The spring storm season is off to a strong start in the Carolinas. Multiple severe storms have already pummeled the Southeast, leaving homes and businesses from Texas to Virginia engulfed in flash flooding, heavy thunderstorms, and dangerously large hail. Whether broken siding, busted windows, or severe roof damage happened to your home, check out Guy Roofing’s springtime guide to hail damage below!
Should I replace my roof after a hailstorm?
The first step a homeowner should take after a hailstorm is simple: call your trusted roofing contractor for a free inspection! Only a qualified, well-trained roofing contractor will be able to properly assess the damage, and can best inform you on what to do next. Hail damage can be difficult to spot for the untrained eye, and ignoring hail damage can quickly escalate, leading to leaks, mold, structural deterioration, and even roof collapse.
Will insurance cover roof replacement for hail damage?
Once your roof has been thoroughly examined, your Guy Roofing inspection expert will be able to guide you through the insurance claims process. Though it varies between providers, most major homeowners’ insurance policies cover a significant portion of a roof replacement after storm damage. Because hail has a tangible, measurable impact on your roof, Guy Roofing is able to provide highly accurate damage estimates, and works directly with your insurance provider to quickly and efficiently get your claim filed.
Should I wait to replace my roof after hail damage?
Some homeowners hesitate to contact a roofing contractor after the first few storms of the season. Many wonder, why replace the roof when we’ve got so many more storms to get through? Though this may seem logical, it’s actually one of the worst things you can do – delaying a roof inspection for the ‘storm around the corner’ might leave you vulnerable to seriously catastrophic damage!
That’s because roofs that experience hail damage to the degree of needing replacement are already vulnerable. Typically, a roof anywhere over 12 years can be heavily impacted by a hailstorm, depending on how much severe weather it’s gone through and how well it’s been cared for during its lifetime. So, planning to ‘wait out’ storm season (or otherwise delaying a roof inspection) only leaves you MORE vulnerable to worst-case-scenario damage – like, say, your roof collapsing during the night, or persistent leaks fostering toxic mold growth in your home.
The bottom line: after a hailstorm hits your home, always get your roof inspected. Catching damage early is the only way to truly keep your home safe, protected, and ready to take on the next storm that comes your way.