Gulf Coast residents are familiar with sudden and frequent changes in the weather, all of which pose a risk to your property, especially your roof. One of the more damaging weather events is hail, which will become more common in the coming months. If your Houston roofing was exposed to recent storms, it’s possible that it caused damage even Houston roof repairs may not be able to correct. Hail is just as damaging–if not more so–as other weather events like wind and heavy rains, and often requires the need for a Houston roof replacement.
How Hail Causes Houston Roof Damage
Hail forms when water drops freeze together in the cold portions of storm clouds. These frozen drops begin to fall because they become too heavy to remain in the cloud, but then the storm’s updraft pushes them back up and another layer of water freezes to this existing hailstone, making it even larger. Eventually, the hailstone will fall to the ground either when it grows too heavy or when the storm’s updraft slows down. If it’s given the time to grow large enough, sometimes as large as a softball, it can be quite impactful. Our Houston roofer sees a fair amount of hail roof damage in the spring, often significant enough to warrant a Houston roof replacement.
What Houston Hail Roof Damage Looks Like
Hail roof damage requires a keen eye and knowledge in order to be properly recognized. One rule of thumb is to assume that if your vehicle sustained hail damage or you find that your neighbors have hail roof damage, then your roof’s condition needs to be assessed. it’s time to A professional roof inspection will allow our Houston roof experts to determine the extent of your Houston roof damage by looking for these signs of damage:
Divots and Circular Cracking
Hail causes Houston roof damage in unique, circular shapes called divots. These form from the impact of hail as it smashes the granules on your shingles and exposes the fiberglass that lies underneath the protective asphalt layer of your shingle. When this occurs, it cannot be repaired, only replaced.
Missing Shingle Granules
If a storm produces medium- or large-sized hail, those hailstones can knock the granules from your shingles. Since granules are intended to protect the life of your Houston roofing, it’s important to determine the extent of the damage. If left unaddressed, it could prompt a Houston roof replacement.
Bruising
The impact of hail hitting your roof can leave marks that are also soft to the touch when pressure is applied. These bruises signal hail roof damage that should not be ignored.
Amstill Can Assist With Your Houston Roof Replacement
As spring approaches, we’ll be seeing more and more hail-producing storms, so it’s best to be prepared. If you do suspect hail damage, our Houston roof experts can perform a free inspection to determine if you need a Houston roof replacement by assessing the extent of damage and recommending the next steps to protect your property. Ignoring Houston hail roof damage can lead to further issues down the road, such as leaks and damaged shingles, necessitating not only a Houston roof replacement, but other interior repairs as well. Please contact us so you can stay safe and protected as spring approaches.