Identifying hail damage on your roof is a little more complicated than recognizing damage to your vehicle or patio. It is important that you take proper steps to identify hail damage to your roof as keeping your roof in top condition helps to avoid structural deterioration and leaks. Having a roofing professional assess your roof’s condition after a hail storm is important but you can also check for hail damage yourself with a few simple steps.
Look for Metal Damage
Check any metal roof vents, metal valleys or flashing for dents. Most metals (especially soft metal) will show dents and can also indicate the size of the hail.
Check the Ridge Caps and Shingles
Use a ladder to examine the top of your roof. Check the ridge caps for dents from hail. This area is most susceptible to hail damage since it is flat and often takes a big hit during storms.
Also check the shingles, looking at the whole shingle, including the edges. Shingles can show signs of hail damage too. Look or random patterns of damage. If your asphalt shingles appear to be shiny, there may be damage. If there are hits to your shingles that appear black in color, you may also have hail damage. Exposed granules and hail hits that are soft to the touch are also signs that you need to contact your roofing professional for help.
Assess the Type of Roof Damage
Hail damage is identified by three major signs, including cracking, bruising and missing granules from asphalt shingles. If you see cracking in the shingles, including circular cracks, you may have hail damage. Another sign pointing to hail damage is bruising on the shingles, which are not always visible. Run your hand across the shingle to feel for any small dimples. Missing pieces in the shingle are also major signs of hail damage.
If you suspect that your roof has hail damage, do not hesitate to reach out to the professionals at Rydell Roofing today. We are ready to help get your roof back in tip top shape to protect what matters most to you.