What You Need to Know About Hail and Storm Damage
Storms are never fun, but when one causes damage to your roof, your comfy home will soon become a structural nightmare. Knowing more about hail damage and how it can affect your house could prevent you from encountering costly repairs.
Learning how to spot hail damage
Depending on your roof's material, you may spot dents. Sometimes the dents aren't immediately visible, so you'll have to While they look innocuous, over time they can lead to a lack of structural integrity, which then leads to leaks. Other signs to look for include cracks in the asphalt.
Solar panels usually withstand hail storms
When you're trying to create an eco-friendly home, you may want to install solar panels. Once upon a time, those installing these panels would use crystalline, which would crack under pressure. Today, most contractors use PV panels. As a result, you don't have to worry about storm damage preventing them from functioning.
Despite this, you need to watch out for structural damage to the roof supporting your panels. If you're in doubt as to whether it's safe, give a roofing contractor a call.
Watch out for falling trees
Generally, your roof can survive most storms that reach 50 to 60 mph. Beyond this point, you might start to encounter damage from surrounding structures. This may include trees that are already loose, large branches that are dying, and power lines. Once the storm passes, step outside your house to see if anything has fallen against the roof. If you're feeling capable, you can climb a ladder and take a closer look. Otherwise, call on a professional to assess the severity of the situation.
You can inspect for damage from within your attic
If you have access to your attic and you don't like the idea of climbing a ladder, why not head in there and analyse the situation from the inside? Leaks, damp patches, and cracks of light coming through are all indications that a recent storm has damaged your roof.
Your home insurance may cover the cost of repairs
If you live in an area that's prone to storms, now's the time to find out whether your insurance policy covers the cost of repairs. Most policies do, but it's important to bear in mind that many contain a clause stating that they won't cover such damage in the first 48 hours of a policy existing. As such, you'll need to take out insurance as soon as you move into a new home.
If you feel as though a recent storm has caused damage to your roof, call on a professional roofer to assess the situation.
