Hail Damage? Hire A Professional!

If your home suffers hail damage you would be well-served to know the procedure that will work best to get it fixed.

It doesn’t happen often – maybe once a decade or so – that you get a storm strong enough, with hail substantial enough, to result in damage. But, when you need to access your homeowners policy for storm damage, it is wise to get the job done right. At Dick’s Roof Repair we have been helping homeowners with all of their roof and siding needs since 1957.

Storms sometimes bring out the worst in people. It is not unusual for door-to-door salesmen offering quick damage assessments and unrealistic prices to try to take advantage of unsuspecting homeowners who are just anxious to have the damage repaired. These guys, often operating from the back of a pickup truck, chase storms and take advantage of people and are gone long before the authorities can catch up with them.

The amount of damage caused by those heavy spring hail storms can vary greatly from storm to storm and home to home. Something as simple as changes in wind direction can have a major impact in the amount of damage hail can cause. Strong storms can result in dings in aluminum siding, gutters and asphalt shingles. Hail can also crack vinyl siding and wood shakes.

A lot depends, as well, on the size and density of the hail stones. Many hail stones have rougher edges, which increases the damage they cause when they strike your home.

Large hail has actually been shown to puncture a roof. The age and condition of the exposed roof can affect the extent of the damage as well.

There are things that help to reduce damage. Barriers like trees and/or other buildings can offer some protection.

Different materials show damage differently. Asphalt and composite shingles with no discernible pattern might appear black in color. Some will have exposed felt caused by loss of granules. Shingles might appear shiny.

Wood shingles will have a brown/edge tint near a crack or split. When caused by a storm, the wood shingles will show little or no deterioration along the split. There may also be impact marks.

Hail storms are unpredictable. There is little that you can do ahead of time to prepare. It is recommended that you review your insurance policy to be sure you have adequate storm damage coverage.

If you do experience storm damage, you should contact the National Weather Service to get a storm report. They can tell you the hail size, wind speed & direction and storm duration. These criteria are all important when filing an insurance claim.

Don’t let the storm catch you off guard and don’t fall for the door-to-door repairman hoax. Always trust a proven professional like Dick’s Roof Repair Service for all of your roofing and siding needs. Contact Dick’s at 262-654-6644 if you have any questions about how to repair your roof or siding after a hail storm.