Occasionally in Raleigh we will get a storm which produces damaging winds or hail. If you have a home in the area and we have had a hail storm recently, one of the first things that you should do is inspect your roof.
Once the storm is over, most people walk outside to see if their car is damaged. Are any windows broken? Are there any chips in the paint or dents in the hood? While these are obvious things to check for, often overlooked is the roof over your head.
While wind damage may tear shingles off, a less obvious, but still very important problem is pits in shingles.
If you do not want to get on your roof, one of the things you can check is for mineral granules in your gutter. If you see fresh pieces of shingle granules in your gutter, you can be sure that the hail has left pits in your roofing shingles.
Not all hail damages roof shingles. The size of the hail, the speed of the wind produced in the storm, the condition and age of your shingles, the direction your roof is pointing- all of these things are factors in roof shingle damage.
The importance of a roof inspection
It is very important that damaged shingles are discovered soon after the storm. If the damage is widespread a new roof may be in order. Most insurance companies cover storm damage. Often, in the Raleigh area, summer storms only damage a few shingles and repairs are minor and do not require an insurance claim. There is a time limit on claims.
Why fix these damaged shingles?
Damaged shingles lead to water leaks. Once water seeps in underneath shingles which are warped, cracked, or pitted from a storm, moisture and water get in to your roof. The roof deck or structure can become wet. More severe leaks lead to other water damage such as wet interior walls, ceiling stains, electrical damage, mold, or other problems.
Just after a hail storm is the best time to have shingles replaced. This will save you a lot of time and money. Shingle repairs are significantly cheaper than roof replacements.
Hail in Raleigh
Below is a video of a hail storm in Raleigh. Hail is most common in our area in April – June, although, it can happen at any time. If you suspect shingle damage please give us a call or visit our home improvement page.
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