When a powerful storm passes through, it has the potential to wreak havoc on your house’s exterior. A hailstorm, in particular, can be extremely damaging to your roof.
When hail hits, the last thing you want to do is to scramble for solutions.
Repairing a roof can seem like a daunting task, but we broke down the process into a few doable steps.
So, without further ado, here are some suggestions to help you repair your roof after hail damage.
Assess the Damage After a Hail Storm
When your roof is damaged by inclement weather and hail, it’s important to take stock of the condition of the entire exterior before calling a repair company.
What Hail Damage Looks Like
Hail can be very damaging to siding, gutters, windows, and more. Especially on the roof, look for indications that the hail damaged the material beneath your shingles.
If you have composition shingles or asphalt shingles, there could be missing granules, or your shingles could have missing shards. They could also be turned up at odd angles, or they might be buckling or curling.
Those of you who have metal roofs, you’re less likely to see significant damage from a hail storm. Metal roofs are extremely durable. However, you’ll still want to check your ridge cap and trimming to ensure that high winds didn’t manipulate the integrity of the material.
How to See the Damage
You don’t necessarily need to get up on a ladder to assess the roof damage. Try to get a good visual of it from out in your yard.
Or, you can stand in the yard and use the zoom on your smartphone camera to take close-up pictures.
Another solution to get a closer look is to use binoculars or a scope.
If your roof is very high up or at a flattened angle that you can’t see from down on the ground, try to look around at your neighbors’ roofs for comparison.
Obviously, your roof might differ in age and material from your neighbors. Generally, though, homes in a neighborhood are built similarly and around the same time.
The next step after assessing the damage is to call repair companies for estimates.
Get Estimates From Professional Roofing Companies
Get at least three repair quotes from different roofing contractors. Not all roofing contractors are the same, so it’s important to explore your options.
You should even consider getting four or more to ensure you get a comprehensive overview of prices and estimates for repair work.
Go Local
Remember, it’s important to get estimates from companies that are local to your area for a few reasons.
Firstly, a local roofing contractor, like Peak to Peak Roofing & Exteriors, will be familiar with insurance adjusters and might be able to aid in filing claim forms with your insurer.
Second, local roofers will be able to complete the task more quickly since they are nearby. They won’t have to travel for several hours to the job site.
Lastly, a local professional roofer will know the precise roofing codes in your city.
For example, if there’s a particular type of repair recommended by code officials or building inspectors in your area, repair companies who aren’t as familiar with those regulations might not be aware and could overlook those important details.
A great way to filter your potential contractors is by reading online customer reviews and contacting references.
File a Claim With Your Insurance Company
After you’ve taken a look at your damaged roof and gotten a few estimates, it’s important to file a claim with the insurance companies.
What Your Provider Will Expect From You
The claims process will vary depending on the type of insurance policy that you have, but in most cases, it involves getting an inspector to come out and assess the damage.
You’ll need quite a bit of information ready for this step including pictures of your roof, repair estimates, receipts for repair supplies purchased, etc.
Sometimes your insurance company will assist with estimates, but you should come prepared with your own.
What to Expect From Your Provider
The filing process can be tricky because every insurance company has different rules about what is covered under their hail repair coverage. Try not to assume any coverage is guaranteed.
Typically, though, repair coverage includes repair or replacement of roofing, siding/exteriors, windows, gutters and downspouts, skylights, and patio covers.
Once your insurance claim is processed, you can get someone out to make the repairs.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, the repair process goes smoothly for you. Having a roof over your head is a necessity in life, so we don’t want you suffering any longer than you have to.
Your home, family, and possessions are very important, and we don’t want hail damage, or any other weather event, to take that away.
Make sure you assess the damage shortly after the storm. Then, contact a few local professional roofers for repair estimates. Next, file a claim with your insurance provider. Finally work together with your insurance and your local contractor, like Peak to Peak Roofing & Exteriors, to make the necessary repairs.
If you follow the suggestions we gave, you can get back to normal quickly and easily.