Hailstorms can be violent, and many homeowners can falsely assume they’ve come away unscathed from the weather when their windows are still intact. However, storm damage is often hidden or latent, and can go on to cause issues like leaks months or even years after the storm.
Here, our storm restoration experts at Paul Davis discuss the hazards of hail damage on a house and the reasons that these issues are time-sensitive. Then, we discuss the benefits of our specialized storm damage response services, along with temporary tarping and assistance with the insurance claims process.
Identifying Roof Damage: The “Bruise” Effect
Hail can cause serious damage to asphalt shingle roofs, as they have enough force to impact the shingles’ internal structure. While these problems may not look bad from the ground, “bruises” can occur when hail knocks off the protective granules of shingles and leaves a soft spot in the matting, even without a visible dent. These spots often lead to rapid shingle deterioration, as over time, these bruised spots dry out, crack, and become susceptible to UV exposure and moisture.
Siding and Gutter Dents: More Than Cosmetic
If hail damaged the siding of your home, don’t write it off as merely a cosmetic issue. The hail can leave dents in aluminum siding and cause cracks in vinyl siding that make the material more fragile. This is also true for gutter damage. When hail dents gutters, the chipped coatings expose the underlying material and allow for corrosion. Plus, bends in gutters can diminish water flow and lead to foundation issues and flooding.
Why Hail Damage is a Time-Sensitive Issue
Hail damage or other storm-related claims must be filed within the appropriate claims window. Insurance companies require filing to occur during this limited timeframe, meaning that future issues that result from not handling hail problems promptly may not be covered. To avoid having a denied claim when your roof eventually fails and leaks, it’s essential that homeowners do not ignore minor hail damage and receive an assessment as soon as the storm ends.
The Paul Davis Storm Damage Response
As the nation’s leading restoration experts, Paul Davis is proud to offer comprehensive storm response services, including critical storm damage assessments to protect homeowners and their properties. Our company is staffed by trained and certified professionals who use specialized equipment to document damage for insurance adjusters. This ensures homeowners not only experience a hassle-free claims process, but also receive the proper funds to cover full restoration as outlined in their policy.
Plus, our emergency services aim to keep you protected at all times. This includes providing temporary tarping as an added layer of security for your property, as well as emergency repairs to prevent further internal water damage.
Navigating the Insurance Process
For more than 50 years, Paul Davis has been an insurance restoration contractor, working with the insurance industry to better serve homeowners. If your experience hail damage, the insurance claim process is one of the many ways that Paul Davis helps in your time of need.
By working with adjusters to ensure the full scope of damage is covered, our team is committed to the needs of any policy owner. This includes providing a professional estimate instead of a “low-ball” contractor quote from our national network of trained, certified, and service-oriented experts.
Choose Paul Davis
Homeowners across the nation have long trusted Paul Davis for storm repair services when disaster strikes. This includes professional water damage restoration and hail damage repairs after a sudden storm. Serious weather incidents mean your home needs an inspection, regardless of how it looks from the driveway. With a team of experienced and skilled professionals just a phone call away, Paul Davis handles your storm repairs from start to finish with efficiency and guaranteed quality.
When your neighborhood experiences a hailstorm, don’t take any chances. Schedule a storm damage assessment with Paul Davis.
FAQ
Hailstorms bring a lot of stress and uncertainty, especially if you suspect damage. Read these FAQs for some common questions and answers, or call our team if you don’t see your question below.
How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?
When it comes to hail, the necessary size to cause damage is often smaller than a homeowner would expect. While pea-sized and marble-sized hail can cause issues like dislodging roof granules or denting aluminum gutters, anything quarter-sized or larger can result in functional roof damage.
Can I see hail damage from the ground?
Most roofing issues can’t be seen from the ground. That’s why a professional assessment is key after a storm. Trust a professional to get onto your roof and look for signs of issues like shingle bruising, fractured flashing, damaged ridge caps, and more, rather than risking your safety by moving around on your roof with a ladder.
Will my insurance rates go up if I file a hail claim?
A storm is generally considered an “Act of God” when it comes to insurance policies. This means that the damage to your home is through no negligence or fault of the homeowner. For this reason, most insurance policy rates will not be increased after a storm claim. The specifics vary by policy, but we can help you understand what’s covered and what isn’t when we work with your insurance company.
