What to Look for in a Roof Inspection of Hail Damage
This previous Fall, the Madison area in 2016 had 2 hail storms which caused a rather high volume of calls for my services in roof inspections. It seems that the insurance adjusters were overwhelmed with calls so were counting on house inspectors to submit reports to clients for their review. What do we look for in a hail damage and more specifically, how do we know the difference between an aging roof or one that has been struck by a disaster from mother nature? I endeavor to dive into the subject and provide you with pictures to substantiate my claims.
Hail Damage
We will take a 10 X 10 foot square and look for small impressions in the roof. The amount of impressions found in that area will determine if that side of the roof will need to be replaced. Looking at the pictures below, these roofs were deemed replaceable by the insurance company due to the amount of impressions in the 10 X 10 square. Eight hits is a common number.
An example of when an insurance company might pay for cosmetic damage is when the damage results in a financial loss to the policyholder, or if reimbursement is required by state or local law. Whether cosmetic damage may be compensated for also varies somewhat by the policies of various insurance companies, and how each policy is written.
We look at window cladding, chimney flashing/cap, gutters for any sign of hail damage which would reinforce damage to the roof as well
Hail size is described by comparing it to a common object.
Here are some commonly used descriptions:
- pea = 1/4-inch in diameter;
- marble = 1/2-inch in diameter;
- dime or penny = 3/4-inch in diameter (hail the size of a penny or larger is considered severe);
- nickel = 7/8-inch;
- quarter = 1 inch;
- golf Ball = 1½ inches;
- tennis Ball = 2½ inches;
- baseball = 2¾ inches;
- tea cup = 3 inches; and
- grapefruit = 4 inches.
| Material | Hail Size | Damage Size |
| 3-tab organic shingles | 1-inch | 25mm |
| 3-tab fiberglass shingles | 1¼-inch | 32mm |
| cedar shingles | 1¼-inch | 1¼-inch |
| fiber-cement tiles | 1¼-inch | 1¼-inch |
| flat concrete tiles | 1¼-inch | 1¼-inch |
| heavy cedar shakes | 1½-inch | 38mm |
| 30-year laminated shingles | 1½-inch | 1½-inch |
| built-up gravel roofing | 2-inch | 50mm |
| S-shaped concrete tiles | 2-inch | 2-inch |
Below is a listing of the life expectancy of various roofs. This is added in the damage equation as well. Even though your neighbor’s roof might be deemed replaceable, this does not indicate that your roof would be. I have done countless inspections that would support this.
If you would like a hail damage inspection, please contact us today.