The minute you sign on the dotted line to purchase your first home, you suddenly become aware of all the potential damages it can suffer. Perhaps homeownership really does turn us into our parents overnight, and with good reason. Reading all the potential catastrophes in your homeowner’s policy can sprout a dozen new gray hairs, and that’s before you even get to what’s not covered.
With storm season fast approaching, homeowners everywhere turn their thoughts upward—to their roofs. Nowhere is this a more painful truth than in Colorado, which receives the highest frequency of large hail in North America and in most of the world. In the past 10 years, hail storms in Colorado have caused more than $5 billion in damage (as calculated by insurance claims).
Is Hail Really That Destructive?
People often ask, “Can hail damage a roof seriously enough to file an insurance claim?” We can assure you that the answer is a definitive yes. Hail damage can be severe enough to destroy buildings and can even cause loss of life in the most destructive storms. In Colorado, the biggest hailstone recorded was five inches in diameter and weighed over half a pound.
How Does Hail Damage a Roof?
Hail damage looks different depending on the type of roof you have. Asphalt and composition shingle damage will look bruised, similar to the way bruises appear on fruit. Wood shingles with hail damage will split and may appear orange, or they may have dents.
What Does a Roof Damaged by Hail Mean for a Home?
While it might not seem like a big deal to have a few dented or bruised shingles, we can assure you from experience that neglecting to have your roof repaired after a hail storm is playing with fire—or ice, in this instance. Damaged shingles usually lose their protective granule coating, allowing the layer underneath to become exposed and cause leaks. Before you know it, your roof will be leaking in numerous spots, allowing nature’s elements into your home.
If Only Part of a Roof is Damaged by Hail, Could You Have Only That Section Repaired?
If a storm leaves your roof with damage to a limited area, chances are you can get away with a roof repair rather than a replacement. However, we recommend that you have a roofing professional evaluate your roof to make sure missing granules and indentations are limited to an isolated area in order to avoid the growth of mold and bacteria stemming from a leak that was not treated at the same time.
How Do You Prevent Future Hail Damage to a New Roof?
Because Colorado has the misfortune to lead the country in wind and hail damages, chances are that if you have one hail claim for roof damage, you’ll have another in the future. That is, unless you take our suggestion and choose one of these ideal roof systems for your Colorado hail-prone home:
• Metal roofs with a Class 4 rating are impact resistant to prevent punctures during hailstorms.
• Impact-rated asphalt shingles are specially modified to add protection and come with a Class 4 impact resistance rating.
• Rubber roofs have a high level of impact resistance. The dispersing nature of the material means you won’t have to worry about dents, punctures, or other forms of physical damage on your roof.
• A tile roof can offer added protection against hail. Tile roofs work best for areas with hailstones lower than two inches.
• Stone-coated steel shingles are made of hail damage prevention materials. The result is a shingle that is strong, durable, and attractive.
At Empire Roofing and Restoration, we’ve been putting customers before profits since 1990. No one knows more about how to take care of Colorado’s homes during storm season than we do, so give us a call today for all your roofing needs.
