Tag Archive for: Roof Repairs

How To Tell If Your Roof Has Hail Damage & What To Do Next

They say everything’s bigger in Texas. Unfortunately, that includes hail! Damaging storms aren’t just a problem during storm season — you never know when an unexpected hail barrage may strike. All Texas homeowners need to be on the lookout for hail damage to their roofs. No two storms are alike: wind speed, hail quantity, and hail size can all affect how much damage your roof sustains during a given storm.

Even if a storm doesn’t look too bad from the living room window, you should always take a walk around the yard and check for signs of hail damage. The sooner you notice problems with your shingles or catch growing leaks, the faster you can get them fixed by expert contractors.

A roof that has been inspected for hail damage with triangles around the spots of damage.

What Does Hail Damage Look Like On A Roof & How To Fix It Fast

There’s just one problem: how can you tell if your roof has hail damage if you’ve never seen it before? Let’s answer that question and more so you know when to call contractors for fast fixes.

Signs Of Hail Damage To Your Roof

You can often tell when your roof has been harmed by looking for signs of hail damage on the ground or on other aspects of your house. By checking for hail damage, you can give an accurate report to a roofing contractor or your insurance company, plus have a better idea of what to expect from an official inspection. Check for signs like:

  • Dings or dents on your garage door or downspouts above five feet — that’s damage that can only come from flying hail!
  • Paint damage or dents in your home’s siding.
  • Broken window panes or screens.
  • Damage to yard furniture or mailboxes.
  • Loose shingles on the ground — they had to come from somewhere!

Don’t forget to check your gutters, too. If your gutters around your roof have dents or holes on the bottom from hail, odds are the recent storm was tough enough to do a number on the roof itself.

Of course, you might also notice some interior signs of hail damage to your roof, such as leaks. If your roof is dripping water into your living room, you can bet it’s time to call a qualified roofing contractor!

Calling A Contractor For A Free Assessment

If you’re not sure whether your roof has hail damage — or if the damage is severe enough for repairs — don’t break out the ladder yourself and climb up top. That can be dangerous, even in the best circumstances.

Instead, contact licensed roof repair specialists to take a look for you. Stonewater Roofing offers a free damage assessment without charging you a dime. Our team can check out your roof from above and give you an official breakdown of the damage and the best next steps to take, including roof repairs or replacement.

If you have asphalt or composition shingles, your contractor might report seeing:

  • Black marks or “bruises” on your shingles.
  • Asphalt granules in the gutters.
  • Bare patches on individual shingles.
  • Shattered or cracked shingles.

If you have wood shingles, your contractor might notice signs of hail damage such as:

  • Split or shattered shingles.
  • Hail impact marks along the splits through wood shingles.

Hail damage signs also include dents, cracks, or holes. Typically, hail pieces larger than one inch in diameter are enough to cause major dents and cracks on shingles.

A contractor replacing roofing shingles.

Importance Of Repairing A Roof Damaged By Hail As Soon As Possible

If you notice any damage to your roof after a hailstorm, you should get it looked at by a pro, even if it doesn’t seem to be so bad now. Even minor damage can become worse if you fail to repair it quickly.

Picture a single shingle broken off your roof after the season’s first hailstorm. It’s not a big deal… at first. But when the next hailstorm comes, that exposed patch of roof will be much more vulnerable to major cracks, leaks, and other problems.

Taking care of damage from hail early will save you money — and a big headache — in the long run. It’s much cheaper to replace a few broken shingles or perform basic roof repairs than it is to replace your roof wholesale after a heavy downpour of hail.

Roofing contractors repairing a roof damaged from hail.

When Is Roof Replacement Necessary?

Sometimes, though, you get so unlucky, and your roof sustains enough hail damage that a roof replacement is necessary. The trick is determining when that’s the case.

Generally, your roof should be replaced after hail damage:

  • If multiple major leaks are affecting your home.
  • If a large portion of the shingles are damaged or destroyed.
  • If it would cost roughly the same to repair your existing roof as it would be to replace it completely.

It can be tough to tell whether your roof is damaged enough to warrant a replacement without the right expertise.

Licensed roofing contractors like Stonewater Roofing can take a look at your roof when you’re not sure. With more than a decade of experience in this area, we know what to look for and how to judge whether a roof should be replaced rather than repaired for long-term safety and cost-effectiveness.

Is Hail Damage Covered By Homeowners Insurance?

Typically, yes. Most homeowners insurance policies cover hail damage, alongside other roof damage caused by weather events like major storms, tornadoes, fallen tree branches, and more.

However, to get the cost of a roof repair job or replacement covered by your insurer, you’ll need to have the damage evaluated. Licensed contractors at Stonewater Roofing can do that for you, plus offer knowledgeable repair or replacement recommendations.  

How Much Does It Cost To Repair Hail Damage Or Replace A Roof?

Insurance coverage comes as a major relief to many Texas homeowners in hail season. Average storm damage roof repairs cost about $700, according to HomeAdvisor. However, costs could be higher if you don’t repair hail damage as soon as you see it. If you’re properly insured, you’ll only ever pay up to your deductible for hail repairs or roof replacements.

Still, it is important to get your roof checked after a hailstorm clears. The earlier the roof damage is caught, the sooner you can get it fixed.

Stonewater Roofing: Roof Repair Specialists You Can Count On

As licensed roofing contractors for Texas homeowners like you, Stonewater Roofing is the go-to choice for roof repair work. When a hailstorm bombards your home, we’ll stop by to do an assessment and help you get started on any necessary repairs.

