The Shreveport, LA area is subjected to hailstorms and high winds. With that in mind, it is important to know when a home has roof hail damage that should be reported to the insurance company. But knowing when you have sufficient roof hail damage to report is important.
Before you make the claim, have a licensed and insured roofing contractor like Triumph Roofing and Construction inspect your roof. Our roofers assess the damage and provide you with information to submit with your claim. We will also provide expert repair services. Set up a time for a consultation and inspection by calling 318-674-PROS(7767).
After a significant weather event, it is important to walk around your home’s exterior and look for possible roof hail damage, as well as damage to other areas of the home. Here are signs of hail damage around your home:
Look for random patterns of black spots on the shingles. These bruised–often soft to the touch–areas indicate roof hail damage, as does loss of granules or shiny spots on the asphalt.
As you walk around your home, check the siding and the windows, especially the window sills for dents and dings. If the window screens have holes or tears, even the slightest dent can indicate hail damage.
Inspect wooden decks and porches for chipped paint or other types of damage. If these are damaged, there is a possibility of hail damage.
Because the gutter runs are installed along the roof edge, they can be subjected to hail damage. If the gutter runs or downspouts have dents, dings, or scuff marks, you probably have hail damage.
Whether you have an HVAC system or window units, check them for dents and dings. In addition to possible hail damage, if the air conditioners are damaged, they may be covered by insurance.
What if you don’t find any of the damage we just listed, does this mean you don’t have any roof hail damage to file a claim for? No, there could still be damage on the roof, and for your safety, have a professional roofing contractor perform a roof inspection. Most will do this for free, but if they do charge, the amount will be deducted from the cost of your roof hail damage repair or replacement job.
Some things that can indicate roof hail damage on the roof include any type of damage to the chimney, gutters, skylights, and vents. Large hailstones will typically leave easy-to-see dents in the asphalt shingles, but smaller hailstone damage can be harder to see. Your roofing contractor will walk around the roof and circle small dents and pockmarks with chalk.
Absolutely! Even what may appear to be a small hailstone can break the asphalt singles, cracking the seal underneath the shingles. This will allow rain to get into the attic, and from there, it leaks through to the ceiling and beyond. This is why it is important to have the roof inspected by a professional roofing contractor. If they advise you to file a claim, follow through with this recommendation.
The insurance company will assign an adjuster to your claim who will make an appointment to inspect your roof. If possible, request your roofing contractor to be there at the same time. Remember, the insurance adjuster is on the insurance company’s side and the roofing contractor is there to be your advocate. If you don’t follow through with filing a roof hail damage claim, you’re at risk of your insurance company finding old damage at a future date and denying your claim, possibly, canceling your policy.
In general, even the smallest hailstone, referred to as pea-sized hail, can cause damage to a roof, depending on the angle and velocity of the hailstone. In most cases, however, it takes a hailstone in 1” diameter to cause significant roof hail damage.
Yes, when hard rains and high winds accompany the hail, the damage can get more severe and widespread. This splatter damage is often found on the siding and windows.
Most definitely because it has been subjected to UV rays every day as well as all other types of weather. Roof storm damage is more likely going to damage an older roof before it would a new roof, although even a brand new roof is vulnerable to the weather.
First, the age of the roof will factor in consideration. The amount covered by the insurance company might be less than expected if your roof is older. Check with your insurance company to see how the age of your roof affects your claim.
Also, age will affect the damage caused by hail. For instance, even with the slightest hail damage, the older the roof, the more likely it is vulnerable to leak. Overall, though, roof damage on 25% or more of the total roof surface will typically meet the guidelines of an insurance company approving a full roof replacement.
If you and your roofing contractor feel your roof is eligible for a roof replacement and your insurance company denies the claim, you have the right to request it be re-inspected by another insurance adjuster. If your claim is still denied, you can hire a third-party adjuster to inspect the roof.
Once all issues with your insurance have been resolved, and you’re in need of roof hail damage repair in Shreveport, LA, you can get expert service from the team at Triumph Roofing and Construction. We excel at insurance claim help as well as repairs. Call our team today at 318-674-PROS(7767) to set up an appointment for an inspection.
