How Big Does Hail Have to Be to Cause Damage
Hail is something you probably don’t enjoy seeing on the radar when a storm is moving into your area. Unfortunately, you can't cover or hide your roof to avoid hail. Fortunately, hail doesn't always cause damage. Saying “big enough” won’t help you decide if your roof has potential hail damage. So, what size hail will damage a roof?
What size hail causes damage to roofs?
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Hail damage to your roof can lead to a replacement after a storm, especially if it’s a big hail storm. However, small hailstones or frequent hail storms that don’t cause damage won’t cause you to replace your roof any sooner than you would have otherwise. A lot of little hail can impact your roof and shorten its lifespan over time, especially if it’s exposed to hail often.
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Hail that is 1” in diameter or larger can damage asphalt shingles and will warrant an insurance claim. This hail will cause dents/dings, compromise the integrity of the shingle and potentially cause leaks on your roof.
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If you don’t notice any large dents, it doesn’t mean your roof won’t have hail damage. An experienced roofing contractor should be able to spot the dents.
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If hail damaged your roof, there will be signs. Dents and splatter over your roof vents and gutters are two of the most common signs of hail damage, but you might see other dings and dents as well. If you have any of these damage signs to your roof, there’s a good chance you’ll have a homeowners insurance claim.
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Can you tell if you have hail damage without getting on the roof?
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If you suspect hail damage at your home, don’t get up there yourself. You may not be able to see what's happened, and walking on the roof can be dangerous.
A great way to look for hail damage is from the ground. Below is a list of things to check for visible hail damage on your property.
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Holes in your window screens
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Downspouts above 5ft
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Dings or splatter on garage door
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Dings on wood or shutters
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Dings or splatter on Ac unit, grill, or electric meter
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Damage to your mailbox or other soft metals
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Dents on your car
If you notice any of the above, there is a chance your roof might have been damaged by hail.
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What to do if you think your roof has damage.
If your roof has been damaged, fixing it is important. If you have homeowners insurance, there’s a good chance you’ll have a claim. If you suspect that you’ve suffered hail damage to your roof, don’t waste any time. This may be a serious problem that needs to be dealt with right away, so it pays to call a reputable roofing company right away. You can also contact your insurance company and they’ll help determine if there are any steps you should take immediately.
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If you have a claim, the insurance company will send out an assessor to inspect your roof. If they approve the claim, it’s time to hire a local roofing contractor with experience working with insurance companies.
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If your insurance company denies your claim, that doesn’t mean you’re out of luck. There are a few different ways to appeal the denial. If you believe there was hail damage on your roof, but the first adjuster didn’t find any evidence of that, ask for a second adjustor to come out. If they confirm that there is hail damage, then you’ll have room to appeal again.
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Next, call a local roofing company.
After you call a local roofing contractor, they’ll come out to your home for an inspection. During the inspection, they’ll take pictures of any suspected hail damage to submit to your insurance company so that you can start getting paid for repairs.
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If hail damage is present, the insurance company will send out an adjuster to do an inspection to confirm. If the adjuster agrees after their inspection, then your claim will be approved.