Home Impacted by Hail? Here’s What You Need To Know

The time has come, just as it does every year, when hail rears its ugly head and becomes a force that both homeowners and business owners need to worry about. Suffering through a hailstorm can be an annoying, harrowing, and costly experience. To make sure you’re prepared before and after a hailstorm occurs, we’ve cobbled together a quick list of facts that you need to know:

Hail Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

If there’s one basic truth about hail, it’s that you can’t lock it down to a single look. While the spherical shape of hail remains true throughout, the size of it can vary greatly. This is why you want to stay indoors during a hailstorm. You might get lucky and deal with tiny pieces of hail that cause no damage whatsoever, but you may also find yourself exposed to softball-sized hail that will knock you out if given the chance.

Hail Compromises Your Roof’s Integrity

Depending on the size of the hail involved in a hailstorm, your roof can become severely damaged pretty much right away or over time. The most common effect of a severe hailstorm – aside from what it does to vehicles that are unlucky enough to be outside when a storm occurs – is damage to the roof of your home or business. Such damage can cause leaks and are often expensive to repair.

No Leaking Doesn’t Mean No Damage

Many homeowners and business owners view hailstorm damage through the lens of a “leak test.” If they experience a leak, that’s when they take the threat of damage seriously and call their insurance company to file a claim. Leaks don’t need to be evident, however, for there to be damage to your roof. This is especially true when the hail coming down has been of a considerable size. If you believe there’s been damage, survey the roof yourself or call on the help of a professional.

A Professional Can Help with Restoration

Homeowners often attempt to fix problems with their roofs without enlisting the help of a professional. While this can sometimes work to a certain degree, the typical homeowner (or business owner, for that matter) doesn’t have the knowledge required to properly fix a damaged roof. Yes, there are do-it-yourself processes you can utilize, but for maximum benefit, you should leave repair and restoration to the experts.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Make a Claim

If you wait too long after your home has experienced hail damage, then your claim could be delayed or even denied. While the damage might not be severe enough to be an immediate threat, your insurance company may have a statute of limitations for filing a claim. It’s always in your best interest to begin taking care of the paperwork as soon as you believe damage has occurred.

Steps to Take Immediately After a Hailstorm

Following a storm that resulted in hail damage, here are the steps you should take right away:

• Write down the date and time of the hailstorm, and be sure to indicate when you believe the damage occurred.
• Take photos of your property, including your home, yard, outdoor HVAC unit, and vehicles, focusing on any damage the storm caused.
• Check for damage to your roof, such as missing or torn shingles.
• Take pictures of a piece of hail next to a common object so that its size is evident.

If your home or business has experienced hail damage, water damage, fire damage, or any other such problems, then you’re going to need professional help to get it cleaned up. The repair and restoration professionals at Abbotts Fire & Flood will help get your life back to normal. Give us a shout and we’ll get started today.