As locals know, the threat of hail is just a fact of life here in Colorado. During hail season, Mother Nature can send heavy hailstones crashing into our homes which can cause significant damage. When this occurs, it’s imperative to quickly assess your roof and take any steps needed to have the damage addressed. Otherwise, your home will be left vulnerable to even worse problems when the next storm rolls through.

How Hail Can Damage Your Roof

The amount of damage that hail does to your roof will depend on a variety of factors including the size of the hail, the strength of the wind in the hailstorm, the type of roof you have installed, and the general condition of your roof. Small hail like a dime won’t cause major damages, but larger hail like walnut will likely require serious roof repair or replacement. Strong winds and the amount of time the hail was falling will make a hailstorm significantly more damaging.

How Can You Tell If Your Roof Has Hail Damage?

Some kinds of roofs withstand hail impacts better than others. When assessing your roof, you should also keep in mind that hail damage presents differently depending on the type of roof you have. Asphalt shingle roofs tend to show black spots where hail has struck the roof, as well as a loss of granules that makes the shingles appear shinier.

If you were a part of a hail event, the “door knockers” and “storm chasers” will start knocking on your door. Our advice, contact a professional like Northern Lights Exteriors to do a full property assessment and assist with the insurance claim process if required.

Northern Lights Exteriors always recommends putting on an impact resistant class IV shingle in Colorado. Anyone who is putting on inferior products is just hoping you get hit again with a storm and they’ll get paid to put another roof on again. Hey, we like repeat business, but not at the expense of our local landfills and Colorado environment. Work with professionals NOT door knockers.

If you have an asphalt shingle roof, you may see granules in your home’s gutters and downspouts. Significant granule loss clearly signifies that your home’s roof has been weakened by hail damage. To specifically determine if your roof has been damaged by hail, call us, a professional roof inspector that can provide a more comprehensive assessment.

Why to Seek a Professional Roof Inspection

Although it’s certainly worthwhile to assess your own roof—looking for telltale signs such as black spots, granule loss, and cracks—we always recommend a professional roof inspection to know for certain what the lifespan is for your home’s roof. A qualified storm damage repairs professional can identify the full extent of the damage and document it to help ensure that you can receive the proper insurance compensation.

Full-service storm damage repair companies will also attend your insurance adjuster’s meeting on your behalf to advocate for you, as well as help you navigate the insurance claims process so you don’t have to do it alone. Do not just sign with someone who shows up and knocks on your door. Go online, look at the local BBB, and confirm the company that showed up on your doorstep is local with an outstanding reputation. Northern Lights Exteriors is a reputable company with highly experienced roof inspection professionals. Check our BBB reviews. For any of your roof damage needs, contact us.

Expectations From the Hail Damage Repair Process

Once you’ve identified the full extent of your roof’s hail damage, next you can move forward in addressing the problem. Typically, your homeowner’s insurance will cover hail-related damage, and our expert roofing team will help with the insurance restoration process. We will explain how the full process works, rewrite original adjuster reports if needed, and ensure a full understanding of what is being covered is complete before any work will begin.

Your experience during the hail damage repair process will depend mainly on the roofing company you hire. Beware of the “fly by night” contractors that will converge on an area after a major hailstorm. Instead, choose a company that you can tell does quality work and will be around if you ever need them again in the future.

If you live in the Denver area and have had your roof damaged by hail, contact Northern Lights Exteriors to schedule a free roof inspection. We’re a storm damage repair company that has been renovating local homes since 2001, and we have hundreds of 5-star online reviews testifying to the incredible quality of our services.