Roofing and Hail Damage Advice for Atlanta Residents
by Bill Mixon on 08/23/15
Much like the post office, your roof works in rain, shine, sleet, or snow. Your roof’s job is to protect your family from weather, and most of the time it does a really good job with minimal upkeep. Your roof is not impervious, however, and can be damaged by the elements. Consider the following two common reasons for damaged roofs:
Hail
Hail is a group attached balls or irregular pieces of ice; and, as anyone that has been hit by a piece of hail knows,they are extremely hard. Most hailstones are small, and feel like being hit by BBs, but hailstones can be much bigger. Consider the following record-breaking hailstones:
• Weight:
2.25 lbs (1 kg), Bangladesh, 1986
• Diameter:
18.625 inches (20 cm), Vivian, South Dakota, 2010
• Circumference: 7 inches (18 cm), Aurora, Nebraska, 2003
Of course, these are records, and any hail you experience probably won’t come close to these sizes or weights-most hailstones don't get larger than the golf ball sized. Still, that’s more than enough to send you running for cover; hailstones hurt! Imagine how much damage a hail storm would do to you if you couldn't find cover; it could be catastrophic. Every time you experience a hailstorm, this is what happens to your roof, because it cant run for cover or even duck away from the hail.
As such, these “mini meteors” damage millions of roofs each year, leading to dangerous conditions such as water build up or leaking. In the summer, water building up under broken shingles can quickly turn to mold that can get you or your family sick. If your roof is damaged by a hail storm, get it fixed as quickly as possible.
Wind
Hail isn't the only natural force that can damage your roof; wind
can blow shingles off your roof or even send debris such as tree limbs hurtling
into your roof at high speed. Don’t think the wind blows fast enough in
Atlanta to do damage? Consider these record Atlanta wind speeds :
• Fastest
gust of wind: 61 MPH
• Fastest sustained wind: 22mph
Of course, you will notice a gaping hole in your roof it gets struck by an object. This will probably send rain and other debris into your home, which can damage all your things and even cause danger to your family. If shingles blow off, it might be more difficult to notice, but the danger is just as real; as with hailstorms, water buildup could cause mold to form or even roof collapse
