Has your home or business been in the vicinity of a hail storm recently? It’s not easy to see from the ground if your roof has experienced any major problems. Always have a trained roofing professional determine the extent of your damage.

Hail damage can seem harmless. However, over a period of time, it can cause serious damage to your roof. The damage causes the roof to break down, and rain leaks begin to come into your home. If you believe that there could be a chance your roof has suffered hail damage, you should have it looked at immediately.

Shingles are made so that the granules block the UV of the sun and protect asphalt underlayment. As the shingles age, the granules fall off over time. As the asphalt is exposed to UV, it dries out the shingle. Hail damage does several things:

• Accelerates granule loss
• Accelerates shingle loss
• Voids manufacturer’s warranties
• Leads to other associated problems

The nature of hail damage is that it may pose no immediate threat to the structural integrity of the roof. However, many insurance companies have a “statute of limitations” of how long a hail claim is viable. If you have experienced a loss such as hail damage, it is prudent to take care of the problem in a timely manner before it leads to other associated problems.

Inspect Your Roof as Soon as Possible After a Storm
Inspect your roof regularly, so that you can find and fix damage BEFORE it becomes a more costly leak.

With regular inspection, you have information to compare roof conditions after a severe storm. You can document the date of damage and can establish whether the damage was or was not present before a particular storm.

Any storm or wind alone can damage a roof. The sooner you inspect the roof after a storm the better you can avoid leak damage inside your home, which sometimes does not occur until months later. If an insurance claim for your roof is warranted, the documented damage you collected will provide supporting data of your claim.

How do I know if I have hail damage?
The first place to look is at the metal products that are on your roof (wind turbines, metal caps, etc). If they have noticeable dents in them, the shingles probably do also.

Look in your gutters to see if the gritty granules on the face of the shingles have been knocked off and collected in the gutters. Look at your window screens skylights to see if they have been damaged. If branches have been broken from trees, damage has also occurred to your roof.

What is the first thing I should do if I believe I have damage?
Call a local roofing contractor to set up an appointment to come out and take a look at your roof to determine if there is damage.

When should I call my insurance company?
Call your agent after you've had a roofing contractor come out to verify damage has occurred. It is important to make your insurance company aware of this severe damage.

What is the insurance process if the roofing contractor tells me I have damage and need a new roof?
Your first step is to call your insurance agent and request an adjuster to come out to assess the damage you have to your property. Not just your roof, but your gutters, fence, outdoor furniture, window screens, air conditioning unites, pool equipment, and pool furniture for damage.

The adjuster will explain the claims process to you, and will let you know when to expect your money, and how much to expect. We will help mediate your claim by working with your insurance adjuster on your behalf.

Do I have to pay Lindholm Roofing for their claims management?
No, we will assist you with your claim from start to finish for FREE. We will work with your insurance company to find the best solution for your home or business.

Can I get the depreciation back?
In most cases, yes. Depending on your residential policy, most insurance companies hold back depreciation.  That will be provided to you after all the work is completed.  There are many small details and factors that can apply to each specific claim.

Should I ever give money to any contractor up front?
Only in rare occasions should a contractor ask you for any money up front. A deposit may be required if non-returnable materials are special ordered for your roof.  A deposit may also be required if your insurance company doesn't cover the repairs that you need.  But most reputable roofing companies will finance their own jobs.

Do I have a choice of roofing materials?
Absolutely. We represent many roofing manufacturers, and can give you many options on material and color.

Are you able to give me ideas on how to better ventilate my attic space?

Yes we can, we provide insulation and ventilation services. Call in and speak to one of our project managers for more information.

Still Have Questions?

We're more than happy to answer any questions that you may have.  For answers, or for a free quote, call 773-283-7675 or fill out the quick contact form located on our contact us page.