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.

Austin Roofing Resources-Is Replacing My Roof A Do It Yourself Project?

Can you? Many homeowners want to save money by tackling the job of replacing shingles themselves. However, it may not be the most cost effective thing to do. Hiring a professional Austin roofing contractor is! Here is why.

Time – your time is valuable. You shouldn’t spend your hard earned vacation time or weekends slaving away on a hot roof instead of going on outings with your family and enjoining precious moments together. What if you slip and fall? How much time off from work will that entail?

Money – If you injure yourself, even if you have insurance, there are deductibles and co-pays.  The amount of loss wages from work can add up, even if you just sprain something.

Here is another money issue to consider.

Austin roofing contractors get discounts on building supplies not available to the general public.

Expertise – replacing shingles and doing roof repair can be labor intensive. Special tools may have to be purchased and learned to use properly. Knowing the angle and amount of staples and nails is a learning curve. Will you be able to detect problems, such as compromises in the decking? How will you dispose of the broken or damaged shingles? Austin roofing contractors are fully prepared to do roofing projects.

For these reasons, and others, the experts advise that you hire a professional Austin roofing contractor to do the job. Otherwise, water leaks can occur and cause thousands of dollars in damages.

However, if you must do some emergency repairs yourself, here are some tips.

If your roof is composite shingles, you can purchase roofing cement to patch up torn or curled shingles.  Just make certain that you stabilize each one with boards or nails until the cement thoroughly dries.

Replacing a composite shingle is not as easy as it sounds. You must gingerly lift the shingle above the damaged or missing one, then trim and place the new one under it, being careful it doesn’t catch on the edges. You might have to remove access nails or staples and patch the holes before you carefully nail the new one in place.  Austin roofing professionals can save you a lot of headaches when doing these kind of repairs and at  a reasonable price.

Now, here in Austin , people often have wooden shingles or shakes. If that is the case, a special tool called a shingle ripper must be used. Have a hacksaw handy in case the nails are stubborn and won’t release. Aluminum sheets can be slid underneath the shingle to protect it, but you must be careful it doesn’t show.

When you slip the new shake into place, be sure to leave it protruding about a 1/4 of an inch off the anchoring shingle, and then nail it just below the point where the shingles overlap. Next, taking a block of wood butted against the shingle, drive the last 1/4 inch under the shingle above to bend the nails. An Austin roofing expert is fully equipped for wood shake repairs.

If you have a tiled roof, remember the tiles can be cracked or chipped in the process of replacing them. You must remove all of the broken pieces before gently lifting the tile above it and sliding the replacement into place. Make sure it hooks over what is called the batten. Battens are the material strips also known as a gauge. It is highly recommended you contact an Austin roofing contractor for this type roof.

For other types of roofs such as metal, slate, or built-up, you definitely want to consult with an Austin roofing contractor.

As you can see, repairing your roof is harder than it looks. You may want to reconsider and call a professional Austin roofing contractor instead.

Austin Roofing Resources Answers-Do I need to repair or replace my roof?

Most homeowners hear the word roof replacement and immediately get a headache.  Repairing may be a cheaper and quicker option, and some brave souls attempt the effort themselves.  But contacting an Austin roofing contractor may be the wisest and most cost effective solution.

You can find some reputable Austin roofing contractors to help advise you on what you should do.

However, if it is an emergency and you have a composite shingled roof, some roofing cement applied to the torn or curled up shingles can hold you over – for a while.

If you have wooden shingles or shakes, these require special tools and care.  You really need the expertise of an Austin roofing contractor. Your local hardware supply store can offer you aluminum to slide under the damaged shingles which will provide you temporary protection. Wooden shingles are best removed with a shingle ripper, but you may have to hacksaw off the nails. That is not the easiest task in the world to accomplish. Unless you are really handy it is probably best to contact an Austin roofing contractor to do the repairs.

Be aware if you have an asphalt shingled roof, just placing new ones over older ones may not be the best solution. If the newer ones are thinner, as many are, you may get bumps and ridges that are not only unattractive but may not protect as well.  Expert Austin roofing contractors advise that even though leaving the old ones underneath is cheaper and less labor intensive, it can reduce the life of your roof by up to 20%.

Signs that your roof should be replaced instead of just repaired are -

• Numerous shingles are curled, mossy looking or split.
• The under part, known as the decking is in bad shape.  If there is water damage it may be sagging or rotting. You don’t want to put new shingles over that.
• Putting lighter weight materials over heavier ones shows. It makes your roof look of poorer quality.
• Your roof has already had a layer put over it. Stacking layer after layer of shingles is never wise and in some areas not allowed by ordinances.
• If you live in a climate of extreme weather conditions, especially one that can form ice dams, you want to make sure you have ample waterproofing. Too many staples or nail holes may spell trouble.

If there is no way you can afford a whole new roof, by all means do the repairs knowing that is a temporary solution – only. Don’t expect your repaired roof to last a long time.  Quick repairs may also devalue the resale value of your house.

How do you know if your roof needs repair or replacement?

NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) say it is smart to have a professional Austin roofing contractor inspect your roof with you.

However if you insist on inspecting the roof yourself, look for shingle granules in the gutters. Those granules provide necessary UV protection and if they are flaking off, the shingles need replacing. Check particularly around chimney flashing and vents and pipes that are protruding out of the roof. Make note of any curled, torn, buckled or loose shingles.

And above all, have a sturdy extension ladder to crawl up and down upon. Make sure it extends at least three feet beyond the gutter or roof line and angle it back a foot for every four feet of eve height. Your safety is the most valuable commodity, not your roof.

Most reputable Austin roofing contractors will give you an honest assessment of your roofs condition and supply you with various estimates to repair or replace and they know that eventually you will need their service and if they treat you fairly you will use them in the future.

Austin Roofing-What do I look for when I inspect my roof?

Most professional Austin roofing contractors will tell you there are two questions every homeowner needs to ask.

What do you look for and when should you inspect your roof?

Let’s answer the second one first.

You should inspect your roof twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring.  Always check the safety rules for using your ladder before using it to inspect your roof.

Now that you know when you should inspect your roof, what should you look for?

Check the gutters and clean them out. Gutters cleared of debris will better protect your home from water damage.

While you are there, if you have asphalt or composite shingles, which many people here in the Austin area do, look for any shingle granules in the gutter.  These are shiny particles used to deflect UV rays and add weight to the shingle. If there are too many washing off the shingles into the gutter, you may need to replace the shingles.

Next, check to see if any shingles are buckling up or torn. If you have a tiled roof, look for chips and cracks.  Make note of how many and where on the roof they are located.

Check around any openings that protrude through the roof such as around the chimney flashing, pipes, and vents.  Check around any solar panels, skylights or TV satellite dishes or antennas.  These are places where leaking water can seep in and warp the under deck.

Also, look for any signs of mildew or moss. That may mean the roof is absorbing water instead of running it off.

Of course, you want to check your interior walls for signs of water damage or leaks.  But don’t assume the culprits are the shingles right above the ceiling. Water can run down, seep into areas between the roof joists; soak through the insulation and onto the ceiling.

A professional Austin roofing contractor can  help you determine where the leaks originate.

It is also a good time to check for small holes where rodents can enter the attic, or for any signs of gnawing. Squirrels, chipmunks, rats, even raccoons can get into your attic, become trapped and die. They can cause thousands of dollars in damages. Many times they become stuck in tight places which make removing the carcass very difficult. The result can be quite unpleasant.

Although many people choose to inspect their own roofs, it is highly recommend you solicit a professional Austin roofing contractor to inspect the roof with you and they can point out things their trained eyes may notice that yours would not.