How much damage do you think hail can inflict on your home? You know those little balls of ice can dent the heck out of your vehicle, but would you imagine they can do some serious damage to the roof of your house? Furthermore, would you assume ignoring that damage could result in potentially serious consequences?
At Kiser Construction, we understand it's easy to overlook a little hail damage on the exterior of your home. But no matter how easy they are to ignore, those little pockmarks will inevitably grow worse, and if you fail to attend to them, you’ll have more severe problems to deal with down the road. What can happen? Read on to learn about the potential consequences of ignoring a storm-damaged roof.
Persistent Leaking
Hail damage on your roof isn’t always easy to identify, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the time to inspect the structure of your roof after a storm. With enough size and velocity, hail can easily dislodge shingles’ protective granules, crack shingles, dent gutters, and even damage the matting beneath the shingles. And if you aren’t aware of these types of damage, your roof is in for trouble.
Granule Loss
The shingles and matting on the roof of your home are designed to prevent water from leaking through, and any damage to those materials can allow moisture to penetrate the roof. Even if the damage is minor, when moisture is allowed to continually infiltrate the structure of the roof over time, mold, mildew, and even roof rot can develop.
This can directly affect the granules from your asphalt shingles and loss can occur through hail damage or even normal wear and tear. The hailstorm can cause the granules to wear down quicker which depletes the protection and strength of the roof.
Higher Repair Costs
Another consideration for ignoring roof damage means the repair costs for the material can increase. Because many new problems can arise, another factor to consider is that without the added extra protection of healthy roofing material, it can also affect the insulation inside of your home creating higher energy costs and more wear and tear on your heating system.
Wiring Problems
In fact, another major concern around hailstorms is if there is a steady stream or drip of it can potentially flood the attic and seep into any light fixtures that are installed below causing major water damage. It can get into the outlets in walls and can ruin junction boxes which can expose live wires to the water and cause dangerous environments.
One way to help prevent this is by being able to identify damages. This can require doing an inspection or if you’re unsure you can, contact a reputable roofing company that can do the job for you. If the contractors identify any damage, they can advise you on any necessary roof repairs you must pursue.
Ice Dams in Winter
In the Twin Cities, we get our fair share of ice and snow throughout winter, and for many homeowners, that means persistent ice dams for months on end. If you’ve ever seen a shelf of ice resting on the edge of a home’s roof, that’s an ice dam, and it can have consequences. And no, ice dams aren’t purely a visual annoyance; they can actually cause serious roof damage.
Leaking
So how do ice dams relate to summer hail storms? Good question. When your roof sustains hail damage and you ignore it (or don’t know about it), that damage allows a small amount of warm air to escape from your attic. And when that warm air escapes from the attic during winter, it gradually melts the snow that sits on the roof of your home.
Like hailstorm damage, the ice dam can also cause the same issues because water will build up behind the damn. Because it's backing up, it can pull under the shingles and flashing and cause potential leaks in the roof. It can also block the gutters from draining correctly, resulting in more backups.
Ruined Shingles
As the ice dam builds and the snow melts, the water travels downward toward the edge of the roof. But the edge is colder than the peak and midpoint of the roof because it doesn’t sit directly over the warm air in the attic. When the water reaches the colder section of the roof, it refreezes and forms a layer of ice. As this melt-freeze cycle continues, a thick layer of ice (a.k.a. an ice dam) can form on the edge of your roof.
As that ice layer accumulates, it can grow thick enough that it will not allow additional melting snow to exit the roof. And when that happens, water begins pooling behind the ice dam, where it can sit on the roof for extended periods. Unfortunately, if your roof sustained hail damage that caused minor leaks, that pooling water will continually seep beneath the shingles and damage the structure of your roof. And this also can contribute to ruined shingles because the liquid can seep underneath them. If this is left unattended or they don't have a chance to dry, it can cause irreparable damage and may result in needing a replacement and possible emergency restoration.
Insulation Issues
Another concern is if the water leaks under the shingles and finds a source to get into the framework of the roofing material, it can also affect your insulation. This can result in a buildup of mold and mildew, which can lower the home's air quality and cause greater issues for individuals with allergies.
One way to avoid that scenario is making sure that you inspect your roof after every heavy hail storm. Again, if you’re unsure you can detect hail damage to your roof, contact a roofing contractor to schedule a professional inspection. Storm damage repairs and roof repairs are a minor expense compared to a complete roof replacement.
Kiser Construction: Your Source for Comprehensive Storm Damage Repairs
If you believe your roof was damaged during a storm, get in touch with our team at Kiser Construction right away. We can inspect your roof, advise you on any necessary roof repairs, and work with your insurance company to make sure you get the coverage you need. To learn more about our services or schedule an appointment, give our Minneapolis office a call today at 763-633-2010 or send us a message with your questions, and we’ll be in touch promptly.
If your home recently suffered fire, flood, or storm damages, and you require emergency restoration services, please call us on our 24/7 emergency line at 612-518-8852.