Hail Damage

While there are many potential damages that may result from storms, one of the most damaging is hail. Hail damage may impact roofs, windows, porches, and patios. We can inspect your property and attempt to locate any covered damage to your roof or other areas that might be affected by the hail.

Hail is a form of solid precipitation. It consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice, each of which is referred to as a hailstone. There are methods available to detect hail-producing thunderstorms using weather satellites and weather radar imagery.

Hailstones generally fall at higher speeds as they grow in size, though complicating factors such as melting, friction with air, wind, and interaction with rain and other hailstones can slow their descent through Earth’s atmosphere. When your home and property is hit by these large stones, they can cause extensive damage, requiring repairs and replacement of roofs, windows, siding, and more.

As an independent, public insurance claims adjuster, we provide you with an unbiased, complete assessment of the damage and all costs associated with repairs. Unlike insurance companies, we are motivated to give you an accurate and thorough assessment, meaning you are able to realize a greater payout.

Call us today at (813) 370-1119 for your Free Consultation!

Hail Damages More Than Homes

Hail causes approximately $1 billion in damage annually in the United States to houses, buildings, cars, and crops. The costliest hail storm in US history caused an estimated $2 billion in damage (Kansas City, April 2001)… and that’s from one single storm.

Small hail, up to about the size of a pea, can wipe out a field of ripening grain or tear a vegetable garden to shreds. Large hail, the size of a tennis ball or larger, can fall at speeds faster than 100 miles per hour and can batter rooftops, shatter windows and “total” automobiles.

Thunderhead clouds create strong updraft winds that cycle the precipitation up towards the top of the cloud, freezing and turning into hail along the way. In the top of thunderheads, where the updraft winds are weaker, gravity takes over and the hailstones start to fall. As hailstones fall back through the cloud, they pick up additional moisture from the cloud and grow in size. Hail stones can repeat this rising / falling action (called convection) many times. Once heavy enough to overcome the updraft winds, they fall all the way to the ground.

Hail is defined as starting at a diameter of 0.2 inches or more. Hail can grow as big as golf balls, baseballs, and even soccer balls. Hail larger than 0.75 inches is considered large enough to cause serious damage in the United States. Hailstones can fall at speeds up to 120 mph.

The largest hailstone ever recorded in the United States was 8 inches in diameter, weighing nearly 2 pounds. This hailstone was recovered in Vivian, SD on July 23, 2010. The previous largest hailstone ever recorded in the United States was 7 inches in diameter, almost as large as a soccer ball. This hailstone was recovered in Aurora, Nebraska on June 22, 2003.

Detecting Hail Damage

Hail damage can be obvious or very difficult to detect, depending on the severity of damage and the thing damaged. If hail breaks through the windshield of your car and dents the roof, it’s pretty easy to know you have damage. Other types of hail damage, like damage to homes, are not as easy to identify and require an experienced professional to adequately assess.

Roof Damage: Roofs are the most commonly damaged part of a home or business when hail storms hit. Hail damage to roofing can be difficult to detect and the longer you leave hail damage un-repaired, the more damage can occur as water leaks through the roof and into walls.

Skylight Damage: Imagine a baseball falling from space onto glass. It’s no surprise that skylights are especially susceptible to hail damage. Skylights are most often damaged on the glass or on the seal around the outside.

Window & Siding Damage: Hail doesn’t always fall straight down. When hail falls at angles it can crack windows and siding on your home or business. Learn more about window damage and siding damage.

Automobile Damage: If your car, truck or camper was exposed to direct hail strikes, it is quite possible that you will have damage to glass, plastic and metal surfaces. It is common to have dents in the body of your automobile and/or cracks in the glass after a hail storm.

Property Damage: Hail also causes damage to trees, plants and yards. Trees and tree branches can break and fall from the weight of hail and the winds that often accompany hail storms. When significant amounts of hail fall, then start melting on the ground, flooding and damage from standing water can occur. If you have substantial property damage from hail, you may want to contact a debris-removal service.

Especially when talking about hail damage to roofs on houses and commercial buildings, often times the untrained eye cannot detect hail damage to shingles, roofing materials, skylights, siding, and other materials.

You may think that just because you can’t see any signs of damage, or because your roof isn’t leaking, you don’t have damage. Remember, hail damage can be particularly difficult to identify and many homeowners discover major roofing damage years down the road, after it’s too late to file a storm damage claim with their insurance company.

Roof Hail Damage: Roofs are the most commonly damaged part of a home or business in hailstorms. A damaged shingle may allow water to seep through the roof causing additional damage to the roof deck, support structure, interior walls, or windows, and can cause leaking, staining on walls and flooding inside your home. Leaking roofs lead to costly damages and many insurance policies have strict time limits on submitting claims after hailstorms, so it’s in your best interest to act fast after hailstorms and start the repairs process, if necessary.

Asphalt Shingle Damage: On an asphalt roof, hail damage looks like a dark spot, or bruise, where the roofing granules have been knocked away (look in gutters for accumulation of granules). In some cases you may find holes, cracking, or missing shingles on roofs with hail damage. This can result in leaking and serious water damage, which can lead to mold formation and wood rot, which can compromise the structural integrity of your roof resulting in collapse. In severe wind storms, it is common for shingles or sections of the roof to be missing altogether.

Other Types of Shingle Damage: Shake (wood), metal, tile, and slate roof shingles can all suffer damage from hailstorms. Due to the materials, each type of shingle shows unique signs of damage from hail. If shingles are cracked, missing, torn or split at seams, you should definitely have a damage inspection performed. Similarly, if you notice leaking inside your home after a hailstorm, get an inspection right away.

Siding Damage often results from wind-driven hail. The three most common signs of damage to siding are cracking, chipping and holes.

Window Damage is similar to siding damage, but usually more obvious to identify. Wind-driven hail can strike windows and break the glass itself, or cause damage to the seals on windows. Exterior Appliances can also sustain damage in hailstorms. Denting and intake of excessive amounts of water often affect AC / HVAC units after severe hail.

If you have experienced damage, or suspect that damage may have occurred to your home or business after a hail storm, we can help. Our licensed public claim adjusters are dedicated to getting you maximum compensation for your claim.

Free Consultation with an Experienced Certified Public Claims Adjuster

If your home or business has been impacted by a hail storm, then a Certified Public Claims Adjuster can help you get the compensation that you deserve! We work to get a speedy and thorough resolution because we don’t get paid until you do.

Contact us now using the form below or via phone at (800) 580-5650 for your Free Consultation with an experienced Certified Public Claims Adjuster at Reliable Claims Adjusting!