One of a roof’s most vile enemies is the hail storm. Hail can range in size from pea sized to the size of golf balls. On rare occasions, hail can be even larger than that. When it is, roofs in Minnesota see quite a bit of damage. That damage can range from the granules being removed from asphalt shingles to actual penetration of the shingles, exposing everything underneath. This can then lead to leaks that cause even more damage to the home.

Hail is certainly a force to be reckoned with and one that costs millions each year to homeowners, vehicle owners, and various other individuals who have different belongings damaged by hail. Unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done about it. If the hail is going to fall, it is going to fall. You can protect your outside belongings if the storm is predicted, but you can’t protect your roof. There is not a garage or barrier that you can put over your roof before a hail storm strikes.

After the hail storm

After a hail storm, a wise thing to do is contact a Minneapolis Hail Damage expert to see if any damage was done. Even if you can’t see damage from the ground, it doesn’t mean that damage has not been done. There are several things that hail can do to your roof that you may not be able to see but an inspector can. Those things include:

• Missing granules, which eliminates some of the protection shingles have and can lead to faster wear and tear. Another hail storm will make this worse and speed up the demise of your roof even faster.
• Cracks in your shingles that can then let water through when it rains. This water will eventually break the barrier that is your underlayment and cause leaks in your roof that you may not find until it is too late.
• Blistering, which is the thinning of areas on your shingles. This thinning can then lead to cracks, holes, and other types of damage that will eventually lead to leaks.
• Penetration, which is very major damage. Penetration is when the hail actually penetrates the shingle. Depending on the size of the hail, penetration can result in holes in your roofing that goes through rather deep. The underlayment can also be damaged, leading to instant leaking that needs to be repaired as soon as possible.

When a roofing inspector sees these types of damage, they will tell you and inform you of what your options are as far as having these issues repaired. If your roof is heavily damaged, the roofer may suggest that the entire roof be replaced. This is usually true when 1 in 5 or even as few as 1 in 10 shingles are damaged.

The Solution – Hire A MN Roofing Contractor

If you find that you are consistently having damage during hail storms or that you have experienced a lot of damage according to your inspection, you may want to consider high impact shingles. These are shingles that can deal with the impact of hail much better than your traditional shingle. These are frequently referred to as “Class 4 shingles.” You will want to talk to your Minnesota roofing contractor about these shingles so that you can give hail a run for its money. Class 4 shingles aren’t immune to the largest types of hail, but they offer much more protection and can save you a lot more money in the long run.