A Quick Guide to Roof-Damaging Hailstones

Hailstorms are one of the biggest natural threats to your home’s exterior. To make things worse, hailstorms can be very unpredictable because they can happen even during the summer season. Still, roofing contractors say that it helps to have a better understanding of the types of hailstones that can damage your roof.

Dime-Size Hailstones

The first type of hailstone are small ones, barely as big as a dime. At this size, a hailstone doesn’t deliver much impact damage, and experts consider dime-size hailstones mostly harmless. Unless your roof is already heavily deteriorated, dime-size hailstones can be largely ignored.

Quarter-Size Hailstones

According to roof repair contractors, hailstones with diameters as big as a quarter are heavier and can cause light to moderate damage to a roof. This is especially true for asphalt shingle roofing and vinyl siding where hailstones can cause small chips or dents on the surface. Depending on the severity of chipping, shingles and siding panels may have to be replaced.

Large Hailstones

Hailstones with diameters larger than a quarter can easily cause serious damage to all but the toughest roofs. While chipping is normal, some hailstones can punch holes through thinner material. Hailstorms with large hailstones often cause severe damage to roofs, siding and windows that often warrant complete replacement.

Professional Assessment Required

If your home has been recently hit by a hailstorm, you need to get in touch with a professional roof and window replacement contractor. The pros will be able to make an accurate assessment of the damage, and they will help you choose the most cost-effective option to restore your home back to new.

What to check after a hailstorm in North Texas

Hail size is only part of the story. Wind-driven hail hits harder and at an angle, and an older roof bruises more easily than a new one. A quick look around the property from the ground tells you whether a closer inspection is worth booking.

• Soft metals. Dents in gutters, downspouts, roof vents and the fins of an outdoor AC unit are a good sign the hail was big enough to mark the roof too.
• Screens, siding and fences. Torn window screens and chipped paint show which direction the storm came from.
• Skylights and plastic vent caps. These can crack before shingles do.
• The downspouts. A pile of shingle granules at the bottom after a storm is worth noting.

If you can do it safely, photograph a few hailstones beside a coin or ruler and note the date and time. Then book an inspection before you file anything, so you know what you are claiming for. We document hail damage with insurance-ready inspection reports; see our storm damage page and our insurance claims page.

Need help with hailstorm damage? Feel free to contact us. Lankford Roofing & Construction LLC is the leading roofing contractor in Sherman and Denison, TX, as well as other areas. You can call us at 903-465-7677 or fill out this contact form to request a quote.