Outside of your home is one of the last places you’d want to be during a hail storm, especially here in Oklahoma City, where hail often reaches 2” in diameter. That can make it difficult to spot damage after it’s over since you weren’t able to watch the storm unfold. If you are like most homeowners, you’ve probably wondered what hail damage looks like on a roof at least once!
Hail damage, even if it’s minor, can shorten a roof’s lifespan and cause roof leaks. Knowing what hail damage looks like and when to get a professional inspection is key to preventing costly repairs.
What Does Hail Damage Look Like On A Roof?
What hail damage looks like depends on how big the hail is and what type of roofing material you have installed on your home. Our online guide will cover how to identify hail damage on the most popular roofing types here in Oklahoma City. If you know what type of roof you have, click the link below to go there now and find out what hail damage looks like on a roof!
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- What hail damage looks like on asphalt shingle roofs
- What hail damage looks like on tile roofs
- What hail damage looks like on cedar shake roofs
- What hail damage looks like on metal roofs
Hail Damage On Asphalt Shingle Roofs
Asphalt shingles are one of the most common types of residential roofs available today. There are many types, including 3-tab shingles, composition, architectural, and others. Unfortunately, hail damage can either be really easy to see or almost unnoticeable after a storm.
Visible signs of hail damage to shingle roofs include:
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- Dents/craters on the roof shingles
- Excessive granular loss in gutters and/or driveway
- Miscoloration of the single due to granular loss at hail impact sites
- Torn, missing, or cracked shingles
- Visible holes or black marks where hail has exposed roof underlayment
When hail hits an asphalt shingle roof, it leaves an indentation almost like a hammer strike. If the hail is large enough, it can break through the layer of protective granules and expose the underlayment. The underlayment is a waterproof barrier that is placed under the shingles as a protective measure and is the last line of defense to stop roof leaks.
If left unrepaired, hail damage will get worse over time. Granules will continue to fall off and expose more of the underlayment. When the underlayment is exposed to the sun, the shingles will often curl or have a “fish mouth” appearance.
Eventually, water will enter the roof system through the hail damage and cause leaks.
Hail Damage On Tile Or Clay Roofs
Tile or clay roofs are known to last 50+ years and are one of the heaviest types of roofs you can put on your home. While they are designed to withstand high heat and constant exposure to the sun, they aren’t as durable against hail.
Just like with asphalt shingle roofs, hail hits on tile or clay can crack the entire shingle and cause roof leaks.
Visible signs of hail damage to tile roofs include:
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- Small chips or dents in the clay or tile shingle
- Fractures or cracks
- Missing pieces of tile shingle
- Roof discoloration from missing tiles
If you think your tile roof has hail damage, we strongly advise against getting up on your roof. The roof tiles could have cracks you can’t see from far away and can easily crumble. This is can turn into a very dangerous situation if you don’t have experience climbing on roofs. Instead, call Triple Diamond Construction for a free hail damage inspection and let our experts help!
Hail Damage On Cedar Shake Roofs
Cedar shake roofs have been around since the 1800s and are still a popular option here in Oklahoma City! In fact, some neighborhoods require homeowners to have this type of roof to match the aesthetics of other homes in the area.
Just like any other type of wood, cedar shake tiles expand when wet and later dry when in the sun. The constant expansion and contraction make them prone to cracking and splitting – even without any help from a hail storm. Over time, the roof tiles can become brittle and fall off. This is one of the reasons cedar shake roofs need special care and attention all year long.
Visible signs of hail damage to cedar shake roofs include:
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- Splintered or cracked roof tiles
- Lifted or missing tiles
- Fragments of shingles in gutters
- Roof debris in your yard or around your home
As with tile roofs, it’s not a good idea for homeowners to get on a cedar shake roof and check for damage, especially if the roof is still wet. Instead, call Triple Diamond Construction for a free roof inspection and let our experts help!
Hail Damage On Metal Roofs
An Oklahoma City homeowner may have two types of metal roofs: stone-coated steel or standing seam.
Stone-coated steel roofs are strong enough to withstand hail upwards of 2” in size. These types of roofs are so durable they will often last 50+ years without issue. Even if hail is able to dent the surface of stone-coated steel roof tiles, the damage is almost always cosmetic and won’t impact the underlying materials.
Standing seam metal roofs are slightly different in terms of what hail damage looks like. Hail damage looks like denting or pitted areas at the impact sites. If the hail is big enough, it can puncture the metal roof.
Depending on the severity of the damage, the dents or pitted areas may pool water and/or cause rust to form. Metal roofs will need a proper hail damage inspection to determine if the damage is structural or cosmetic – meaning the damage will lead to roof leaks later. This can be hard to determine unless you have roofing experience.
How Big Does Hail Have To Be To Damage A Roof?
How much damage hail can do to a roof depends on the roof’s age, material, duration of the storm, and if high winds were present.
It’s important to note that wind-driven hail can do enormous damage, even if the hail is very tiny. Studies estimate that a 1-inch hailstone can fall at speeds upward of 100 MPH – and that’s without any extra boost from storm winds.
In addition, really big hail is less common in storms. If you research how hail forms, you’ll see that the energy needed to keep hailstones suspended at such high altitudes is a lot. Most hail falls to the ground before even reaching sizes of 2” or more because the storm doesn’t have the power to sustain it.
These are just two of the reasons you should never let hail size alone be the determining factor when deciding to get a professional hail damage inspection. It’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your home. Always get a hail damage inspection after every major storm!
How To Safley Identify Hail Damage To Your Roof And Home
Roofing is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world due to being at an incline high above the ground. Falls can be deadly. For that reason, we suggest homeowners never climb on their roofs to identify hail damage.
Instead, check around the perimeter of your home for dents/dings or signs of damage. Here’s what to inspect:
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- Gutters, downspouts
- Cars that were outside in the storm
- Your mailbox
- AC unit
- Window screens and framing
- Home siding
If any of these areas have damage after the storm, it’s possible your roof does too. Call 405-895-9972 and schedule a professional hail damage inspection ASAP.
Who To Call First If You’ve Found Hail Damage To Your Home
The last thing you’ll want to do is file a claim for hail damage to your roof only to find out when the insurance adjuster arrives that your roof is actually A-OK.
Finding signs of hail damage to your gutters and siding is a good indicator that your roof could also be damaged, but should not be used as a definitive metric. After all, your roof is an entirely different material! That’s why in most cases, it makes sense to get a professional hail damage inspection before calling your insurance company.
Getting a roof inspection first is also beneficial because if your roof doesn’t have hail damage, you can keep the inspection report for your records. This can come in handy in hail-prone areas like Oklahoma City, where several hail storms can occur each year. These detailed reports can prove which storm caused the damage should you ever have to file a claim in the future.
About Triple Diamond Construction
Our roofing company has been helping OKC homeowners with hail damage repairs for over a decade! Our trained experts have experience dealing with all types of roofs and all types of damage. We can help provide free on-site inspections and comprehensive reports so you can know the condition of your roof without having to risk climbing up there. If your home was impacted by a recent hail storm, reach out for help! Call 405-895-9972 or schedule a free roof inspection online now!
Learn more about our roofing services in Moore, Yukon, Lawton, Norman, and Edmond, and make sure to read our Facebook reviews!
