When the warmer spring weather finally peaks through, the Midwest usually experiences the most intense storms. Issues like hail and strong winds can cause damage you might not notice right away. This includes granule loss, leaks, and even failing flashing. It helps to know what to look for and to learn how to document it clearly. This will help you file a successful insurance claim for storm damage repair.
Hail vs. Wind Damage
After a severe weather event, it can be difficult to spot the damage from the ground. For safety, if you suspect damage but can’t clearly see it, it’s best to call our professionals for an inspection.
But there are things you can look for to identify hail and wind damage. On asphalt shingles, hail damage signs typically include circular, scattered dark spots where they were struck. Wood shingles might have sharp, splintered cracks. You might see small- to medium-sized dents or dings on your roofing materials, siding, or gutters. Gutter hail damage can also show up as shiny spots on metal gutters, chipped paint, or misaligned gutters. Hail damage to your windows and skylights typically shows up as cracking or chipping. Hail can also break the seal on multi-pane windows, causing them to fog and reduce energy efficiency.
Wind damage is typically caused by the sheer force of wind gusts rather than a direct impact on the object. Wind-damaged shingles may be lifted, torn off, or curled.
Severe wind damage can expose your roofing’s underlayment or decking, leading to:
- Mold
- Rot
- Structural damage
- Attic smells
Debris carried by wind may be scattered across your roof, in your gutters, and accumulate inside your downspouts.
Where to Check
After any storm, you want to ensure that you do a thorough inspection of all the different components of your roofing system. This will ensure that you can identify problems and get prompt Missouri or Illinois storm repair. One of the very first places you can start your inspection is to look at your roof slopes. You want to inspect all your visible shingles for curling, cracking, or missing pieces.
You’ll be more likely to experience damage at the higher points of your roof because those areas receive the brunt of the storm. However, it’s important to also inspect those low slopes and shaded areas for any wind-driven debris or water accumulation. Additionally, inspect all flashing around any roofing protrusions. These include your skylights, vents, chimneys, and your roof valleys. Check for any denting, cracking, or signs of loosening. These can all compromise the functionality of your flashing, leading to subsequent roof leaks.
Next on your list should be gutters and downspouts. Heavy winds can cause your gutters to pull away from your fascia boards. They may also become clogged with debris. You should check that all your downspouts are securely attached to your home and that water flows freely through them. When conducting your storm damage roof inspection, it’s important to be methodical in documenting each area to support your insurance claim.
Claim Documentation Basics
The key to a successful claim is ensuring that you have proper insurance claim documentation. This helps streamline the process so that you can get repairs as soon as possible. Inadequate documentation could lead to repeated back-and-forth between you and the insurance provider, which can extend the repair timeline.
You’ll start by taking high-resolution photos of all the affected areas of your roof. Aim to capture each problem from multiple angles to show the full extent of the damage. You also want to include a wide shot that provides context for each individual problem. When you can provide this consistency and ultimate clarity in your photos, it speeds up the dispute process.
Dates are another critical factor that you don’t want to overlook. Note the date and time that the storm happened. Also, note when you first noticed the damage and any follow-up inspections that you’ve had a professional do. This helps to establish a timeline that connects the weather event to the resulting damage to your home.
When you’re submitting photos to the insurance company, be sure to provide detailed notes for each one. This should describe the damage, its overall severity, and the immediate risk that it poses to your home. These can include a potential leak or even structural concerns.
One of the best ways to solidify your claim is to have one of our certified roofing professionals do a storm damage assessment. This will confirm the damage you reported and provide a detailed description of all affected materials and the recommended repair process. This gives your claim more credibility and provides the necessary supporting evidence.
Schedule a Storm Damage Inspection Before Small Issues Spread
John Beal Roofing is your go-to roofing professional when Mother Nature does her worst to the roof on your Missouri or Illinois home. With offices in Maryland Heights, MO; Springfield, MO; Carbondale, IL; and Kansas City, MO, we serve a wide area of the Midwest. We offer reliable emergency roofing repair to help minimize the damage to your home.
We also provide routine inspections, during which our experts can examine your roof and document any problems. This allows us to repair them before they become bigger and more expensive issues.
Contact us at John Beal as soon as you notice signs of damage or for a routine inspection.
