Hail Storm Devastates Fishers, IN

This is a newspaper headline that is all to common in Indiana. Just change the name of the town and you will see this headline written many times each year. When a Hail storm hits your community there is always damage to area homes. Some damage is easy to spot. Broken windows, dented gutters,  and holes ripped into siding are the easiest to see. But what about the roof of your home? How can you tell if it is damaged?

Sometimes the damage is so severe you can visually see it from the ground. Most of the time though it is not as noticeable. You need to make a closer inspection. When Hail storms strike in Indiana they are usually accompanied by rain and high winds.  The high winds add to the severity of the hail impact on your roof. When hail strikes a roof, it can dent the shingles leaving soft or bruised spots. These soft spots may still keep water out and protect your home for a time, but may start to deteriorate and fail at a later date. This could force you to spend thousands for dollars replacing your roofing system many years earlier than needed. So when hail strikes, be sure to get up on your roof and check for denting and soft spots.

Water Damage

If hail damages your roofing system, it can lead to water infiltration which over time can destroy your home. Water will always find a way in. It takes only the smallest of openings to allow water to start invading your home. Once it is in, you will get mold and mildew growing inside your walls. Wood will start to rot. Your home will start to deteriorate surprisingly fast.  In some cases because the water is coming in in small amounts over a long time the damage is very severe before the problem is ever noticed.

The Bottom Line

In Indiana it not a matter of if you will experience a Hail storm, it is just a matter of when you will experience a Hail storm. When hail hits, be sure to do a thorough inspection of your home. Get up on the roof and take a look around. If you are unsure if your home has been damaged, call a qualified inspector. They can tell you for sure if your home has been damaged. Most companies will even offer a free inspection of your roof.  Most damage after a Hail storm will be covered under your homeowners insurance policy for a limited amount of time after the storm. So if you think you home may have been damaged, don't wait. Get it inspected right away.