From time to time, there are storms that role though the Calgary area bringing high winds, sometimes hail or lot’s of ice in the winter. Hail can damage shingle type roofs for example, fascia, flashing, eaves through, siding etc . Large hail will hit so hard that it can remove the granular material from the asphalt or even punch a hole right through the shingle leaving the roof exposed to water leaks and even more potential damage to areas inside the home. Hail can also damage fascia and flashing leaving unsightly dents in these areas.
Wind can also be a huge problem, lifting loose shingles on older roofs off the roof and sometimes causing tress to fall onto homes, punching holes in the roof like the one shown in the picture. With damage like this, it is imperative to have repairs completed ASAP to prevent further damage from all of the water that can enter the attic and damage the inside of the home. Sometimes temporary repairs will be sufficient to limit the damage until insurance companies can be called and arrangements made for a permanent solution. Water damage inside the home can sometimes be more extensive and cost more to repair than the cost of repairing the roof.
What Steps Should Homeowners Take if Your Roof is Damaged
There are a number of steps to be taken if you have damage to your roof. Depending on the severity, you may want to alter the order of these steps to limit the damage that will be caused by additional water damage.
- Call your insurance company to report the claim and arrange for an insurance adjuster to visit.
- Take pictures of the damage
- If necessary arrange for temporary repairs to prevent additional damage
- Arrange for quotes for repairs from Insurance Company approved roofing companies
- Make decisions on details such as additional vents, shingle quality, ice barriers etc (Note: you may have to pay for some costs out of your own budget, if you decide to upgrade from the current roof quality, i.e. 30 year shingles vs. 20 year shingles)
- Arrange for work to begin with approved roofing company once you have the go ahead from your insurance company
The team at Flat Roofing Calgary is very experienced in preparing quotes for insurance claims for hail damage and wind damage to roofs, fascia and flashing. They can be available on an emergency basis to complete temporary repairs as well to limit further damage to your home.
Minimal Damage from Hail
In some situations after a hail storm for example, homeowners may look at their roof and decide that there was so little damage to the roof that it is not worth reporting it or having someone look at the damage. Even with seemingly light impact on the roof shingles, the life of the shingles can be significantly impacted and only an expert can really make that kind of assessment.
The last thing you want to see is all of your neighbors having their roofs replaced 6 months after a hail storm and your roof beginning to noticeably deteriorate two years later from this same hail storm. If you have any doubts about your roof and possible damage to your shingles give us a call to arrange for an assessment of the current condition of your roof and damage that may have been done to your roof.
Damage to More than the Roof
We have discussed damage to the roof from hail and wind. Wind and even hail can do a lot more damage to other parts of your home as well. Siding can be dented or cracked by large hail and wind can actually tear siding from the side of your home. Eaves trough can also be torn from the roof by wind or falling tree limbs due to high wind. Leaking roofs can damage the insulation in your attic and need to be replaced. Soffits, fascia and flashing can also be damaged by either hail or wind.
It is important to provide a full and complete assessment of all of the damage after a storm to your insurance company so that all of the costs for repairs will be included. Taking pictures to provide a reference for later is always a great idea. Make sure that the pictures you take will show sufficient detail to demonstrate all of the damage. As a roofing company in Calgary, we are quite prepared to work closely with you and the insurance company adjuster to identify all repairs that are needed and to develop the quotes needed to provide the documentation that is required to support your insurance claim. We understand what is needed in terms of paperwork and we understand how important it is to return your home to its original state as quickly as possible.
Give us a call today for a quote regarding insurance claims for repairs due to wind damage. We can also repair and or replace roofs that have reached the end of their life. A written quote will be prepared which will document all costs associated with the work.