3 Types of Loss a Roof Can Sustain From Hail

6/22/2021 (Permalink)

Hail can cause storm damage to your roof.

Everyone knows that a building can take quite a beating from relatively small hailstones (as small as one inch in diameter). The extent of the damage depends on several roof characteristics, including the roofing materials, the roof's age and quality of construction and the degree of the roof's slope. The amount of loss also depends on hail factors, including the size, density and shape of the hail and the velocity and angle at which it falls. Hail damage can be classified as functional (i.e., affects the roof's durability and life) or cosmetic (i.e., damage that doesn't affect the roof's functionality). Here are three types of functional loss that roof damage can cause.

Types of Loss a Damaged Roof Can Cause

1. Cracked Shingles

Hail can crack or shatter denser roofing materials, such as wood shake, concrete or clay immediately upon impact. Asphalt shingles are vulnerable to cracks, punctures, tears and displacement of granules.

2. Granule Displacement

Granule displacement is the most common type of damage to asphalt shingles. The impact of falling hailstones knocks off the granules. The granules protect the roof, so when they're knocked off, the underlying asphalt is exposed to sun rays which do even more damage due to UV light degradation. This can make the roof more susceptible to cracking, edge damage, blistering, algae formation and water leaks.

3. Water Leaks

Roof damage, such as cracks, missing or damaged shingles, can cause water leaks into the building from rain and melting snow. These leaks can cause various issues, such as wet insulation, which must be replaced. Also, water damage in the attic and mold growth wherever excess moisture lingers can occur. It's essential to thoroughly get rid of these problems, which requires an inspection by water damage restoration professionals.

When your Ogden, UT, commercial building sustains roof damage from a hail storm, immediate action is necessary to minimize additional loss. If you catch it early enough, you may only need shingle replacement.