If you have just been through a large hail storm, you should consider your roof potentially compromised. Not all damage is visible on the surface, penetrating into the layers under the shingles and making the whole roof less effective at shedding water. Many homeowners ask roof repair companies only to replace damaged shingles rather than the entire roof. Yet, in most cases, a full roof replacement is a better choice.
Widespread Damage
Even if you only see a few torn shingles, there is damage all over your roof from the hundreds of individual impacts. Replacing only the visible damage can lead to several costly repairs in the future. Small cracks that don't leak enough to be noticed can bring moisture into your attic without marking the ceiling. This can cause rot and mold that you may be left unaware of that can drastically impact your indoor air quality. Make sure to have the whole roof inspected inside and out before you decide what to replace and what to repair.
Reduced Durability of Shingles
If you experience storms that only create small hail, your roof still gets worn from the impacts over time. The tiny pieces of gravel that coat the shingle gets knocked off, exposing the underlying asphalt to the sun. This degrades the asphalt and causes it to crack sooner than usual in a wind storm. New shingles offer more protection than those worn by even minor hail damage.
Underlying Damage to the Vapor Barrier or Decking
To really know how much damage has been done to the underlying parts of the roof, the shingles have to be removed. This shows all the damage that went through the shingles, giving you an exact assessment of the severity. If the hail is large enough, it can punch divots into the underlayment and plywood decking. The decking must be flat and at the right level all the way down to carry water correctly. Even small depressions or minor unevenness increases the chances of a roof leak.
Accompanying Wind Effects
Most hail is accompanied by high winds. High wind can damage shingles by lifting and bending them in ways that are hard to spot after the storm has passed. The combined damage from both wind and hail accelerates the weathering effect on the shingles. In order to trust that your shingles haven't been damaged by wind or hail, it's best to replace them all after a severe storm event leaves visible signs of damage.
Contact a roof replacement service near you to learn more.
Very few roofers would say their job is easy. In fact, many describe the work as downright tough! But that does not mean that roofers do not enjoy or value the work that they do. Many workers get satisfaction from working with their hands, and they really enjoy creating a roof from simple materials. They also like the logistical challenges, such as figuring out how to get shingles up on a tall roof, or how to most safely repair a damage gutter. If you'd like to learn more about roofing as a profession, then you've arrived at the right blog.