If your home happens to be located in areas prone to storms, you have to inspect your home’s exterior once in a while for damage caused by wind or hailstones.
Wind can cause damage to any part of your home’s exterior; however, there are certain areas that need special attention. The roof edge usually bears the brunt of high-speed winds, especially when the wind hits an exterior wall and changes direction, turning into an updraft. Wind damage to the roof is characterized by dislodged or missing shakes, shingles or flashing. Gutter hangers or fasteners may wind up missing or knocked loose from the roof fascia.
Hail damage is not as easy to identify depending on where your home is hit. Siding may have dented surfaces or chipped coating, the severity of which depends on the siding material’s impact resistance. Hail damage to the roof, on the other hand, is far more difficult to identify because of its visual similarities with roofing blisters and has been known to result in some insurance claims getting denied.
Roofing blisters are caused by a manufacturing defect and, therefore, should be addressed by your roofer by way of warranty coverage. Hail damage, on the other hand, is covered by most insurance providers. Once you know the cause, you should be able to see the difference between the two upon closer inspection. Hail damage has surrounding cracks that are typical of impact-based damage while blisters, when dried out, are holes with clearly defined borders.
The following are some of the things that you can do if you notice any of the signs of damage described above:
If you have an active roofing warranty coverage, find the paperwork, and look for the part that pertains to wind damage. Most of today’s roofs are rated for maximum wind speeds. You may need to look up local weather reports to support your claim, but you may be eligible for coverage if your roof has sustained damage below its rated wind resistance. Also, check your siding warranties for similar coverage.
If the situation calls for an insurance claim, you have to call your contractor and insurance provider as soon as the weather clears. Both will need to inspect the extent of the damage independently and work together to help you file your claim. The sooner you complete required documentation, the sooner your claim will be processed.
American Roofing & Construction, LLC is your leading provider of roof repair and installation services. Give us a call at (910) 964-0114 or (919) 917-2118. You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.
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