Photo Gallery

Roof Replacement Photo Album: Hail Damage on Rosenberg Home

Insurance covered replacing the roof on this Rosenberg, TX home, after it suffered significant hail damage. Since shingles are made of fiberglass-reinforced asphalt and coated with granules, they can take a beating without immediately showing signs of damage on the surface. When hail damage is visible on the surface of the shingle, it's only the tip of the iceberg, as the weight and velocity of falling hailstones is enough to crack the granule / asphalt layer on the surface, fracture the fiberglass mat underneath, and even loosen the self-seal strips that seal the lower edge of each shingle to the shingles below it. Cracks in the granule / asphalt layer can radiate outward and cause granules and fragments of asphalt to fall off of the shingle, leaving the internal shingle structure exposed to the elements. Fractures in the fiberglass mat can result in tears in the mat radiating outward from the point of impact, weakening the overall structure. Loosened self-seal strips on the shingle leave the shingle vulnerable to wind, which can lift the lower edges of the shingles and fold them back, causing them to break and blow off. While it is possible to replace individual hail-damaged shingles, latent damage to the surrounding shingles caused by hail can be difficult to assess. Because of the potential for surrounding shingles to have unseen damage, complete roof replacement is often recommended for the long-term performance of the roof. Additionally, most shingle warranties do not cover hail damage. Our customer here opted to have the hail-damaged shingles replaced with GAF Timberline HD shingles, in the color "Weathered Wood", along with weathered bronze drip edge to match the roof.

Hail Damage

Here, a section of shingles were marked out, and as many hail hits that could be found in that section were marked out, to get an idea as to the extent of the damage.

Hail Damage

While it doesn't look like much, this is enough damage to dramatically shorten the life of the shingles, and void the shingle manufacturer's warranty.

Hail Damage

Hailstones come in all shapes and sizes. If one of them is big enough to cause visible damage, no doubt dozens more have caused extensive unseen damage, greatly reducing the lifespan and integrity of the roof system.

Hail Damage

Running the straight edge of a chalk stick across the top of this exhaust cap reveals the dents caused by hail. Seeing how many times this cap was hit gives a pretty good idea as to just how much hail hit the rest of the roof.

Hail Damage

Hail damage on a gutter downspout.

Hail Damage

Even if you can't see any hail damage on your roof, it should be inspected after a hailstorm just to be sure that there isn't any hidden damage that could lead to premature shingle wear or leaks.

Hail Damage

Another view of the roof before replacement

Roof Replacement

Shingle removal in progress.

Roof Replacement

Our crew, taking a break. It's important to stay hydrated while working in Texas weather!

Roof Replacement

Installation of underlayment. We prefer to remove all old shingles and underlayment so we can inspect the decking and make any necessary repairs before installing the new roof. Clean decking also provides a smoother surface to install the new roof on, which leads to a better overall appearance.

Roof Replacement

On the right is a newly completed section of roof, and in the background, our crew is installing shingle underlayment.

Roof Replacement

Our crew, installing underlayment and shingles. The underlayment used here is a synthetic product made by GAF. It is equivalent to traditional #15 roofing felt (also known as "tar paper"). Synthetic underlayments offer a number of advantages, including better breathability, longer lifespan, greater ease of installation, and improved installer safety due to increased traction and tear resistance.

New Roof

Looking at the roof from the back of the house.

New Roof

A gable-to-hip transition, sidewalls, headwalls, and a chimney. We're prepared to handle those complicated roofs!

New Roof

When replacing complicated roofs like this one, it's always worth it to hire a skilled and experienced roofing company. Every valley, hip, ridge, flashing, and roof transition is a potential leak hazard if not installed properly. Experienced roofers not only make an effort to do the job right in the first place, but will also warranty their work.