Mother Nature is unpredictable, and some of her storms can be incredibly powerful. Severe thunderstorms that produce hail can be amazing to see, but they can also cause a lot of damage. Hail can vary in size from smaller than a pea to bigger than a golf ball, and the bigger the hail, the more damage you can expect. While hail can cause a lot of different property damage, residential roofs tend to sustain extensive damage during severe hail storms. If your area has experienced a severe hail storm, it's in your best interest to act quickly to take care of your roof and make the needed repairs. Use the following tips for dealing with the aftermath of hail damage to your roof.
Evaluate Your Roof Line for Signs of Damage
In the event of a severe hail storm, always stay safe inside your home until the storm passes. There is nothing that you can do to protect your roof in the middle of a storm. After the weather clears, it's a good idea to evaluate your roof line and check your gutters for signs of roof damage. Damage can include missing shingles or shingle granules in the gutter.
Contact a Roofing Company to Schedule an Inspection
If you have any reason to believe that your roof has sustained damage due to a hail storm, the best thing that you can do is contact a roofing company to schedule an inspection as soon as possible. During an inspection, a roofing contractor will actually be up on your roof, and he or she will carefully inspect the entire area to find hail damage and identify parts of your roof that need to be repaired. The roofing company will provide you with a comprehensive report so you can have a complete understanding of the extent of the damage.
Work with Your Insurance Company
The vast majority of homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for hail damage, so if a roofing company discovers that your roof has been damaged by hail you should file an insurance claim. Ideally, you should file an insurance claim immediately, especially if the hail storm was widespread. Your insurance company will likely receive many claims after a major storm, so being one of the first to file will help ensure that you receive fast service. Provide your insurance company with the inspection report from the roofing company and work with your claims adjuster to get your check to make the needed repairs to your roof.