More importantly, we’ll tackle small issues before they become too big for comfort. And if you need a roof replacement, you can bet Stonewater Roofing will handle the job professionally and efficiently.

Don’t leave signs of hail damage unattended. Contact the experts at Stonewater Roofing today for a free damage assessment.

Shady Roofers Reportedly Popping Up In DFW

This is a serious alert for homeowners in Frisco and surrounding areas. Unscrupulous roofing contractors are on the prowl, looking to take advantage of people following the latest round of hail storms to hit North Texas. The key to protecting yourself is knowing how to spot one of the bad guys. Let us at Stonewater Roofing help you out.

Things To Avoid

Calling Your Insurance First: When a damaging storm hits, it might seem natural to immediately file a claim with your insurance company. But they do not want to give you money for roof repairs, and often cannot properly determine what needs to be fixed. Always call a roofing company first to assess the damage. Only a highly skilled professional, like the ones at Stonewater Roofing, will be able to identify and document the true extent of damage to your home, and create an accurate estimate for repairs. The claim process becomes hassle-free when homeowners are already armed with this detailed information.

Absorbing Your Deductible: Many roofing companies will offer — even advertise — to absorb or waive your deductible. Simply put, this practice is illegal and could get you and the company in serious trouble. While it may save homeowners a few thousand dollars on their roof repairs, it is considered to be a form of insurance fraud. The law is rarely enforced, which is why companies can get away with publicly making such claims. The roofing company often accounts for the lost money by using cheaper materials, cutting corners on the project, or exaggerating the price of their services.

Not Doing Research On A Contractor: The roofing industry has a bad reputation thanks to scam artists who swoop in after a hail storm, provide subpar services, collect your money and vanish without a trace. But some roofing companies genuinely want to help. Your home is the biggest investment of your life, so do research before trusting someone to protect your property. Look at the reviews on Google and/or Facebook. Make sure that the company has a professional website and reliable contact information. See if they have a corporate office, and are not just a “guy in a truck.” Proper research will provide you with peace of mind.

Paying Cash To A Storm Chaser: Hail storms always bring out fly-by-night roofers, those who are not professionals and are simply trying to make some extra money on the side. They often use high-pressure tactics and demand payment upfront, many times in cash. This is not someone whom you should trust. Make sure that you hire a roofing company which provides proper documentation throughout the process. Do not pay for a completed roof until the work is actually finished. When you do pay, get a receipt or a copy of your check. Also, if a company offers financing options, they are more trustworthy and likely to be in business for the long haul.

Signs Of Fraud

Claiming Work That Wasn’t Done: A roofer should provide you and your insurance company with an estimate that includes several items to be replaced during the project. But, when construction begins, it is easy for unscrupulous workers to cut corners and claim that things were fixed when they were not. This is particularly true with parts of the roofing system which sit under the shingles, out of view from homeowners and inspectors. Then, in the future, when these parts are in even more serious need of repair, your insurance company may not pay for the work since it was included in your previous claim.

No Office Location Or Website: You have agreed to a contract with a roofing company and need to get in touch with them, either before the project begins or even many years later. A quick online search yields no results. What can you do? Not much, because many roofers are simply a “guy in a truck” with no business location or online presence. Before you choose a roofing company, make sure that they have a physical office, a professional website and social media pages on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more. You should be able to contact the company without hassle and discuss any issues with a dedicated customer service representative.

No Company = No Warranty: A warranty is a great purchase when getting a new roof installed on your home. It provides decades of comfort, knowing that your investment is protected at all times. But what happens if you pay for a warranty with a company that goes out of business just a few years later? Then, that money is wasted and you are out of luck when more repairs are needed. Search for a roofing company that has been in business for many years and shows no signs of slowing down. Also, ask if the warranty is provided by the just the company itself or the material manufacturer as well.

A Company You Can Trust

Stonewater Roofing started from humble beginnings at a home in East Texas, and now we wish to ensure that your home, and your family, are safe from the elements. But we are more than just a home repair company. We are your neighbors in this community. When someone is in need, we are there to help them out. When a local musician hits the scene, we are there to bring them an audience. When the Texas Revolution score a touchdown at Stonewater Roofing Field in Frisco, we are there to cheer for the team. And when a storm strikes, Stonewater Roofing is there for our community… our neighbors… our family.

Project Managers & Warranties: A roofing system from Stonewater Roofing is both reliable and protected. We have a team of unbelievably skilled project managers who remain at the site of every roof installation, to ensure that your home receives only the highest quality of workmanship — from start to finish. We also offer warranty options that will help you sleep easier, knowing that your family and your property are safe from the harsh Texas weather. Our warranties are backed by GAF, the largest manufacturer of roofing products in North America, and can keep you covered for a lifetime.

Say Yes & We Do The Rest: There are absolutely no headaches or hassles when you work with Stonewater Roofing. We agree to assist you with every step of the way, including the tedious and often confusing insurance claim process. We make sure that you get the most value for your deductible. After all, we are The Leader In Insurance Claim Approval. We will not stop until you, the homeowner, are completely satisfied with your brand new roof system. And, if you ever have a question or concern, our customer service representatives are easy to reach, and eagerly waiting to help you out.

Still have questions or concerns? Explore our website and social media channels, or call us to speak directly with one of our trained staff members.