Okay, it hailed. Now what?
We had a lot of hail last year. A LOT OF HAIL. To the tune of 607 reported instances just in Texas! You can look them up on HailPoint’s free website. Just search by state and enter Texas. If you live in North Texas, you likely experienced the hail damage first-hand. Even Houston had 1.25” hail in January 2017.
The morning after a big hail storm looks very similar regardless of where you live. It starts a little after the sun is fully showing. You, and most of your neighbors, are standing outside with smartphones in hand taking pictures…of everything. Some are also dragging tree branches to the curb, some are brushing debris off their cars, others are just wandering around in amazement.
After the hail damage is done
Eventually it all sinks in and questions start jumping into your head. Did it ruin my roof? What about my siding and gutters? Do I have broken windows? Is my fence still standing? I’m definitely going to be late to the office!
The first thing I recommend you do, after taking a deep breath, is identify if emergency repairs are needed. Insurance companies are clear that it is your responsibility to take action to lesson additional damage to your home. What does that mean? You need to protect your property.
- Emergency Roof Repair: If sections of your roof are missing or you have broken skylights, you need to contact a roofing company immediately, so they can correctly install tarps or do repairs.
- Window Damage: Broken windows or glass doors should be replaced immediately or boarded up to secure the home and reduce loss of air conditioning or heating.
- Broken Fences: If you have small children or pets and rely on your fence for their safety, you need at least a temporary repair until a permanent repair or replacement can be made.
Always take photos
In all these situations, it is important to take photos prior the repairs. The documentation is often needed for insurance purposes. In these instances, you should contact your insurance provider at the same time you are contacting an exterior services provider or roofing contractor to do the immediate repairs. Professional roofing companies like Peak Roofing & Construction will automatically take photos of the roof for your records but always make sure the repairs are well-documented from the roof level and not just the ground.
Don’t assume your roof is fine
It’s important to remember, you can’t always see the extent of the hail damage from the ground. Don’t assume because you can’t see anything from standing in your front yard that you don’t have real damage. Even a small hole in your roof system can cause big water damage. Reputable roofing companies typically provide free assessments so don’t risk your safety trying to climb on your roof. This is a great time to leave the work to the professionals!
The team at Peak Roofing & Construction are ready to assist you in the event of hail or severe winds this spring. Or, if you have potential hail damage from 2017, give us call and we’ll help you determine if you may need a roof replacement, gutters, fence or siding repair.
About Peak Roofing & Construction
Peak Roofing and Construction is family-owned, with 30-years of experience. Bonded, insured and accredited, we provide roofing, gutter, fence, window and exterior facelift services. Guaranteed. Call 972-335-7325 (Dallas & Fort Worth) or 281-290-7325 (Houston) today!
Joey Riss
Joey is Peak Roofing & Construction’s “renaissance woman”. She is involved in all aspects of the business decision making as well as her office responsibilities and overseeing much of the marketing efforts. Although she lets Jeff climb the roofs, Joey has a thorough understanding of roofing, gutters, windows, fences and exterior painting. When not in the office you will find her focused on her favorite career, raising their precious son.