- Paying cash—I know what you’re thinking: This blog isn’t helpful. I don’t have the cash. Well, stick with me just a little longer.
- Getting approved for a loan—It’s common for homeowners like yourself to take a loan out for big-ticket items for your home. Roofing is a common one along with kitchen and bath remodels, but we did not write this particular post to encourage you to take out a loan.
- Storm Damage—Here we are. Lol…Storm damage could be why many of your neighbors are getting new roofs. Now, you could be thinking, “When did a storm come through?” Maybe you’re a deep sleeper or maybe you were out of town or simply were at work and were unaware that it struck your area. Just recently, a big hailstorm went through Tulsa, then Owasso, and then into Claremore. This storm was very isolated. We were literally just a mile away meeting a customer when this hailstorm hit, but it didn’t even sprinkle where we were. It wasn’t until my hail report subscription started popping up that I was made aware of what had happened.
It’s very possible that a hailstorm has come through at some point, and that’s why your neighbors are getting new roofs. The first two options are possibilities as well. Maybe they paid cash or took a loan out, but maybe they simply paid a $1-2,000 deductible and their insurance paid the rest. You might be thinking, “Well, how do I know?” A roof inspection would be a good idea. Green Country Roofing performs these for free. Also, you can check out our blog post “How Can I Tell If My Roof Has Hail Damage?” You can always reach out to us if you have any further questions.
2. Check your roof vents—Another option is to look at your roof vents. Depending on the pitch and height of your roof, this may or may not be possible. If you see any kind of dents, this would be a good indication that your roof has sustained hail damage.
3. Examine your window screens—Now you’re probably thinking, “What in the world do window screens have to do with my roof?” Good question! If hail is big enough and hard enough to do damage to the roof, there’s a great chance that other items around your property will have been impacted as well. If the hail is soft, it will create splatter marks. If hail is hard, things dent and break. See if your screens have circular-type holes in them.
4. Evaluate the Color—The next option that you have is checking for color fading on the roof. Your roof’s color comes from the granules or small rocks that comprise the surface of the shingle. Fading may or may not happen right away. When hail hits shingles, the granules are knocked off or loosened. Depending on the size of the hail, fading can happen immediately after a hailstorm, or this process can happen over time as wind and rain knock off loose granules. If you notice that the color of your roof looks less vibrant than it once did, your roof may have been exposed to hail.
5. Final tip—This final tip comes from my lovely wife. She says that if tennis-ball size hail has fallen from the sky, you have damage to your roof. Haha!
In all seriousness, if you have noticed at least two of these signs, it’s advisable to have your roof inspected by a professional who can determine the amount of damage that your roof has suffered.
