Here in Ann Arbor Michigan we are no stranger to the weather. It seems to get more and more turbulent with each year that passes. From strong thunderstorms in the summer months to cold, freezing, winter weather, our homes are always under the threat of some type of weather. One of the worse types of storms a roof can face is usually hail storms as they can damage many areas of the roof quickly and usually without much warning. Here is just how your home’s roofing in Ann Arbor Michigan may be affected by hail damage.

Signs That Your Roofing in Ann Arbor Michigan Has Hail Damage

Hailstorms literally give your roof a beating. If the hail isn’t that big, you may think the storm wasn’t serious enough to cause damage to your home, but that is where you could be wrong. Depending on how hard the hail fell and how long the storm produced the hail, you could still have significant damage to your roof that is harder to see with your eyes. Here are some significant areas to look into when you’ve been faced with a hailstorm.

Bruising

When hail comes down onto your roof during a storm, there can be bruising to your shingles. Sometimes it’s hard to tell there is anything wrong with your shingles by just looking at them from afar. To determine if your shingles are bruised, you will need to touch your roof.

Any depressions in your shingles that are roughly the size of the hail you received is most likely due to the hailstorm. Touching these depressions, you will find that they are soft and squishy, indicating the bruising brought on by the hail. These can lead to leaks later on if they are not repaired, so it’s important to check your shingles for bruises after a storm.

Missing Granules

Your shingles have a layer of granules on the top, with substrate layered underneath. When a hailstorm comes through, you will find that the granules can be rubbed off the shingles and allow the substrate layers to be exposed. In particularly bad storms, the hail can even penetrate the substrate and leave the felt layer below that exposed.

You need to check for missing granules on your shingles following a hailstorm. You can look at your roof following a storm and try to see if there are shiny areas on your shingles, where the substrate is showing through. You’ll also be able to see the granules accumulating in your gutters if this happened.

In the event you see that granules are missing, but there isn’t a shine to the substrate, the damage you see is older than the recent storm. This was likely due to general wear and tear, but it could have been from storms in the past that were overlooked.

Dents

The flashing of your roof is the metal material used in the valleys of the roof and around any external structures such as chimneys. This can be damaged by a hailstorm as well as the shingles. After a hailstorm, you should check for dents in the flashing, as damaged flashing isn’t as strong at protecting these areas of your roof. This can compromise the integrity of your flashing and therefore the integrity of your roof.

Cracks

Be sure that you check for circular cracks in your shingles. These can be circular or in the shape of a half circle. This can indicate that extremely strong force behind the hail broke through granules on the shingles and caused the cracks. Your substrate was likely damaged as well and can allow for water to seep in and get into the underlying layers of your roof.

If you notice vertical or horizontal cracks in your roof, these are more than likely due to normal wear and tear that comes with age. These need to be checked out as well and repaired if needed to prevent further damage, but they are likely not due to hail at all.

If you notice any of these things following a hailstorm, you should get your roof inspected by a roofing professional to assess the overall damage. From there you can go about getting the necessary repairs done to protect your roof and home from more or worsening damage. One of the best roofing companies in Ann Arbor Michigan is A2 Roofing which has been around for more than 20 years. Call them today at 734-548-9915 to discuss your options and get a free quote!