Spring is just around the corner and with it comes the incredible hail storms Denver is so well known for. While hailstorms can do damage to cars, landscaping, and your home’s exterior, they can also do significant damage to your home’s roofing. As a homeowner, understanding how to identify damage to your roofing materials can be incredibly important, especially when you’re deciding if you should call a roofing company for repairs. Here are a few simple steps to help you spot hail damage immediately after a storm rather than waiting until leaks appear in your attic.  

Start On the Ground

After any storm, no matter how mild or severe, inspect the roof from the ground. Look for areas with missing shingles or patches with cracks and visible damage. Though the damage may not immediately result in leaks, it does mean your home is at an increased risk for roof leaks. If you notice anything that looks out of place, contact your Denver roofing specialist and let them repair the damage quickly. The sooner these issues are fixed, the better.

Inspect the Gutters and Siding

The roof is not the only area of your home that can be damaged during a hailstorm. Using a ladder, carefully inspect the gutters and siding around the roof. If your shingles are damaged, you may see granules in the gutters. This means your roof is compromised and that the hail has damaged the waterproofing ability of your shingles. Take care to inspect the gutters themselves. If you notice the supportive framework pulling away from the side of your home. While not indicative of roof damage, it could be a problem later on. When gutters cannot drain properly, they allow water to seep into the siding and beneath the roofing materials. Over time, this can result in leaks and water damage.

Look Closely at the Shingles

Hail impacts can dent and crack the shingles themselves. In order to see the dents, you’ll need to get close to the shingles themselves. After inspecting the gutters, you’ll want to look at the shingles. Inspect them for shiny spots caused by granule loss, dents in the surface, and any pitting that could cause the shingles to break down. After minor storms, the risk is minimal. However, after storms with quarter-sized hailstones or larger, the risk increases significantly. If the damage is severe enough, you may need to contact your homeowners’ insurance provider to file a claim for repairs or replacement.

Consider the Class of Shingles on the Roof

Shingles are rated with different levels of durability. Class 1 shingles are the least resistant while Class 4 is the most impact resistant. The more durable your shingles are, the less likely they are to incur damage after a minor hailstorm. However if you know your roof has fairly low-rated shingles, you may want to schedule an inspection with a roofer. Even after a minor storm, there could be damage you simply don’t see yet.

Don’t wait until you notice a leak in your house. Contact Big Creek Roofers as soon as you notice something wrong with your roof. Our experienced contractors can help get your house hailstorm-ready before the changing spring weather rolls in. Give us a call at (720) 309-9722 to schedule an estimate today.