As a homeowner you will be genuinely concerned about the condition of your roof after you have been through a hailstorm. Here is a quick guide that will give you an understanding of what you should be looking for and what to do when you have to arrange for hail damage repair in Columbia, but first a few basics.
It is important that you subject your roof to regular inspections. At least once a year, if you are up to it, go on the roof of your home and look for any substantive changes from the year before, look for issues that should be attended to now before the consequences become serious. If you spot anything that looks serious or you think you may have spotted damage caused by hail or wind then you are advised to call a certified storm damage inspector. In many cases professional roofing companies offer inspections and specialize in insurance restoration. These inspectors are trained to spot any hidden damage and separate normal wear and tear from hail and storm damage, they are the ideal professionals to recommend that you contact your insurance company or not.
Hail size impacts the potential damage:
If you were home during the hailstorm you will know the approximate size of the hailstones. Obviously the larger the stone the worse the damage will be. If the hail stones were less than one inch in diameter the damage may be difficult to see and a professional in assessing the need for hail damage repair may have to be contacted. Hail stones larger than an inch will cause damage which is usually visible to the naked eye, in cases like this you know that you will have to contact your insurance company and a roofing contractor who does hail damage repair in Columbia.
Where to look for damage:
The first place to look is the soft metal flashings, vents, skylights, etc. The metal will not only show evidence of hail damage, you will be able to assess the size of the hailstones as well.
The very peak of the roof will usually take a direct hit from the stones whereas the pitched sides of the roof the blows from the hail are usually glancing. Also look at the shingles, both the edges and undersides should be checked for damage.
Types of damage:
There are three distinct types of damage that you expect to find; missing granules from the shingle surface, dimples or bruising of the shingle surface and circular cracks that are evidence of being hit with large hailstones.
With this basic understanding of hail damage and hail damage repair in Columbia you are now in a better position to understand the findings of the storm damage inspector.
