Hail Damaged Slate Roof

Hail damage to a slate roof.

Hail damaged slate roof.

Having a qualified contractor get on your tile or slate roof will help reveal the hail damage. It has been our experience that hail damage requires an inspection on the roof. If your roof contains one layer of common asphalt shingles it usually takes a 1 or above diameter hail stone to cause damage roof hail damage. A roof that has been poorly maintained has recently sustained other types of damage or is simply past its prime has a higher risk of being harmed by hail than its newer and better maintained counterparts.

Because slate is a sedimentary stone composed of layers hail damage may appear as a slate with a portion of layers missing. 1 very large hail. Hail damage is not typically visible to the eye from the ground. If your slate roof is damaged by a hail storm it is important that you hire a qualified roofing contractor with slate experience.

Slate tiles may be punctured cracked or broken by hail. The amount and type of damage hail causes on roofs depends on a variety of factors. And larger hailstone pack a bigger punch. Your roofing contractor will have the equipment and knowledge to carefully inspect the roof without causing further damage.

Although slate tends to be durable and resistant to hail damage there are three primary conditions that will maximize hail damage to a slate roof. To combat this many home insurers have implemented different coverage levels. Just because you don t see broken roof slates does not mean you don t have damage. The inspection and report will cost up to 500 but it is money well spent if it is instrumental in getting your homeowner s insurance claim paid.

2 thin soft or deteriorated slates that are relatively fragile such as older pennsylvania soft black slates. Along with their resistance to roof wind damage they may be susceptible to hail damage. Some obvious signs will be puncture holes cracks and broken pieces. Home insurance companies in past years have been walloped by numerous and expensive roof claims.

It has been beat to death by the hail but only a few of the slates have been damaged. Any of these conditions could be deemed functional damage if the damage is serious enough. Hail damage is primarily displayed as holes with sharp edges in the slate although it can include slates with broken corners or edges. Studies show that some roof tiles can be damaged by hail as small as 1 1 4 diameter.

Roofs with multiple shingle layers may be damaged by smaller hail stones due to a softer support surface directly under the top shingle layer. And 3 slates. Courtesy of joe jenkins inc. Ask for a written evaluation from the roofing contractor that addresses the issues listed above the extent and cause of the damage and the condition of the rest of the roof.

Wind and hail damage.