Last Updated on Friday, 20 July 2012 12:08 Written by ahroofing Friday, 20 July 2012 12:08

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At A & H Roofing we get many questions about hail damage to roofs especially after a hallmark Colorado hail storm. Even if there hasn’t been a storm recently, if you have lived in your neighborhood for a good amount of time and you see obvious damage to your neighbors’ roofs, then it may make sense that your roof has sustained damaged at one time or another as well.

Hail damage is difficult to assess from the ground and nearly impossible to judge the extent of the damage from such an angle. You can use binoculars to do a cursory inspection but again, a final diagnosis should be done by a professional.

What you are looking for is a “bruise” on your shingles; a circular area that looks significantly darker than the rest of the shingle. On this area the granules of the shingle have been knocked off and the base of the shingle is now exposed. If the damage is very recent it will probably look shiny but will fade as it becomes weathered. If you discover hail damage, don’t worry too much as most hail related damage is cosmetic and does not affect the useful life of roof shingles.

In some cases, however, severe wood splitting, significant granule loss, penetration of the shingle and fracture may require shingle replacement.

At A & H Roofing we know the inconvenient and unsightly damage hail can cause to Colorado homes. We suggest a roof inspection every year regardless of the amount of hail we receive. It is a sound and long reaching practice. Also, since roofs are generally replaced every 7-10 years, when the time comes to replace your roof, talk to us about hail resistant shingles if the aesthetic damage caused by hail storms is something that you would like to curb. It’s always a good idea to do what you can within reason to protect the biggest investment most Americans will ever make: their home.