How to Look for and Repair Hail Damage

4/24/2021 (Permalink)

Still from a video one of our employees took during a hail storm at our Haverhill office back in July of 2020.

Even though hail sounds like something that should happen in the winter, it can actually occur year-round in Massachusetts, including the summer. In fact, there was reported hail and hail damage in Massachusetts in August of 2020. 

Do you know what to look for to see if your house suffered from hail damage, or how to repair hail damage? 

Here’s what to look for as indicators of hail damage to your house:

• Holes or gaps in your vinyl siding
• Dents, chips, or cracks on your roof
• Holes in your gutters
• Dents or holes on your deck

Of course, hail damage to your roof is a bit trickier to see unless you get up on a ladder, unless there are visible pieces of your roof’s shingles on the ground around your house. But it’s an important item to look for and repair as holes in your roof can lead to water damage or mold in your home. Plus, you can lay down a tarp once you’ve seen the hail damage to your roof to prevent water issues. 

The same holds true for any holes in the sides or siding of your house. Those hail damage holes become easy entry points for water to gain entry and cause water damage.

If the only damage is small holes in your vinyl siding, you could try your hand at repairing that yourself with a vinyl siding repair kit or exterior caulking that matches the original siding color. For the vinyl siding caulk, apply the caulking, let it dry, and then use a scraper to cut off the overlapping parts so it fits firmly with the pieces of the siding around it.

For damage that is more excessive or led to water damage or mold, your best bet is to turn to a storm damage restoration expert. Contact us here at SERVPRO of Haverhill / Newburyport for an assessment of your hail damage in Massachusetts along with a plan for remediation and clean up.