Have you prepared before the hailstorm? Were there evident water leak marks on your ceiling after the hailstorm happened? 

As much as it is important to check up on your roof before the storm, checking the aftermath is as important. There are many factors that affect the damage to your roof during the hailstorm:

1. Intensity 

Storm intensity is used to describe how extreme the storm is and is measured by the atmospheric pressure and wind speed. Some might carry a lot of water, snow, or hail with weaker winds but some do bring strong winds. With the intensity of the wind, it can be strong enough to fly off your roof and debris can be blown away which can puncture and damage your roofing material.

2. Size 

Hail can be of sizes from a fourth of an inch to four and a half inches, which is as big as a grapefruit. Hail can be very heavy and has an impact that can break windows, and if strong winds are present can fall sideways. The larger the hail size, the stronger the impact, and the bigger the damage. 

3. Age

The roof, as the barrier of your home, is always the greatly affected part of your house. Sudden changes in temperature, falling branches, and other external elements contribute to the durability of the material along with its service life. 

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Now that we are familiar with the factors that affect your roof after a hailstorm, here is what you need to do after a hailstorm:

a. Check for dents 

Depending on your material and how big the hail size is, it can chip or break your roofing materials. Check your roof whether your shingles, tiles, or slates are chipped or cracked and if your roofs are with waterproofing, check if there are any chipped or bruised waterproofing membranes. 

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b. Check flashing and gutter

Depending on the size and how long the hailstorm happened, the accumulated weight and continuous falling of hail can damage and detach your gutters and flashing. 

c. Check leak marks 

Mostly, if leaks happen, they can be seen on the inside of the structure. Leak marks may be visible on the ceiling as the hail melts down. Check your ceiling and wall if there is any moisture present which indicated that your roof is damaged and that the water was able to penetrate. 

d. Contact the insurance company 

Now that you have taken into account the damages caused by the hailstorms, report it to your insurance provider and have it inspected to assess further the damages on your roof. You can even provide them with the necessary information or pictures of the damaged area to back up your claim. Has it settled as soon as possible so that the rectification may start? 

>>Related post: How To File For An Insurance Claim (As a Roofing Contractor)?  

e. Look for a contractor 

Check for any local contractor that can evaluate the damages on your roof and have the repair or replacement be quoted. It is advised to get at least three contractor quotations and review the estimation. Know their previous works and if they provide warranties. Do not just choose the cheapest estimation as it may have hidden charges or that they use substandard material which in no time will still be needed to repair. Choose the most reasonable quotation for its roofing service. 

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f. Schedule your repair or replacement.