Hail is one of Mother Nature’s most destructive forces, capable of inflicting severe damage to your roof and home. Not only can hail cause costly repairs, but it can also lead to other problems like leaks and water damage.
As a homeowner, it’s important for you to be aware of the risks and take steps to protect their homes from potential damage. Let’s look closer at how hail can impact your roof and what you can do if you find your home under attack by ice from the sky.
Hail Damage Leads to Expensive Water Damage
Hail can cause severe damage to your home, including water and structural damage. When hail strikes a roof, it can create cracks or punctures in the shingles, allowing moisture to seep into the roof’s underlayment and eventually inside your home.
This kind of water damage can lead to mold growth, rot and even weaken the structure of your house over time if left unchecked.
In addition to water damage, hail also has the potential to cause structural damage, like denting metal components or breaking windows on buildings with more delicate materials like vinyl siding.
Insect and Rodent Infestations
Hail damage can also increase the risk of rodent and insect infestations. When hail strikes a roof, it causes cracks or punctures in the shingles, allowing moisture to seep into the underlayment.
This small entry point is an ideal habitat for rodents and insects like termites, carpenter ants, cockroaches, spiders, and other pests.
These pests pose a health risk due to their droppings or stings/bites. They can also cause further structural damage by chewing through wooden beams or walls and causing wood rot.
Some animals may even reside inside attics if given access via hail-damaged roofs.
Higher Energy Bills
Hail damage can have financial consequences beyond costly repairs. One of the less apparent impacts hail can have on your home is increased energy costs due to compromised insulation or roofing materials.
When hail strikes a roof, it can cause cracks and punctures, which allow moisture to seep into the roof’s underlayment, compromising its ability to insulate against heat transfer from outside air temperatures. This means that your heating and cooling systems must work harder to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures throughout your home.
As your HVAC systems work overtime for your home, the effort leads to higher utility bills.
Increased Safety Risk
Aside from mold and mildew growth posing severe health risks to your home, hail damage can physically harm your structure. Hail damage to your roof can lead to a potential fire hazard if water seeps into your home and comes into contact with the electrical wires within its structure.
Aside from creating a fire hazard, water damage from a hail storm can weaken the house’s structure over time, potentially leading to serious structural issues like sagging roofs or even collapses in extreme cases.
Decreased Property Value
Hail damage can have a significant impact on both the safety and value of your home. Not only is hail capable of causing costly repairs, but it can also lead to other problems, such as water damage, mold growth, and weakened structural integrity.
All of these damages can significantly reduce the property value of your house by making it less desirable for prospective buyers. In addition, insurance companies may charge higher premiums due to increased risk associated with hail-damaged properties, reducing their overall value.
Get the Hail Damage Help You Need From Final Cut Roofing
Hail damage is a problem that may not even immediately affect your home. However, after a significant storm, it’s always best to get your home inspected by a trustworthy roofing company.
At Final Cut, our team specializes in helping our clients with roof and hail damage. Our experience lets you find the source of your problems quickly and presents affordable roofing solutions that will keep your home structurally sound.
Has your roof suffered hail damage? Contact us today to learn more about our services and schedule an inspection.
