Hail storms are not incidents we hear about every day. However, they do happen, and they can be quite destructive. Not only can they cause damage to your vehicle and other personal property, but they can also damage your roof.
Several factors can affect the severity of the roof damage. The wind speed, hail object size, and the age of your roof can play a role. Even if you have a new roof, you might notice roof deterioration after the storm hits it. These are some tips for recovering from roof deterioration after a hail storm.
Assess the Damage
Examining the roof is the first thing you need to do to recover from roof deterioration after a hail storm. The extent of the damage will depend on what type of roof you have and how large the hail stones are. Hail stones can be as small as 1/4 inch to more than 2.75 inches, and your roof’s material will determine the damage vulnerability.
You may have damage if you have an asphalt, clay, or wood roof. Metal roofs are less vulnerable to damage, but they can still be dented by hail stones larger than an inch.
When you assess your damage, you’ll need to look for the following things:
Dents or Cracks in the Shingles
You will likely see cracks or dents in the shingles or tiles if you’ve suffered roof deterioration after a hail storm. These cracks can get larger over time, leaving your home open to additional problems.
Split or Punctured Roofing Membranes
The protective layer over your roof that makes it waterproof may also be damaged by the hail that hits during the storm. You’ll need to look for tears, splits, and punctures in this material to know if it needs to be repaired.
Damaged Flashing
The roof flashing is another part of the system that blocks water from going to certain places. Damage to this material can set you up for water leaks. Thus, you should include it in your inspection.
It’s crucial to have someone repair the damaged elements to avoid further roof deterioration. Leaving the problems unresolved can lead to many issues, such as further roofing deterioration and leaks within the home in the worst cases.
You will need to create a financial assessment of your roofing damage before moving on to the next step. This step involves figuring out what you can spend on roofing repairs, knowing which repairs you need, and then evaluating how much those repairs might cost you.
You can use several methods to get the funds you need to restore your roof. One way is to contact your insurance company if you’ve invested in hail damage coverage. The insurance company will pay part of the cost of having professionals fix your problems.
You may need to seek alternative methods of getting the funds together if you do not have insurance. Applying for a home renovation loan from your local bank is one way to find the money. You might also want to use a high-limit credit card or ask your friends and family to contribute to your recovery mission.
Once you have enough money to get the repairs done, you can proceed to the next step in the process.
Speak With Professionals
Speaking with some experts in the field is the next step in the process of fixing your roof deterioration issue after a hail storm. You’ll need to find a reliable roofing company with contractors who specialize in repairing hail damage. You can use various methods to find a provider in this niche.
First, you might want to ask your friends or neighbors if they’ve had any roofing work done. They can then provide you with the number of experts who handle their roofing work. You can also refer to the internet search engine, phone book, or alternative resources. The key is to list three to five providers that you can then narrow down to one or two respectable candidates.
Once you create your list, you should evaluate each provider by visiting their website to see what information you can gather. You’ll need to look at their history, mission statement, and pricing grid if they have one. You’ll also need to look at their credentials and accolades. Some providers also supply pictures of their recent work so prospective clients can see it.
You will be able to narrow down your selections to the remaining few after you read the website data. Then you can take your investigations further by reading consumer reviews. Reviews are helpful because they tell you about the quality of one’s work and the customer service skills they exhibit. They sometimes provide additional details as well. Thus, you could probably narrow the selections down even further after reviewing the star ratings and commentary.
The next step is reaching out to the providers who survived your research.
Discuss Your Options
Now, you will need to schedule an appointment with a roofing contractor to discuss your options. Be sure to gauge their level of customer service when you reach out to them. An honorable contractor will be friendly, knowledgeable, available, and willing to visit and assess the damage.
The meeting you’ll have with the residential roofing provider is called a consultation. He or she will visit the site and review the damage in the same ways you reviewed it. Then they will determine what you need to be fixed. They may offer you information about your roof deterioration in a report.
You should also receive a price quote from the provider and be given time to decide whether to move forward. The quote will include materials, labor costs, and any other fees the provider charges for the services. Some companies offer flat rates for their work, while others charge by the hour. Typically, you’ll be under no obligation to work with a specific contractor just because they give you a quote. You can choose the one that fits your budget and seems the most honorable.
