Hail strong enough to damage a roof could also cause damage to nearby cars, wood fences, shutters and/or exterior siding. Don’t forget look everywhere. Also a significant amount of shingle granules appearing at the end of downspouts may indicate potential damage; however, granule loss, in and of itself, does not prove hail damage. An inspection of the roof can reveal other causes that could have led to damage. There are certain types of damage to consider before assuming you have hail damage:

• Embrittlement/Hardening – Each composite shingle has four layers: a mat composed of glass fibers or organic materials; asphalt; a filler made of sand and limestone; and granules made of crushed stone with a ceramic coating. When the shingle is exposed to the weather, the asphalt will deteriorate and shrink. The shingle will harden, become brittle and may demonstrate one or more of the following phenomena.
• Cupped or Curled Edges – As the outer edges of the shingle shrink at a faster rate than the interior of the shingle, the edges tend to curl up or down. Craze Cracks – These are hairline cracks that appear in a random pattern throughout the shingle.
• Horizontal, Vertical or Diagonal Cracks (also known as Splitting) – Caused by asphalt shrinking at opposite ends of the shingle. As these ends shrink, the middle of the shingle pulls apart, leaving a crack (split).
• Splices – Occasionally, a shingle is created at the place where one end of a roll of mat ends and the new roll begins. The splicing together of these rolls leaves a double thickness of mat that does not allow the remaining layers of the shingle to be properly formed.
• Blisters – Heat causes the asphalt to release gases, which sometimes are trapped by the surrounding layers. The resulting blisters can then “pop,” and leave pockmarks in the shingle. A blister does not have the characteristic “bruise” that can be felt in a shingle that was struck by a hailstone.
• Discolored Streaks or Patches – Lichens or algae can grow on shingles in most weather conditions. The colors usually seen are green, brown, orange, gray, or a mixture of those colors.
• Diagonal Pattern of Deterioration – If you see a diagonal pattern of shingle deterioration or color gradation appearing across three tabs of shingles, it generally is a result of a manufacturer’s defect in the shingle. The diagonal pattern shows up as a result of the pattern that was used by the roofer when installing that batch of shingles on your roof.
• Rounded or Horseshoe Shaped Areas – These areas, where the granules are compressed into the coating asphalt, and the granules themselves appear to have been crushed to a powder, are caused by hammer damage. Such damage usually occurs near ridges.

Hail damage will result in a random pattern of strike marks in various sizes. If you can see a pattern to the damage, it was not caused by a random phenomenon like hail. In addition, hailstones will leave a “bruise” in the mat, which your fingers can usually detect in and around the crater.

You are responsible for taking any steps necessary to prevent further damage to your property after the hailstorm. If the necessary repairs must be done before the adjuster can personally inspect the damage, videotape or take good quality photographs of the damage. Retain damaged items such as carpet or furniture for the adjuster to examine before discarding them. If you have not already done so, find your insurance policy and become familiar with it. You may find that you have additional coverage you had forgotten about. Make sure you also are aware of what the policy requires you to do. And, double-check the policy’s exclusions, so you will know what is not covered by your policy.
In addition, if you have personal property to be replaced, try to find as many receipts as you can, in order to determine how much you paid for those items.

After inspecting the damage, the adjuster will prepare an estimate of the cost to repair your roof. Depending upon the nature and extent of damage, your adjuster may recommend repair or replacement. In addition, the adjuster will calculate the Actual Cash Value (ACV) of your roof immediately prior to the hailstorm. If your roof was worth 75% of the value of a new roof, you will be entitled to 75% of the estimated cost to repair or replace the damaged area. Your deductible will also be taken off of the estimated ACV amount.

Zen Roofing will will negotiate with your insurance company if there are descrepancies for cost of restoration for you.

If you find the adjuster’s estimate lower than the roofers’ estimates. Zen Roofing will provide updated costs to your insurance company if there is any adjustment needed.There may be differences in materials or damage that he or she can explain or resolve for you. If your policy provides replacement coverage, the insurance company may pay you the difference between the ACV estimate and the cost to repair or replace the damaged area or items after the designated repairs have been made. The amount is explained above However, you must make these repairs within a specific amount of time, usually 180 days. Your policy will specify any such time requirements. If, after working with your adjuster and insurance company, you believe they have not lived up to the provisions in your insurance policy, you can file a complaint with the Department of Insurance or contact a personal attorney. Please note, however, that the Department is an administrative agency and not a court of law. Therefore,the Department of Insurance is not able to decide questions of fact, such as whether or not damage to your roof was caused by hail or other factors. However, they can review the company’s handling of your claim to ensure they complied with Colorado insurance laws.

And Don’t Forget. In the state of Colorado, you have every right to choose which contractor you want to work and Zen Roofing will get the Job done.