Austin Roofing-How do I know how bad hail damaged my roof?

Hail storms always keep Austin roofing contractors busy.

No matter where you live in the country, bad weather and hail can occur.  Here in the Austin area is no exception. So, when the hail storm hits and you hear it pounding away on your roof, how do you access the damage, if any?

Austin roofing professionals advise that the first line of defense is a roof covered with hail resistant material.

Hail resistant material is measured in classes from one to four, four being the most resistant. The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) conduct tests, such a dropping a ball bearing, on roofing materials and rates the results.  So, if your roof is a Class IV, you have a good deal of protection. If it is a Class I or a II, not so much.

How do you know? Check with your home owner’s insurance policy or agent. They should have that information since it probably helped to determine your policy premiums.  If not, ask them if you install a Class IV roof, will they lower your premiums. Then hire a professional Austin roofing contractor to come inspect your roof. They have the equipment, expertise and experience to detect how much if any damage has occurred.

If you do wish to file a claim, your insurance agent will need professional proof. They won’t just take your word for it. The insurance company may send out an adjustor for a look-see, then he or she will determine if an Austin roofing contractor needs to be called in. For your peace of mind, you might want to consider doing that anyway, even if the adjustor is on the fence.

There is no way to determine the extent of the damage without a physical inspection. Mother Nature is a fickle gal. Your neighbor may have extensive damage and you very little or vice versa. Of course if you can see broken or cracked tile or shingles with your naked eye with a pair of binocular, it is time to make some calls.

If you have a pro-active insurance agent and your area has suffered a major hail storm, they may be calling you. If your insurance is not that way, call them and report it for the record. Be sure to take photos of your roof within a few days whether or not you think you see any damage and note the date of the hail storm and the date of the photos. If you have leaks within four to six months, then the hail may have been the culprit and now you have proof to show the insurance company.

You may be able to see hail damage if you have a composition shingle roof, which a majority of people do. If you have a sturdy extension ladder, you can check the gutters to see if there are a lot of granules in them. These are the UV protective coating applied to shingles. If a lot of the granules have shaken loose, the shingles may need to be replaced.

Of course, if you see physical proof such as dimples in the shingles, or some that are torn, note the area so the inspector and/or roofer can look them over. You can draw a sketch of your roof and mark on it the spots that concern you, or buy construction chalk and mark off the actual areas yourself. Chalk is available at any hardware store and washes off fairly easily. If you are uncomfortable about walking your roof, pay for a roofer to come inspect the roof for you.

If you have a tile roof, by all means call in a professional Austin roofing contractor. Walking on it yourself may cause even more damage that your insurance will not pay to have repaired. Metal roofs may show dints and dimples easier, but are also sturdier. An Austin roofing contractor is the best option for accurately accessing the damage.

Remember the damage can be wide spread or sporadic. Your insurance adjustor may have a formula of how many impacts per square foot it takes for them to say a replacement roof is warranted. For some it may be five, others ten. Of course, always take notes, including the person you spoke with, the date and time, etc.

For your own peace of mind, it would be wise to gather some information before a hail storm hits. Find out the hail resistant class of your roof. Find out what criteria your insurance has as far as hail damage reporting and determining the severity. You never know when hail will hit, and hit hard.

Keep all your roofing information, including the name and number of a good Austin roofing contractor, in a folder along with your home owner’s policy.