Roof Hail Damage in Illinois: How Hail Damage Look Like on Shingles
Hail is a natural weather phenomenon. Hail impact can be dangerous. Roofs that have been hit by hail may continue to be protected for many years without intervention or may require varying degrees of repair or replacement. That’s why it’s critical to know what to look for when diagnosing hail damage to asphalt.
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Importance of addressing hail damage promptly
While you can’t always avoid roof damage to asphalt shingles from hail, you can help minimize the extent of damage to your roof by catching problems early, taking steps to repair or replace damaged roofs as quickly as possible, and installing impact-resistant roofing shingles.
How Damage Look Like in Chicago: Different Types of Hail Damage Based on Shingle Material
How Hail Damage Look Like On a Roof and Shingle: Identify Hail Damage
Hail can cause serious damage to any new roof, regardless of the type of roofing material used. A large hailstone strike can cause damage in the roof shingles, leaving your home vulnerable to water intrusion. For asphalt shingle roofs in particular, functional hail damage or storm damage occurs when hail significantly reduces the functionality of shingles that were strong before the strike.
Hail is a natural weather phenomenon. Hail impact can be dangerous. Roofs that have been hit by hail may continue to be protected for many years without intervention or may require varying degrees of repair or replacement. That’s why it’s critical to know what to look for when diagnosing hail damage to asphalt.
Importance of Addressing Roof Damage Promptly
After every heavy rainstorm, it is important to inspect your roof hail damage. Hail falls randomly and therefore may only damage a few homes in an area, so your roof may be damaged even if your next-door neighbor’s roof is not affected.
Some types of roof damage look like difficult to identify from the ground, so you need to get as close to the roof surface as possible for a full inspection. That’s why you should schedule an inspection with a professional roofing contractor you trust to safely and thoroughly inspect your roof if there are signs of hail.
While you can’t always avoid roof damage to asphalt shingles from hail, you can help minimize the extent of damage your roof by catching problems early, taking steps to repair or replace damaged roofs as quickly as possible, and installing impact-resistant roofing shingles.
Whether you need a simple repair or a complete replacement, our expert team in Chicago is here to help.
How Damage Look Like: Different Types of Hail Damage Based on Shingle Material
Non-impact-resistant roofing shingles can be damaged more easily if struck by hail or other debris during a storm.
- Loss of granules: small hail can dislodge roofing granules. It will not be a mistake if a few granules appear after a storm if your roof is not that old. But if your roof is old and most of the granules have peeled off, you should consider replacing it, as this can be a serious problem due to hail damage.
- Cracks and Breaks: hail can cause cracks in asphalt shingles. Hail causes the tiles to leak.
- Exposed Fibreglass Mat: very large pieces of hail can break the surface of the tile. Because of this, it can detach from the lower fibreglass mat. Thus, the roof tile may lose its protective properties. In some ways, if the size of the hail is big, you may need to replace your roof.
- Functional or cosmetic damage: there may also be some cosmetic shingle damage that will affect the appearance of the tile.
Hail damage in Chicago looks like cracks or peeling of the coating, especially on older materials. Note that there is a diode between true hail damage and defects caused by other hazards that make expert inspection and documentation imperative when diagnosing roof damage.
How Hail Damage Look Like On a Roof
After a hail storm, your asphalt shingles may still experience some minor losses and dents at the impact points:
- Loss of Granules: when a large amount of hail dislodges the protective granules or completely knocks them out of the surface of the shingle, its service life is reduced, but this will not be considered serious hail damage on a roof and an insurable event. Loss of granules starts from the moment of tile production and is considered a normal process.
- Cracks and Dents: look for visible cracks, splits, or dents in the shingles. For this you can use free roof inspection.
- Shingle Spots and Mat Exposure: shingle spots, also called “splash marks” occur when hail strikes a weather-contaminated surface. When hail hits such a surface, it washes away the discolouration.
On the roof, the most vulnerable are those bitumen tiles and roof vents that face the hail and that are not firmly fixed. These include shingles at the edges of slopes, as well as valleys and ridges where the shingles bend. Hail roof damage will be found randomly throughout the slope. You can see the spot hail damage.
You may want to contact a Chicago roofing contractor to assess whether there is severe roof damage from hail or other problems. In another way, you will need to pay for a new roof.
Signs of Hail Damage: Inspection Guide
A roof inspection is not only a diagnosis of the problem but also the first step in ensuring the long-term protection and safety of the house, especially in Chicago Neighborhoods. A properly conducted inspection allows you to quickly and efficiently solve problems, minimizing the risk of future losses and additional costs.
- Strong impacts, such as those caused by hail, can cause cracks or scratches in the surface of skylights.
- Over time, skylight seals can wear down, leading to leaks, especially during heavy rains.
- Damage to the thermal insulation of skylights can lead to heat loss and increased heating costs.
- Regular use can cause wear on hinges and fasteners, making them difficult to open and close.
- Metal hatch components can corrode, especially in wet conditions, weakening their structure.
- As with skylights, damaged seals can lead to leaks and insulation problems.
In both cases, timely diagnosis and repair are critical to preventing further damage to asphalt and composition and associated costs. Regular inspection and maintenance in Chicago Areas can significantly extend the life of these roofing components, ensuring they are reliable and safe to use.
