Signs Hail Has Damaged Your Roof in Grand Rapids Michigan

What may seem like a minor inconvenience to some, when it comes to hail damage on your roof it’s certainly something that you’ll need to worry about. No matter how big or small the hail is as it falls, it can still cause problems for your home, especially for the roof of your home. As your roofing takes hit after hit, it can cause small issues that can quickly turn into huge problems. To keep your home safe and your roof sturdy, it is important to recognize and fix the signs of hail damage in Grand Rapids Michigan.

Signs Hail Has Damaged Your Roof in Grand Rapids Michigan

Sometimes the biggest problem with hail damage on your roof is that it’s not that noticeable from the ground. Your roof may look perfectly fine when you look at it after a hail storm, but in reality there may be loads of small puncture holes in the roof that will soon become a roof leak. While some damage is rather apparent after a major hail storm, many times it’s not. You’ll need to get a full roof inspection on your home to determine if there is, in fact hail damage in most cases. You can also check out these tips to help you determine if your roof has been affected by hail damage:

Granule Loss on the Roof Shingles

If you have shingles on your roof you should know about granules. They are the top layer of asphalt shingles, and are used to help protect the shingles from impact damage. When shingles are first installed you can expect to see some granule loss after the first rain storm. But otherwise there shouldn’t be granules missing from your shingles. After hail impact, granules can become loose and fall off your shingles.

Granule loss is most easily spotted by looking in your gutters. Granules will slide down into them when there is rain or wind to help them flow. You can also look at the shingles themselves to see if granules are being lost. Shingles that are losing granules will be smoother in both appearance and feel.

While it does not need to be immediately repaired, you will need to keep a close eye on those shingles. They have become weaker and can be more easily penetrated by moisture down the road. Eventually, the shingles with granule loss will need to be replaced to regain the needed protection for your roof.

Bruised and Softened Shingles

As the granules are lost, your roof’s shingles can more easily be bruised. Shingle bruising occurs when there is significant impact, but does not fully penetrate the shingle. Bruises are harder to spot by eye when examining your roof, but can easily be identified by touch. They will be softer and squishy, making it easy for you to press into them. The bruising can be done with several impacts, or just one very large one.

Bruised shingles are incredibly problematic for your roof because they have lost a lot of strength and durability. This makes it hard for them to keep moisture out and can easily lead to problems like roof leaks and mold. Bruised shingles should be replaced right away.

Circular Cracks

While cracks can be caused by a number of different things, hail leaves a very distinctive mark. Cracks in your shingles will look like a circle when hail has caused them. This makes it very easy to tell what has been done by hail, and what will need to be looked into further.

Cracks are a huge threat to your roof because it makes it easy for moisture to enter your home. This means that moisture can pool and quickly turn into mold and structural problems.

Cracks in your roof also impacts your home’s energy efficiency. Your monthly heating and cooling bills can increase quickly and require you to use more fuel or power just to keep your home’s temperature regulated.

Cracks need to be addressed immediately, and should include an inspection to see if there is any moisture that has already gotten in.

Dents in the Shingles

If your roof is not covered with shingles it can still be subject to hail damage. Other materials like metal can be dented due to the strong impacts of the hail. While this can obviously impact your home’s curb appeal, it can also affect how well moisture is kept out. Dents cause uneven covering and allow spaces for moisture to better get into your sub roof.

When you have hail damage on your roof it’s always best to get a roof inspection on your home. Be sure to contact Grand Rapids Home Pros today to schedule a roof inspection on your home to determine if there is any type of storm damage.