Hire Professionals for Repairs
Once you know who you want to go with, you will make it official by reaching an agreement. A professional roofing business will draw up a contract and ask you to sign it. This contract will explain the work the company will do on your roof and break down the costs of each process. For example, you will see a part in the contract discussing roof shingles, which materials they’ll use, and how much those materials cost.
The contract will also specify the time the workers will spend at your home and what you can do if you’re unhappy with the work. You should see a warranty or guarantee for the work, as most professionals provide one because they want happy customers.
You have a right to have an attorney look at the contract and advise you on it if you so desire. You should never feel like someone is pressuring you to make a quick decision or sign a contract immediately. However, you can sign your contract if you’re satisfied with the work.
A consultation can take a half-hour to two hours but generally only last for one hour. Providers usually give their prospective clients quotes the same day they have the consultations. You may have one or two days to decide if you want to move forward with the work. If so, you’ll set a time and date for the work to commence.
Build a New Roof
The ‘ roofing company near me‘ that you chose may suggest that they build a new roof. This might be true if the hail damage is extensive. The cost might be higher than expected, but that’s a normal occurrence when a roof is severely damaged. Trying to repair roof deterioration from hail damage on an aged roof probably isn’t a good idea. Therefore, you might receive a rebuild or replacement suggestion.
If you decide to let the company do the work, you’ll need to prepare for their visits. These are some tips you can use to prepare for your local roofers to spend time at your home fixing the hail damage:
Make Your Payments
The first thing you’ll want to do is make your initial payments. The provider might ask for a down payment or the entire balance upfront. Many contractors ask for non-refundable down payments of part of the fee. They do this to ensure that you don’t book their workers and then cancel the order. A cancellation can make it difficult for a roofer to make money during the time slot they set aside for the work on your home. Thus, they might ask for deposits to offset the inconvenience if clients cancel their orders too soon before the scheduled work session.
Your contractor may take various forms of payment. Cash is still an acceptable form in many places. Some contractors take credit card payments on their tablets for roof deterioration work. Other forms of payment, such as checks and cashier’s checks, may be less common for roofing jobs. However, that doesn’t mean the provider won’t allow you to pay that way. They may just offer it to you.
Schedule Time Off From Work
You’ll want to schedule time off from work so that you can oversee the project. The roofers may also need you to be home in case they need access to your home for some reason. Thus, you’ll need to schedule time off with the company you work for. You may have to request it a few weeks in advance to obtain approval, as many providers expect their employees to request time off promptly.
Hire a Babysitter
You might want to take your children to a babysitter while the roofers are working on your home. That way, you can focus on what’s going on with your roof while your kids receive the attention and care they deserve.
Make Some Refreshments
Making refreshments for contractors is an excellent idea if you’re the hospitable type. You can prepare lemonade, cold tea, ice water, or anything else you feel the workers might need. They’ll appreciate your generosity and be more eager to do excellent work on your roof deterioration job.
Those are just a few ways to prepare for when the roofers come to fix your home. You can add more elements to this list as you think about what you need to make the process go smoothly.
Repair and Upgrade Current Roof
You know you will most likely need your local residential roofer to do repairs. However, you may not have considered that you might need upgrades. It would be beneficial to discuss roofing upgrade possibilities with your roofer to see how many options you can explore. These are some examples of upgrades that might help your roof deterioration situation:
Energy Efficient Shingles
You can talk to the provider about installing energy-efficient shingles if you want to save money after you have your repairs done. Energy-efficient shingles can cut your electricity bill down immensely.
Easy-Care Gutters
Easy-care or low-maintenance gutters are another option you might want to explore. They are very easy to take care of and sturdy in even the worst situations.
You might even want to have some solar equipment connected to your roof. Solar equipment allows you to use the sun’s rays to help provide you with electricity. Many people have saved thousands of dollars by upgrading to solar equipment. It’s a thought if you’re trying to find ways to decrease your bill.
Ridge Vents
Ridge vents can help prevent excessive moisture from building up. They are also an effective and helpful upgrade. Therefore, you might want to consider having someone install them for you.
You can talk to your provider about these things during the consultation or any part of the process of restoring your roofing deterioration.
What you just read was a list of excellent tips for roofing deterioration after a hail storm. Ensure that you do everything on the list so the job can go smoothly and your home can be gorgeous and dry once again. Go slowly and don’t make any hasty decisions. Taking your time will ensure that you hire the best provider you can afford. Also, remember to keep good roofing businesses on your contact list and offer them repeat service if they do an amazing job for you.