame for your roof damage, contact us