Professional Roof Inspection of Hail Damage to Asphalt Shingles in Chicagoland
One of the important and necessary parts of property maintenance is regular inspections of the roof and roof of the building, during which potential problems are identified and measures are developed to prevent them. The service life of the roofing system as a whole largely depends on the regularity of inspections.
Ensure yourself with guarantees and quality professional work by following the recommendations and contacting experienced specialists in the Chicago Areas when necessary. Roof repair is an important event that ensures the protection of your home or building from adverse weather conditions and extends the service life of the roof.
Explore our collection of informative and engaging videos on roof repair.
Roof Hail Damage Repair Options: Know If Your Roof Can be Fixed
On-site repair of individual shingles is a necessary procedure, especially when shingles crack, allowing water to seep into the roofing layer. Therefore, such damaged elements should be promptly replaced or, if possible, restored with the help of special means.
We are talking about roofing sealants and adhesive compounds, which fill cracks and connect individual parts and prevent the cracks themselves from spreading further. It is best to fix a cracked shingle right away to prevent the cracks from spreading to neighbouring asphalt and composition shingles, causing stress in them.
For more amount of damage, it is best to hire a professional roofing contractor from Chicago suburbs. When choosing a roofing contractor, it’s important to do your research and choose a reputable company with a proven track record of success.
Full Roof Repair: When Is It Necessary?
The reasons for which roof repair is needed can be different: it is the incorrect installation of the roofing material, natural phenomena, and the long service life of the material. Here are the factors that determine whether a tile replacement is necessary:
- Hail can seriously damage any roof, regardless of the type of roofing materials used, especially in the state of Illinois. A large hailstorm can cause a crack in your roof shingles, leaving your home vulnerable to water ingress.
- Older roofs may experience more hail damage. If the service life of the roof structure has passed, the metal tile has rusted to the point of holes, the rafters rot and break, the insulation no longer warms, and water regularly drips from the ceiling.
- If the hail was very large and left large holes in the roof tiles.
- If damaged materials cannot be repaired, they must be removed. This may include removing old roofing tiles, metal sheets or other coverings.
- You can also refer to your insurance policy in IL to determine if your insurance will cover shingle repair.
When you see that your roof has suffered from hail, opt for local roofers near you. They can help you realize the extent of the damage and recommend the best course of action.
How to File an Insurance Claim for Hail Damage to Your Roof
If you suspect that your roof or other exterior elements have suffered any type of damage from any storm, call roofing repairs near me to get professional help immediately. You may also have the option of bringing in a qualified third-party inspector.
After your insurance adjuster visits your property and completes the assessment, they will review the damage with you and estimate the cost to repair your roof. Any estimate you receive should be reviewed and confirmed by an industry professional. Contact a roofing company close to me to ensure the repair is done correctly.
Preventing Future Damage to Shingles
Non-impact-resistant roofing shingles can be damaged more easily if struck by hail or other debris during a storm. That’s why industry-leading roofing manufacturers have developed asphalt shingles that can help withstand higher impacts and potentially reduce the amount of roof damage caused by storms and hail. If you’re concerned about this, contacting a roofing company close to me can guide you on the best course of action.
Impact-resistant tiles often have a fibreglass-reinforced mat. Inspect the underside of the shingle to see if it has an extra layer that adds strength and durability. Such tiles do not crack. Impact-resistant shingles of class 4, as a rule, cost 10-20% more than standard asphalt shingles. Impact-resistant tiles will be a guarantee that hail will not damage them.
Conclusion
Hail can put your entire house into jeopardy. It can damage your roof so hard that you will think about re-roofing. However, sometimes it is more than possible to repair it. You can try repairing your roof yourself or opt for professional assistance by contacting roof estimating services near me.
By acknowledging problems at an early stage, you can save time, money and headaches in the future. Whether you decide to make repairs or hire a professional contractor, you must take action as soon as possible to prevent further damage to your home.
FAQ
What is the minimum size of hail that can damage asphalt shingles?
The minimum hail size that can damage asphalt shingles is usually about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) in diameter. Hail of this size can cause dents, cracks or even broken asphalt shingles.
Can hail damage void my roof’s warranty?
Yes, hail damage can affect the warranty, especially if the warranty states that coverage does not cover natural disasters.
How can I differentiate between hail damage and regular wear and tear?
Hail damage usually appears as dents, cracks, or chips that have distinct circular shapes. Wear looks like a gradual abrasion or burning of the material without obvious dents.
What are the best impact-resistant shingles available on the market?
Among impact-resistant roofing materials, composite tiles (based on glass or polymers) and metal coatings, which are highly resistant to hail, often stand out.
Is it necessary to replace the entire roof if only a few shingles are damaged?
Usually, only damaged shingles can be replaced, as long as they don’t blend in with the others and don’t cause sealing problems.
How long after a hailstorm should I wait before inspecting my roof?
It is recommended that you inspect the roof as soon as possible after the storm ends, but allow time to reduce the risk of injury due to hazardous conditions (wet roof, debris).
Are there any roofing materials more resistant to hail than asphalt shingles?
Yes, materials like metal or composite shingles usually have better hail resistance. They can withstand strong impacts without significant damage.
