Ritco Group, Inc.

If your area happens to be hit by extreme winds or hail, make it a point to inspect your home’s exterior for signs of damage. Here’s how to inspect your home exterior for hail damage.

Wind Damage

The roof edge bears the brunt of wind hitting the house’s exterior wall. It’s a good place to start when looking for signs of wind damage. A wind-damaged roof may have shingles knocked out of place. If a wind is strong enough, shingles and flashing may get torn off the roof. The gutters may also suffer damage so make sure you check for loose or missing gutter hangers.

Hail Damage

Hail damage is not as easily recognizable as wind damage and may require closer inspection. By itself, the dents caused by hailstones look like blisters on asphalt shingles, but a trained eye can recognize the difference. It’s not uncommon for local roofing companies and insurance inspectors to have disputes about this because, while hail damage is covered by insurance, blisters are not.

You may also find unusually high amounts of loose granules in the gutters following haul. You can spray the roof with water and observe the runoff to see how much granules would come with it. In severe cases, shingles and flashing may get knocked loose by hail impact.

What You Should Do if You Find Hail or Wind Damage

If your roof is within warranty, check its wind rating. Most asphalt shingle roofs are rated to withstand high winds. Some are engineered to resist up to Category 4 hurricanes. You may be covered by your roofing warranty, though it may not include coverage for adjacent costs like disposal. Ask your insurance provider if the company will provide coverage for the rest.

After making an appointment with your roofing contractor and insurance provider, try to document the damage as accurately as you can. Take photos of hailstones in your yard. Include a ruler or measuring tape in photos of samples for reference. Inspect and document other parts of your home, such as siding, windows and skylights for damage, as your insurance provider may need this, too.

Ritco Group, Inc. is your leading provider of roofing and new construction services. Give us call at (931) 381-0175. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment. We serve customers in Columbia, Franklin and Brentwood, TN.