Hail Bruising Roof Shingle

The 3 major signs of hail damage include bruising cracking and granules missing from asphalt.

Hail bruising roof shingle.

These shingles can split right down the middle when hail hits. Hail damage can either be functional or cosmetic in nature. Through research and testing ibhs was able to manufacture hailstones that replicated the properties of hail produced naturally. Check for missing pieces in the asphalt of the roof.

Identify the types of damage caused by hail. A bruise feels soft when it is pressed on due to the internal fracturing of the mat. Marshall and herzog 1999 more specifically defined functional hail caused damage to asphalt shingles as punctures tears or fractures bruises in the shingle mats figure 1. Functional hail damage to asphalt shingle roofs is characterized by a concentrated loss of granules usually somewhat circular in shape and accompanied by a fracture in the shingle mat or a bruise in the shingle mat.

Here are the top hail resistant roofing options available for modern homes. Bruising occurs when a hailstone s impact disperses the roof s granules. As you re inspecting your roof you may find splitting or cracking. Shingles labeled as impact resistant were purchased and put through a series of in lab tests that simulated the effects of hail impacts.

Shingle bruising is not outwardly noticeable and you may be tempted to ignore the issue. Missing granules aren t the only indication of hail damage to shingles. Hail resistant is not hail proof. Hail is a powerful force of nature that can even damage roofs made with concrete tiles if the stones are large enough and wind speeds are high.

As hail hits it may leave a circular crack in a shingle. If you have wooden shingles be on the lookout for splitting. Hail damage can also be affected by the number of shingle layers on a roof. Second layer shingles are more susceptible to damage than first layer shingles because the surface directly underlying the shingle is less supportive than dense wood.

The most effective way to minimize hail damage is to choose durable hail resistant roofing materials. The bruise is a damaged portion of the roof in which the base or shingle mat is squashed. Bruising will feel like indentations on your roof s surface. Look for areas on the shingle that have exposed black substrate.

Shingle bruises are an indentation with fracture in the mat that feels soft like that of an apple bruise. Because seamless gutters are frequently feature aluminum or copper construction the signs of hail damage include telltale denting. Gutters are also susceptible to hail damage. They are not always visible but should be addressed upon discovery as failure to do so can cause holes to eventually form in your shingles leaving your roof vulnerable to nature s elements.