Our hail damage roof inspection checklist has been created for Oklahoma City homeowners. Your tasks after a hailstorm might vary if you live in a different area.
Oklahoma City and severe weather go together like peanut butter and jelly. Because we can expect 1-2 hailstorms each year, it’s critical that homeowners know how to identify damage and get a hail damage inspection after each storm.
To help new homeowners or those new to the Oklahoma City area, we’ve created a hail damage roof inspection checklist that can be used immediately after a storm to assess the damage and keep your home safe. Click the link below to download now and keep reading to learn more about the hail damage inspection process.
Download The Hail Damage Roof Inspection Checklist
What’s Checked During A Hail Damage Inspection?
A home’s roof often takes the brunt of the damage during a hail storm, but other areas like siding, windows, and gutters can be damaged too. A thorough check of your home’s exterior is important, especially if you are going to file an insurance claim for damages.
Once the storm has passed, and you can safely go outside, start at one end of your home and begin assessing the perimeter from the bottom up.
- Check your home’s siding or exterior for visible dents
- Look at the gutters and downspouts for dents/dings
- Check window screens and frames
- Look around your yard for roofing debris like missing shingles
Repeat this process for each side of your home, making notes of any damage as you go along.
Get a printable step-by-step guide by downloading our hail damage inspection checklist now!
How To Identify Hail Damage To Your Roof
Getting on your roof can be incredibly dangerous, especially after a storm when your roof is likely still wet with rain. Instead, check for signs of collateral damage around your property. If your siding, gutters, or windows have hail damage, it’s likely your roof does too. Call OKC’s #1 roofing company for a professional hail damage inspection if any is found.
If you see any visible signs of damage while using the hail damage roof inspection checklist, call for a hail damage inspection ASAP:
- Gutters
- Siding
- Windows
- AC unit
- Mailbox
- Fence and/or deck
- Shed, greenhouse, or playhouse
- Cars that were outside in the storm
Related: How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?
Can Roof Hail Damage Be Repaired?
Repairing roof hail damage depends on how much of the roof was damaged. If only part of the roof has hail impacts, the damage could be repaired by replacing only those damaged shingles. However, if hail damages the entire roof, it will need to be replaced.
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to hail storms is what the NACHI calls “directionality,” or how a storm blows in from a certain direction. This often means that hail damage can be concentrated to one or more sides since the hail does not fall down from the sky but rather comes in at an angle.
Directionality can make it difficult to spot hail damage after a storm. This is one reason why homeowners often assume they don’t have storm damage. Using the hail damage roof inspection checklist and getting a professional inspection is the best way to ensure your home does not need hail damage repairs.
How Long Will A Roof Last After Hail Damage?
Hail damages a roof shingle by knocking off shingle granules and causing a dent or bruise. Over time the damage will get worse and lead to roof leaks.
Related: how does hail damage roof shingles?
Technically, once hail has damaged a shingle, it is no longer effective at protecting a home, and repairs or a roof replacement should happen ASAP. However, many assume that the roof is okay because they don’t have a noticeable hole in their ceiling, so they wait to make repairs. Homeowners are often surprised to learn that the cause of their roof leak is unrepaired hail damage that occurred years earlier.
It can take 2-5 years on average for roof leaks to develop from unrepaired hail damage. The exact amount of time can vary and often depends on the local climate (high winds and rain will accelerate existing hail damage), the age of the roof, and the type of roofing material.
What Happens If You Don’t Fix Roof Hail Damage?
Finding and fixing hail damage quickly is the best choice. Homeowners who wait to fix hail roof damage will likely face additional challenges and repairs, including:
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- Interior water damage from roof leaks
- Structural repairs to roof rafters and decking from water damage
- Mold growth in attic insulation and drywall
- Denied insurance claim due to claim filing time limits
Getting a hail damage inspection after a storm is fast, easy, and free. It’s also the single best way to prevent future stress and costly repairs!
What To Do If You Think You Have Hail Damage
If a large storm has gone through your neighborhood, or if you’ve completed the hail damage roof inspection checklist and found damage, call for a professional inspection ASAP! Our team of expert roofing contractors will complete a thorough inspection of your roof and home and provide a comprehensive report (with photos) that you can use to streamline the claim process.
Schedule a free storm damage inspection online now
Our roofing company can also assist with emergency roof tarping and same-day inspections. Give us a call at 405-895-9972 to learn more!
Learn more about our roofing services in Moore, Yukon, Lawton, Norman, and Edmond, and make sure to read our Facebook reviews!
