How Long Does it Take to Repair Hail Damage from a Roof?

Hail damage to roofs? This is a difficult question to answer as the amount of time needed to repair hail damage on roofs can vary greatly depending on the severity of the damage, the size of the roof, and the type of materials used for the roof. Generally, roof repair costs depend on the job’s complexity.

For this reason, it is vital to contact a roofing company to assess the situation. Working with a reliable roofing contractor will not only help ensure the integrity of your roof, but they can also make sure that your roof is qualified with insurance claims.

This blog post will discuss everything you need to know about repairing roof damage from hail. In addition, we will answer questions like “how long do roof repairs take?” and more.

Assess the Problem

Assessment of roof hail damage is critical to determine the extent of wear and tear and the necessary repair work. It will help you gather the information needed to develop the right solution. It is essential to inspect the roof for any damage caused by hail and to properly assess the amount of labor and materials required to repair the hail damage. This process can take a few hours to a few days, depending on the roof’s size and the hail damage’s extent.

In addition, insurance companies typically require a roof inspection by a professional roofer to determine the amount of hail impact damage caused by the hail. Before acquiring services from a roofing company, you can contact your insurance company about your insurance claim to ensure that the repairs will meet your budget.

Inspect the Roof for Hail Damage

A roof inspection should determine the extent of the hail damage and assess how long it will take to repair. Depending on the roof’s size and the damage’s extent, this may take a few hours up to a full day. During the inspection, an experienced inspector will survey the entire roof from top to bottom, assessing for hail spots, dents, or damaged shingles.

The inspector may also look for penetration into any underlying materials, such as plywood sheathing or other structural systems. In addition to visible signs of damage, underlying issues specific to hail storms are also looked for, such as asphalt buildup in areas impacted by more giant hailstones, which can result in premature wear and tear of shingles over time. Once all damage is determined from the initial assessment, further repair options can be discussed with a qualified contractor specializing in repairs after severe storms.

Determine the Extent of the Damage

When assessing hail damage to a roof, it is crucial to determine the extent of the damage to ensure that it can be repaired appropriately. Although there are some indicators that hail has impacted your roof without actually seeing the evidence, such as dented gutters, or strange noises occurring during a hailstorm, there is only one way to determine the extent of the damage once you inspect your roof. The most common way for a homeowner or professional inspector to accurately assess hail damage on a roof is by visually checking the shingles and other exterior materials. While studying each shingle manually can take some time, it provides an opportunity to carefully examine any indicator of impact damage, such as cracking and bruising. 

Additional ways that hail damage may be assessed include:

• I am using aerial and satellite imagery to provide an overarching view of damaged areas on the roof.
• We are utilizing drone photography, which uses high-resolution cameras and infrared capabilities.
• It employs tools like moisture meters and thermal imaging cameras, which utilize advanced technology to identify areas impacted by hail.

Regardless of an inspector’s chosen method, getting an accurate assessment takes time and care. For example, homeowners need to take time and effort to assess the extent of their roof’s damage from hail to receive quality results from subsequent repairs or replacements.

Hail Damaged Roof Repair

The process can be involved when repairing hail damage on a roof. Depending on the extent of the damage, it can take a few hours to several days or even weeks to get the top back to its original condition. This ultimately depends on the overall scope of the roof repair job, the type of roof in question, the number of contractors involved, and the timeline established. Let’s look at the specific factors involved in roof repair.

Remove the Damaged Materials.

When hail damages your home’s roof, the first step in repairing it is to remove all the distressed materials. This is done by carefully inspecting the entire roof for cracked or broken tiles, dented metal panels, and other signs of damage. Any seam tape under slate roofs must be inspected for wear and replaced. Also, any loose materials or damaged areas must be removed to install new materials properly.

Professionals typically use tools like hammers, scrapers, chisels, and blowtorches to do this work safely and efficiently. Depending on the size and condition of your roof, removing all the damaged materials may take several hours to many days.

Replace the Damaged Materials.

Replacing the damaged materials on your roof is the typical repair procedure for hail damage. Depending on the size of your roof and the extent of damage, repairs could take up to a week or more. However, most repairs can be completed in 2-3 days. Before repairs are made, a thorough inspection must be completed by a qualified professional to determine which materials must be replaced correctly. 

This can include replacing asphalt shingles and other components – such as flashing around chimneys and skylights – and sealing any exposed nails. Once these items have been thoroughly assessed and the extent of the damage diagnosed, new materials can be installed, and your roof should look nearly good-as-new once completed.

Install New Materials

Once the original roof materials are removed, new materials can be installed. Depending on the extent of damage and the size of your roofing system, this may involve shingles, tiles, underlayment, insulation, flashing, and other components. Completing these may require multiple steps or tradespeople to ensure a quality installation. Sometimes, this process can take several days or weeks to finish! If certain areas of your roof need additional repairs, such as replacing broken tiles or damaged flashing, these should be done before installing new roof materials. This ensures that all areas are properly sealed and waterproofed before winter. Hiring a professional and experienced contractor can help expedite this process by efficiently tackling all tasks associated with repair and installation to give you peace of mind knowing that your roof is safe from further hail damage for many years!

