Protecting Your Home From Roof Hail Damage in Grand Rapids Michigan
One of biggest questions we get asked from home owners is just how hail damage occurs on their roofs. Since the roof is made of very strong materials and layers of roofing materials it seems like a problem that shouldn’t exist. However, hail damage in Grand Rapids Michigan on your roof can be a major problem even for newer roofs. You won’t be able to change the weather but there are some things that you can do to your home’s roof to protect it from hail damage and once you have hail damage to your home’s roof getting it repaired quickly is a must.
Protecting Your Home From Roof Hail Damage in Grand Rapids Michigan
With summer soon coming to a close we’re still susceptible for hail and thunderstorms in Grand Rapids Michigan. And while these small hail stones may not seem like a problem, for some roofs it can be very troublesome. Hail stones come in variety of sizes from less than a dime to more than a quarter. There are even some places that receive hail stones that are as big as softballs however this isn’t the average for Grand Rapids Michigan. The size of the hailstorm will be a determining factor on whether it does damage to your roof or not.
How Does My Roof Get Damaged by Hail?
There are many factors that will come into play when considering the damage that hail can do to your home’s roof. Larger hail stones that weigh more will be hitting the roof and can break away bits of roofing. The larger the hail stone the more damage that can occur. The shape of the hail stone will also play a roll in how much damage is done. Hail stones with shape edges can puncture roofing and make small holes that you may not even notice without properly inspecting the roof.
Another large factor in the damage to your home’s roof by a hail storm is the roof itself and what it’s made of. The quality of the roofing materials that are installed will be a huge factor. Older roofing shingles will be more susceptible to damage because they are likely more brittle and will break easier than newer, more pliable roofing shingles. The type of shingle that is installed is important as well. Most three tab shingles are only a single layer thick so impacts from a hail stone can puncture that single layer. While architectural shingles usually have more than one layer so even if the out layer of roofing is damaged it still may not end with a roof leak.
The type of roofing that can protect your home from hail stones is called impact resistant shingles. Impact resistant shingles are very high quality roofing materials that many people are using today to protect against hail stones. They provide better protection from impacts such as those from hail stones and they look like regular roofing shingles.
What To Do After a Hail Storm?
When a hail storm comes through the area it’s important to make sure your roof is still in good condition. This is especially true for older roofing. Hire a professional roofing contractor such as Grand Rapids Home Pros to come to your home and make a roof inspection on the roof to determine if there was any damage that occurred. Hail storms can cause a wide variety of damage including:
- Cracking and splitting roofing materials (wood shingles or tiles)
- Puncturing roofing materials which leads to a roof leak
- Breaking or damaging roof shingles
- Causing water damage to the home by roof leaks
- Deteriorating shingles by breaking away granules of shingles
With so many problems that can happen when you have hail damage it’s important to get it taken care of as quickly as possible. If you suspect that your home has the roof damaged by hail stones be sure contact Grand Rapids Home Pros. We are a full service home improvement and roofing contractor in Grand Rapids Michigan and we offer roof inspections. We can provide roof repairs or if needed, we can install a new roof on your home. Contact us today to learn more and to schedule your roofing inspection in Grand Rapids Michigan.
