From Shingles to Rubber

Have you recently experienced severe hailstorms in your area? The impact of medium-sized and large hailstones can damage most roofing materials, causing the structure to fail eventually. Therefore, after the storm, you should look for signs of shingle damage and repair the roof to avert structural damage and prevent costly repairs. Hail damage looks different on various roofing materials. Therefore, if you have an asphalt shingle roof, read on for tips on how to identify hail damage on the structure.

Lost Mineral Granules

Asphalt roofs have mineral granules on the surface of the bitumen shingle. Granules act as a shield, protecting the underlying materials from solar ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, granules not only prevent solar damage but also increase the roof's energy efficiency. 

The impact of hailstones on the roof can dislodge mineral granules, leaving the shingle with no protection. Consequently, solar radiation degrades the roofing materials, causing premature wear and tear. The roof also absorbs heat and becomes less energy-efficient. You must replace the shingles with missing granules to prevent premature roof failure. 

Exposed or Fractured Fiberglass Mat

Modern asphalt shingle roofs have a fiberglass underlayment that sits between the roof deck and the shingles. The underlay acts as a protective moisture barrier. If hail dislodges the shingles or shatters the asphalt coating, the underlying felt mat will be exposed. Subsequent hailstorms may cause the mat to fracture due to the impact of the hailstones. 

Damage to the fiberglass can go unnoticed for a long time, which exposes the mat to wear and tear as the shingles age. Moisture can get trapped between the asphalt and the fiberglass mat, accelerating damage to the structure. Therefore, before replacing the damaged shingles, inspect the fiberglass mat for fractures and moisture infiltration.

Loose Self-Sealing Strip

Self-sealing adhesives are used during the installation of shingles to provide wind resistance to the roofing. Hail can cause the adhesive to loosen, leaving the shingles without protection against strong winds. Subsequent hailstorms and strong winds can dislodge and blow away shingles, exposing the roof to moisture damage. You should reseal the shingles to restore their resilience against strong winds and hail.

Soft Spots on the Roof Surface

Where shingles have gone missing due to hail, moisture readily infiltrates the roof and gets trapped underneath the other shingles. The moisture gradually causes the inner layers of the shingles to disintegrate. As a result, the affected shingles develop soft or sunken spots that are visible on the surface. Failure to promptly repair the damage can cause further moisture damage to the shingles and the roof deck.

Have you noticed any of these signs of damage after a hailstorm? Contact a roofing contractor immediately for hail damage repair.