Roofing Tips: Shingles and Hail Damage

First, lets talk about your shingles. The grit on your shingles is called granules and they serve two purposes. One is purely aesthetics. Shingles are made from asphalt, so if the granules were not on the shingle, everyone would just have a plain black roof with no variation of color. The second purpose is to protect the asphalt. It’s a UV protectant. Without the granules, the asphalt would be exposed to the sun and would wear out very quickly.

As the roof ages, the granules will naturally come off. However, living in Indiana, we are subject to several hail storms each year. Most people do not even know their homes have received hail damage, nor do they realize the effect it could have on the roof. During a hail storm, the hail will make an impact on the shingle, forcing the granules down into the asphalt of the shingle, causing the granules to loosen or fall off. Once it rains, the water washes the loose granules off the roof. A trained professional will be able to see these impacts during a roof inspection. However, most homeowners will notice the granules running out from the downspouts.

At any time, if you are seeing granules near your downspouts or had a recent hail storm, you should contact your local contractor. This could be a sign of age or possibly hail damage, that could potentially be covered by your insurance.

For a free inspection, call North American Contractors at (317) 787-5211 or fill out our form online.