Finishing Touches

Once the roof is repaired and sealed, the next step is finishing the touch-ups to give the roof a professional look. This includes repainting, caulking, and filling any cracks or blemishes that may have occurred during the repair process. The amount of time this takes depends on the size of the area that needs to be addressed and can range from a few hours to a few days.

Apply Sealant

Applying a sealant is one of the final steps in repairing hail damage from a roof. This process protects the repaired areas from water and further damage from the elements by restoring the surface and preventing water penetration.

Once any dents or broken pieces have been identified, replaced, or repaired and all damaged shingles replaced, sealant can be applied to provide extra protection. It is important to remember whether your roof requires an oil- or water-based sealant, as this will determine which product you should use.

Since sealants come in different sizes for varying roof materials, you should consult an expert to ensure your sealant type is suitable for your particular roof repair before starting. Once you have chosen an appropriate sealant type, you will need to prepare the area for application by removing dirt and debris from around any broken pieces or repairs that were completed before adding sealant.

Once this is done, lightly buff the areas with sandpaper until smooth before wiping away any dust on the surfaces with a clean cloth. To apply the sealer, begin at one corner of the room needing protection and work row by row across it until it has been entirely covered – paying particular attention to edges and seams where water might collect when it rains. 

Allow at least 24 hours of drying time before using a brush against it before coating again if needed – but be sure not to overcoat as this may negatively impact its performance over time.

Paint the Roof

Resetting and painting the roof is the most time-consuming stage of repairing hail damage. Depending on the extent of damage and type of material used, this can take anywhere from a few hours to several days. If extensive repairs are needed, it’s an integral part of the process because it helps protect you against future weathering and makes your roof look great when you’re finished. When painting a roof, specific preparations must be completed first. All loose materials should be removed from the area, including dirt or debris on roof valleys or other difficult-to-reach areas.

A power washer can also clean off dirt or bird droppings that may have stuck to the surface over time. Once the roof has been thoroughly cleaned, primer should be applied before painting to ensure better adhesion and maximum durability. Primer helps create a lasting bond between the color coat and surface material which helps protect against fading, chipping, or peeling in large temperature fluctuations. Any necessary caulk should also be applied at this stage to prevent water infiltration later

 Once the primer is dry (usually between 1-2 hours), a high-quality, 100% acrylic paint should be used for exterior roofs to withstand harsh weather conditions like rain, snow, or intense UV rays from sunlight exposure over time. Applying at least two coats of even coverage with a roller is recommended since this creates an even layer that helps preserve your paint’s longevity and resistant properties when appropriately applied. Allow each coat to dry for at least 4 hours before reapplying another layer for the best results.

Time Frame

Repairing hail damage from a roof can be a daunting task, especially if the extent of the damage is severe. Knowing the time frame for repair is an essential factor for homeowners considering this form of repair. In general, the time frame for hail damage repair can vary significantly depending on the size of the roof, the type of damage, and the complexity of the repair. Let’s take a closer look.

Average Time for Repair

On average, repairing hail damage to a roof typically takes one to two days, depending on the extent of the damage. However, this time can vary greatly depending on the roof’s size, accessibility, and the number of roofing materials needing replacement. It is also essential to factor in weather delays if work has started during winter or rainy season. For example, these months may require additional weatherproofing or tarps for certain roof sections before repair can resume. Repair crews can sometimes fix superficial hail damage by replacing sure shingles instead of the entire roof. This repair will require a thorough inspection of all surfaces involved and may take less than a day in terms of labor costs. Depending on how extensive hail damage is across other parts of your home, such as siding or windows, those repairs should not be done alongside repair work done on your roof by shared tradespeople to minimize overall costs and the time frame associated with exterior maintenance.

Factors that Can Affect the Time Frame

When assessing how long it will take to repair hail damage from a roof, multiple factors can affect the timeline.

• Roof’s size and complexity
• Damage’s type and extent
• Availability of labor Materials
• Weather
• Geographic location,

Assuming all supplies and materials are available without delay, most roofs with moderate to severe hail damage, which requires minimal to no structural work, tend to be repaired within three days. This can vary greatly depending on other components, as mentioned above, such as size or complexity of damage or difficulty in the accessibility of working space. When creating an estimate for setting realistic expectations on the repair timeline, you should include additional time for supplies to arrive at the job site due to vendor orders being processed. Considering all factors, most experienced contractors can reasonably estimate completion times.

Hail damage to roofs can be a difficult and costly problem. Planning before the storm hits is the best way to avoid hail damage. If your roof may have been damaged by hail, contact us today. Our team of experts will work with you to assess the damage and develop a plan to repair your roof quickly and efficiently.