The truth about hail damage, and your roof.

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Hail Damage, how it affects your roof

I'd like to explain how hail damages a roof so that you can make the right decision. When the hail impacts the roof it can do one of two things, first the hail can impress the granuals into the asphalt and fiberglass matt. Also the hail impact may not leave a impressed dimple, but might loosen or scrape away granuals. The granuals are there to protect the asphalt. When the asphalt is exposed to the UV light, it can degrade over time. Therefore hail damage does not cause immediate damage, but will reduce the life of the roof overall. I equate this to a smoker, the cigarette smoked today doesn't kill you today but will take some time off your life at the end.

Metals, such as gutters, vents and flashings, are exceptionally prone to hail damage. When the hail impacts the metal it can leave a dent. More than anything this is cosmetic, but can also weaken and loosen the metals. In the case of metal roof vents, I have seen roof vents almost completely flattened by hail which reduces their air flow.

How to inspect for hail damage..

First check your gutters, downspouts, and siding. This can be safely and easily accomplished from the ground. If you notice impact "dings" this is a good sign you have hail damage. On the gutters and aluminum siding, hail marks are primarily cosmetic. Hail may create holes damaging vinyl siding beyond the cosmetic, and require replacement. Also on your roof the impact damage can be more serious and will need to be repaired at some point.

Warning, if you do not feel comfortable climbing on top of your roof please contact us for an inspection. Please take the utmost care when climbing on a ladder or atop a roof as there is serious risk of injury or death. Once atop your roof, start by inspecting the soft metals like vents and flashings. These areas will be the most noticeable. Then proceed to inspect the field of the roof looking for dimples, which will look like blackish depressions. Check the edge of the shingles, as the hail can sometimes cause minor tears at shingle edges. Also check in the gutter and at the base of the downspouts for excessive granual loss.

For more information on how to inspect your roof for other damage in addition to the hail damage, please read: How to Inspect & Maintain your shingle roof.

What to do if you have, or think you have, hail damage on your roof..

If given the opportunity, take photographs of the hail on the ground or on the roof. Pick up a handfull of the larger hail balls and photograph those as well. Collect several pieces of hail in a plastic bag and place in your freezer until after the adjuster has inspected the roof. Also make a note of the date of the hail storm and the direction (North, South, East, West) the hail was coming from.

Call your insurance company to inspect. A contractor need not be present. There are some rules of thumb regarding roof replacement vs repair after a hail event, and generally this is recognized as 10 impact marks per 10 square feet. However every insurance company has their own rules and guidelines.

Don't always accept the insurance company's first settlement. Often times we can review the insurance company's estimation and find various items that may have been left out. For example dumpsters and/or permits are often excluded and should be added. Adjusters are also human and can sometimes make mistakes on measurements, therefore all of this should be checked for accuracy by a competent roofing contractor after the insurance company has inspected.

Please be aware that the ammount that your insurance company compensates you depends solely on your insurance policy. Insurance policy's are different and vary widely. For example, your policy might cover "like replacement" only, meaning the insurance company will only pay to replace the roof with similar materials and would not include any required code upgrades. Your policy might also include those code upgrades, therefore you might be compensated for ice shield and possibly ventilation improvements. But do not forget depreciation, the insurance company may not compensate you the total amount of the repair value. This can all be determined by discussing with your insurance company, or we can review your adjustment estimate.

Contact us or another local reputable local roofing contractor for an inspection and estimation to repair or replace the roof if you think you have hail damage. Keep in mind that the insurance company is only responsible to pay for like repalcement or minimum code. Be prepared to pay for upgrades, since Reliable American doesn't install any minimum code roofs. We consistantly exceed minimum code. Feel free to learn more about Shingle Roof codes.

PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS.

Beware of storm chasers. There is no doubt, if the storm is severe enough, the "Storm Chasers" will begin to knock on your door, send post cards or generally otherwise harass you falsely promising a "free roof". In 2001 there were major hail storms in the North Shore suburbs (Lake Forest, Highland Park, Deerfield), again in 2010 another hail storm hit the North West suburbs (Park Ridge, Desplaines, Niles, Morton Grove). In both instance these storms brought out of town contractors flocking to the area taking advantage of unsuspecting property owners.

Due to the havoc of the storm chasers of 2001; stricter building codes, stricter IL roofing licensing requirements, and more consumer protection laws were passed. Furthermore as a local Chicago area roofing company, we have made repairs to many numerous improperly installed roofing systems. Where were the storm chasers to fix their mistakes? Out of town, or out of business.

Don't sign anything. Many storm chasers will "con" trusting property owners into agreeing to pre-hire them to do the repairs, and not even know it. Often the storm chaser will tell you that the agreement gives them permission to inspect your roof, or that the agreement gives them permission to negotiate with the insurance company. In most cases you need not sign any agreements to give your insurance company permission to negotiate on your behalf. These agreements are actually "contingency agreements" or "direct payment agreements", and while a contingency agreement is not always a bad thing, a reputable roofing contractor will have no problem inspecting your roof without you signing over your power of attorney. If you sign a direct payment agreement, you will never see a penny of your money and the storm chaser will pocket it all.

If you did sign a contingency agreement or agreement of any kind, remember you have 3 days in the state of IL to cancel the agreement and I suggest you do so in writing immediately!

For more information about your rights as a consumer, please read: IL consumer rights for home repair Purchases.

Read more about about how storm chasers have made the news for their unscrupulous business acts: Storm chasers masquerade as local home repair companies

What can be done to protect your roof from hail...

Impact Resistant Shingles are available which greatly reduce the liklihood of hail damaging your roof. In addition these shingles are somtimes eligible for reduced insurance premiums. Contact your insurance cmopany to see if you qualify for these reduced premiums, then contact Reliable American to see if it makes financial sense to upgrade to impace resistance shingles.

Member of the National Roofing Contractors Association