Cosmetic or Functional Hail Damage: What You Should Know

Have you ever wondered if the hail damage on your roof was cosmetic or functional? While this may not be the most exciting question, it’s an important one to ask if you are in the midst of remodeling your home or business and need to know what type of restoration work will be required to fix your roof properly. The way to tell cosmetic hail damage from functional hail damage isn’t always obvious, but it becomes easier once you know what to look for.

Damage Assessment

From an insurance perspective, both kinds of hail damage fall under one umbrella term: Acts of God. This means that homeowners insurance should cover costs associated with repairs. However, there are things you should know about each type of hail damage:

• Cosmetic damage, like hail hitting a roof, is damage that doesn’t affect roofing performance or life span.
• Functional damage is an impairment to the integrity of the roof that either significantly diminishes its service life or damages its ability to handle the weather. Different types of functional damage will vary depending on the material used to make the roof. 

The appearance of your roof is certainly important. But, it’s also important to realize that cosmetic damage might not have any effect on your home’s functionality. Cosmetic damage can be repaired by a qualified roofing professional. Functional hail damage may require a complete roof replacement since the roof is no longer considered functional. 

What Should I Do if I Have Hail Damage?

There’s no way around it — if you live in an area prone to hail storms, your roof will probably sustain some kind of damage at some point. Though they can often be repaired, hail hits are more than just unsightly blemishes. If you suspect your roof has been hit by hailstones, have a trained roofing expert assess the roof and determine whether it has been damaged. 

Contact us at Horn Brothers Roofing for all your hail assessment needs!