Inspecting Your Home After a Major Hailstorm

Once it is safe to be outside, take a slow walk around the place. A careful look is the best tool a homeowner has at this point. Start at the perimeter and look at the siding. Vinyl siding is common in our city and it can become brittle with age and sun exposure. Hail can punch holes right through it or leave cracks and dents. Look for a pattern. Damage is usually concentrated on one or two sides of the home, depending on which direction the storm came from. I remember a house in Tuscany where the west-facing siding looked like it had been hit with a shotgun, while the east side was completely untouched.

Check your window screens for tears and the window frames themselves for dents, especially if they are aluminum or vinyl clad. Look closely at painted surfaces like trim and doors. Hail can chip the paint, which exposes the wood or metal underneath to moisture. You will want to get those spots sealed and repainted before water has a chance to get in. Take photographs of everything you see before you move or touch anything. Those pictures help later.

The Roof, Soffit, and Eavestroughs

The roof is usually the biggest concern after a hailstorm. For most people, getting up on the roof is not a safe or practical idea, and I do not recommend it. You can still learn a lot from the ground with a good pair of binoculars. Look at the metal components first: turbines, vents, and flashing. These are soft metals and will show dents easily. If they are heavily dented, that is a strong sign that your shingles probably took a serious hit as well.

Next, look at the eavestroughs and downspouts. They will almost certainly be dented, but you are also looking for blockages. Large hailstones can knock a lot of granules off asphalt shingles, and this material flows into the gutters. If you see piles of black grit in your downspout outlets, that is another sign of significant shingle wear. Then scan the shingle field itself. You might be able to see bruising or missing shingles from the ground. Any of these signs mean it is time to call a professional roofer for a close-up inspection.

Air Conditioners, Decks, and Doors

Hail can damage more than just the main structure of your house. Take a look at your outdoor air conditioning unit. The thin metal fins that surround the unit are very delicate and can be flattened by hail. When these fins are bent, it restricts air flow and makes the unit work harder and less efficiently. A professional can sometimes comb these fins back out, but severe damage might need more serious repair or replacement.

Your deck and fence are also vulnerable. Hail can pockmark the surface of wood or composite decking, chipping stains and sealants. Check railings and posts for similar damage. Your garage door might have taken a beating, too. It is worth making sure the panels are not cracked or seriously dented. It is a good idea to keep the door operating properly, as significant panel damage can affect its balance and operation down the road.

When Water Gets Inside

In some cases, hail is large enough or driven by enough wind to break a window. When this happens in a basement, especially with older window wells that might not have proper drainage, you can get water in the lower level very quickly. This is more than a simple cleanup job. Water in the basement can damage framing, insulation, and drywall, and it needs to be handled properly to prevent future mould issues.

I walked through a home in Auburn Bay after a summer storm where a basement window had shattered. The homeowner had already removed the wet carpet, which was a good first step. But the water had soaked the bottom of the drywall and wicked up into the insulation behind the vapour barrier. It all had to be cut out and replaced.

If a basement window was broken and water got in, the repair might go beyond just replacing the glass. For repairing water damage and keeping the basement envelope sound, a Calgary basement developer like ReImagine Builders in Calgary can look at the space and outline the work.

Hiring Help and Avoiding Trouble

After a widespread hailstorm, you will notice an increase in trucks and signs for roofing and siding companies. Many are local businesses. Some are what we called storm chasers, who arrive from out of town because of the sudden demand. Be cautious of anyone who shows up uninvited, uses high-pressure sales tactics, or asks for a large cash deposit up front. Take your time to find a contractor. Your insurance provider might have a list of preferred vendors, which can be a good starting point. When you start looking for roofers or siding contractors, it is wise to check their standing. You can find the Better Business Bureau listing for Calgary online to see a company's history and any complaints. A bit of homework here can prevent problems later.