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4 Distinct Ways To identify Hail Damage
3/26/2021 (Permalink)
The larger the hailstone the more severe the damages to your property will be!
Hail damage affects many Georgia homeowners
In the US alone, high-speed winds and hail cost $15 billion last year. Hundreds of homes were destroyed causing many homeowner’s insurance claims. It is important to understand what to do when your property is affected by hail damage because hail damages affect just about everything exterior; your windows, siding, and roof are all susceptible to hail damage.
When inspecting hail damage, you may notice that some hail damage is apparent, such as a broken window or a dented vehicle. Although, other kinds of hail damage are unnoticeable and require a trained professional eye to detect. When you suspect that your property has had hail damage, you will need to have a hail damage inspection to determine the extent of the property damage. A professional will inspect all of the exterior parts of your property and provide an action plan to continue with any necessary repairs.
How does hail cause damage?
Hailstones can cause significant damage to houses, depending on the speed and size when they fall. Hail damage is one of the most common causes of a homeowner's claim every year.
The growing popularity and the use of vinyl siding for house exteriors is one of the reasons for an increase in these claims. Vinyl siding's lightweight design, built to survive high winds, allows it to withstand most weather conditions. However, when massive, fast-falling hailstones strike the panels, the panels will chip or crack. Even minor hail storms may cause significant hail damage to the siding.
One of the more challenging types of hail damage to detect is roof hail damage. Roof hail damage is challenging to detect because it is not possible to see from the ground level. When a roof has hail damage, a home will be prone to roof leaks, water ingress, or shingle deterioration.
4 Ways to identify hail damage
There are some methods for determining whether or not to file a claim after a hailstorm. When it's safe to step outside, pay attention to the following signs that your house has been damaged:
- Downspouts and gutters that have been dented.
- Siding and window sills with buckling, dings, warping, and dents.
- Substantial or irregular gaps across or between siding layers.
- Damage to your patio cover or a wooden deck.
What can hail damage?
You may see hail damage in the form of dents on a home's exterior, but it is not the only kind of hail damage there is. Like the shape, the damage can come in several different forms.
The size of hail damage will cause:
- The size of a quarter: Little exterior damage.
- Half Dollar: Minor damage (Cracks)
- Walnut: Dents wood, severe roof damage.
- Golf Ball: Major exterior damage.
- Tennis Ball: Severe damages to roofing, siding, and breaks windows.
Does insurance cover hail damage?
Homeowners insurance will typically cover hail damage to the roof and other parts of your home. Hail storms can strike just about anywhere in North Georgia. If your home has been damaged by hail, you should seek professional help to determine the damage before filing a claim. The professionals at SERVPRO can help you check your policy for coverage restrictions and submit a homeowners insurance claim.
SERVPRO hail damage professionals
Flood and storm damage can be extremely costly. You need to act quickly, and you need a company that has dealt with all types of storm damage. In the industry, SERVPRO is a renowned company, and it has been serving the clients of North Georgia since 1967. If you want your everyday work life to be normal again after you have suffered hail damage, SERVPRO of Union, Towns, Fannin & Gilmer Counties is the most reliable option for you.
Our SERVPRO IICRC certified team is fully equipped with state-of-the-art tools and has over 20 years of experience restoring storm damage. Your property will be back in a "pre-disaster" state in no time. We offer 24/7 emergency services, meaning you can contact us at any time you need assistance!