Our roofs are essential in protecting our home’s foundations from the different elements of the weather. Roofs have been designed in making sure that the interiors of our home are dry. That said, not all roofing materials are designed in withstanding hailstorms and impacts. Hailstorms are one of the most devastating weather phenomena to almost every roofing material. In most cases, different parts of the United States don’t experience hailstorms, but there will be instances that hailstorms will form.
In this article, we’ll be discussing what are the ways of identifying hailstorm damages in a variety of different roofing materials. But before we can discuss how to mitigate and prepare for hailstorms, we have to first keep a lookout for the signs of damages on your roof.
Now, compared to roof leaks and the fungal growths on your roof, the signs of hail damage are quite obvious. Still, we need to discuss and identify the different damages from hail.
Dents are one of the most common signs of hail damage. However, homeowners should not rely solely on dents as the first sign of damage from hail. In most cases, people and animals walking on roofs can also cause dents to your roof. Normally, shingles and other roofing materials are not designed in withstanding too much weight and force.
Since shingles have not been designed in withstanding impacts, they are susceptible to damages from hailstorms. Split shingles can inadvertently lead to leaking problems and several other problems when water is being redirected towards areas where they should not be at.
Even though there are some obvious signs of damage from hailstorms, certain roofing materials will react differently to hailstorms. The information below will enumerate what are the tell-tale signs of damage for specific roofing materials.
Asphalt shingles are one of the most common roofing materials that you’ll find in the market. Despite being one of the most common, they are also one of the most susceptible to damages from impacts. The most obvious signs of damage are located on the metal flashing on the sides of the roof’s equipment. Mineral granules are also a tell-tale sign that there’s a shingle that’s damaged and cracked.
It’s also highly advised that you replace grazed and dented shingles since this can also serve as a funnel for water to pass through.
Despite having a lifespan of over 100 years and being one of the most durable roofing materials that you can find in the market, slate tile roofs are also susceptible to impacts from hail. If there are signs of puncture, then it’s best to replace that specific tile. Since hails are high-impact, you might find that some of the holes that hail damage on your roof are crisp and clean. One of the most obvious signs of hail damage on a slate tile roof is that the edges will chip away and will form sharp edges. Overall identifying damages on your slate tile roof is relatively easy compared to identifying damage on other roofs.
Naturally, different types of metal react differently to hailstorms. The durability and lifespan will also vary depending on what metal roofing material that you’re using. One of the most noticeable damage to metal roofing is the ‘scouring’ effect were the hail will leave scratch marks on your roof that will tear off coating materials. In the short-term, this won’t cause too much damage, but in the long-term, this will give way to rusting and denting.
Another important factor that homeowners should keep a lookout for is the side of the building that’s hit hardest by hailstorms. The side that’s hit most will give you an impression on which direction the hailstorms are coming from.
Ultimately, the extent of the damage caused by falling hail will depend on the density and the size of the hail. In most cases, larger hail tends to have lesser density and weight. Incorporating impact-resistant shingles and roofing materials can mitigate any forms of damage to your roofing Fort Worth.