Hail season has come early which means everyone is talking about damage; Was there damage? Is it covered? Repair or replace the roof? It can be confusing as hail for homeowners who have never experienced a storm before. We are listing the 5 most common types of damage to your shingles so you can better understand what all the fuss it about.

What are the most common types of damage?

• Granule loss at points of impact, which may be accompanied by surface depression. Loss of mineral granules as an immediate or gradual consequence of storm damage can lead to the asphalt coating being directly exposed to the elements. This may lead to accelerated aging of the shingle. Therefore, granule loss is NOT just cosmetic damage, and “sugaring” — the process of adding loose granules to damaged shingles with asphalt cement — is not a permanent solution.
• Cracks in the granule-asphalt surfacing, which may radiate outward from points of impact. Cracks may be present especially if high winds blew the shingles back.
• Exposed fiberglass mat, where hail shattered the granule-asphalt surfacing causing it to break away from the fiberglass mat.
• Fractured fiberglass mat, which may or may not be immediately visible. A fractured mat may result in tears radiating out from the points of impact. Furthermore, hidden damage to the mat may later develop into cracks and tears in time as the shingles age.
• Loosening of the self-seal strip. This damage may or may not be immediately visible and may weaken the seal integrity, creating the possibility of future shingle blow-off.

Is damage immediately noticeable? Not always. Hailstones vary in size, shape, and hardness and can create a random pattern of dents or depressions. If this is not evident, look for indentations on metal flashings, siding, chimney caps, or even skylight flashings as hail impacts may cause latent damage that only appears over time. Latent damage caused by hail may cause the shingles to age prematurely, which is why it is so detrimental.

Can several individual shingles be replaced or should the entire roof be replaced? While it is possible to replace individual storm-damaged shingles, latent damage to the surrounding shingles caused by a storm can be difficult to assess. Due to the potential for the surrounding shingles to also have experienced storm damage, complete roof replacement is sometimes recommended for the long-term performance of these roofs. Due to the difficulty in identifying hail damage and the risk involved if not properly identified an repaired, we always recommend having a professional inspect your roof after a storm. Contact us today and we will inspect free of charge!

Hail storms are not that common in our area and when we do get a storm, the size of the hail ball is typically less than one-inch in diameter. In contrast, the mid-west or other hail prone regions see golf ball sized hail regularly throughout the storm season (like in the picture below). Hail that large causes obvious damage. Neighborhoods look like war zones with large holes in siding and shutters, broken windows and smashed cars, and many downed branches scattered everywhere.

Bowie and the surrounding area was recently hit with a hail storm and I can assure you, it isn’t a war zone. In fact, some homeowners probably didn’t even know there was a hail storm if they were not home or not watching through the windows as hail only comes down for a few minutes. But does that mean there is no damage to your home?

Functional Hail vs. Non-Functional Hail 

Hail damage can be categorized into either functional or non-functional. Non-functional hail is where damage is simply cosmetic and does not decrease the shingle’s ability to shed water or long-term service life. Functional hail on the other hand is more than just cosmetic and actually hurts the shingle’s ability to shed water properly or causes the shingle to deteriorate more quickly. Functional hail often causes leaks overtime and can become a costly nightmare.

How Can You Spot the Difference? 

You will have to get on your roof and do a thorough inspection. You may be able to see hail hits on your soft metal from the ground which is in indicator hail hit your home, but you will not be able to tell if it is functional damage or not unless you get up close. Once you get on your roof, you want to look for marks like this one.

They may be incredibly hard to spot, especially if you are not trained and unsure of what to look for. A mark like this can easily be mistaken for normal wear and tear when in reality, it is functional hail damage that could leave your home vulnerable. If you do find a mark like this, we recommend calling a professional who is Haag certified (like us). You never want to gamble with your home and we wouldn’t want to you to, which is why we offer an inspection at no charge. Contact us today to set one up!