What Hail Damage Does To a Roof and Home
According to the NOAA’s Severe Storms, there were 4,610 major hail storms in the United States in 2018. Many homeowners in North Virginia, Maryland, and DC do not realize the amount of destruction hail damage can cause to their roofs. The damage often cannot be seen from the ground which is the reason why most homeowners neglect the idea of hail damage.
What Does Hail Damage Does to Your Roof
Hail can impact different roof materials in different ways:
Asphalt Roofing: One of the reasons why asphalt is so popular in areas of North Virginia, Maryland, and DC, is that it is super strong and can withstand a large amount of force from hail. Asphalt won’t crack easily but if it receives a bombardment of hail in the same spot, it may fracture, puncture, or displace its granules. The loss of granules means that the underlying asphalt will be exposed to the harmful sun rays. The UV rays can then deteriorate the material and speed up the cracking, edge damage, blister formation, algae growth, and water leaks.
Metal Roofing: Metal is one of the strongest materials for roofing and can offer heavy protection against hail damage. If hit by hail, metal roofs will feature a few dents. Although this may impact the aesthetics of your roof, chances are very slim that your roof will puncture. To make sure your metal roofing lasts a long time, get it fixed after hail damage.
Clay and Concrete Roofing: Concrete and clay roofing have become increasingly popular these days. That’s because these types of roofs are extremely strong. If they are hit with a barrage of large hailstones, they may suffer some cracks but the chances of your concrete roofing being shattered by hail are very small.
Slate Roofing: When it comes to slate roofing, this is the crème de la crème of your roof material, since it is stone. If you have a slate roof, there is no need to panic if a hail storm comes in. However, some slight damage or removal of a few shingles is possible, so it is best to inspect your roof once the hailstorm rolls out.
Wood Roofing: The extent of damage to your wood shingles or shakes depends on the type of wood you use for your roofing. Hardwood like cedar and redwood can fare much better than softer wood roofing material. When hit with hail, you can expect loose or cracked shingles, splits that are orange and have edges with little deterioration. Hailstones that are large enough can crack through this kind of roof as well.
Outcomes of Hail Damage
Hail damage can be mild, moderate or severe. It all depends on what type of roof material you have and how intense the hail was.
The most serious damages include roof collapse and flooding of the house. If water enters your house and gets into your electrical wiring, you may be looking at another serious issue. However, the chances of major hail damage happening to healthy roofs are very small.
Usually, the most common outcome due to rain damage is water leaking into your home, through cracks in your roof. This can result in rot and mold.
Your roof may also become weakened and will affect the insulation of your home. As a result, extreme cold and heat can leach into your home, your HVAC systems will have to work harder to regulate the temperature, and you will see an increase in your energy bill.
Lastly, the curb appeal of your home will also suffer. Nobody likes to see curled, split, or loose shingles or shakes on the roof of their house.
What Should You Do If You Have Hail Damage in North VA, MD, and DC
If you live in North Virginia, Maryland, or DC area, and think you have hail damage, call Sterling Exteriors VA for a free roof inspection. Our experienced crew will check out the damage to your roof and will come up with a plant o fix it. To contact us, call us today at (703) 260-6331.