Hail Damage

HAIL DAMAGE INSURANCE CLAIM RESTORATION

Hail damage in Chicago’s Suburbs is common, but these ice bombs that wreak havoc on your home’s roof can happen anywhere.  Northern Illinois suburbs like Evanston and Highland Park Illinois can see roof damaging hail and some other parts of the U.S. see it more often. States like Illinois and the rest of the Midwest are most susceptible hail storm damage to roofs. Hail storms are most common between May and September. Icy hail pellets are usually between .2 inches and 1.75 inches in size, but can be much larger, sometimes called ‘golf ball sized hail’. In fact, a 2010 South Dakota thunderstorm caused a gigantic hail stone that measured 7.9 inches!

Hail damage to  a home’s roof or siding is not always easy to see. When hail damage from a storm to your roof is clearly present, you should look for missing or cracked shingles, dents in roof slats and bent roof vents or pipes. You can also sustain hail damage to siding, which sometimes looks like the dimples on a golf ball. Invisible roof damage comes into play when structural substrate materials beneath the shingles are damaged on your home. If you think your roof or siding has hail damage, we highly recommend getting an expert roofing contractor’s assessment. Roofing or siding storm damage can lead to serious roof leaks that can spread and cause structural problems and you don’t want to explain cosmetic siding damage when you try to sell your home.

Lightning and Thunderstorm Damage

Lightning storms damage roofs and can occur anywhere in the U.S. and especially in the Chicago Area. Thunderstorms and lightening bring the threat of fires and severe structural damage to your home’s roof. Even if your lightning rods work properly by channeling the energy to the ground, it’s possible to see damage to roofing, siding, gutters, chimneys, electrical wiring, appliances, antennas, satellite dishes, cable or telephone lines, and steel framework. Unless there are signs of fire on your roof, be sure to stay indoors until the storm is over because your home will protect you. Thunderstorms come with risks even if your home’s roof is not hit by lightning. You could see dangerous flash flooding, hail and high winds. Hail damage during a thunderstorm can cause serious damage to roofing and siding.

Storm-related Flood Damage and Tidal Surges

Flooding presents a serious risk to your home and your safety. According to the U.S. National Severe Storms Laboratory, floods kill more people every year than lightning, hurricanes and tornadoes combined.

When it comes to structures, flooding can lead to dangerous contamination and damage to drywall, support beams and foundations. You are at risk for mold within the first 24 hours of a flood, so it’s vital to stop the water from flowing and start remediation quickly.

Different types of floods come with different risks. River floods and flash floods are common when snow melts and have been known to completely overwhelm structures. Coastal floods and storm surges are even more dangerous, and usually lead to evacuation warnings. These can destroy homes entirely, so it’s best to listen to weather reports and plan ahead. Debris flows, which are often made up of heavy mud and plant material, can crush houses and sweep them away.

High Winds, Tornadoes and Hurricane Damage

Damaging high winds can happen all over Northern Illinois and can rip off roofing and siding.  Storm damage from high winds cause damage to homes across the Midwest. Thousands of tornadoes and hurricanes hit the U.S. every year. Severe winds are defined as exceeding 50-60 mph and are categorized as follows:
Straight-line winds: This broad category includes all winds not associated with rotation
Downdrafts: These winds are small columns of air that sink quickly toward the ground
Downbursts: These winds, which can be as bad as tornadoes, are a result of strong downbursts and are usually associated with thunderstorms
Microbursts: These small, highly concentrated downbursts can exceed 168 mph and can be wet or dry.
Gust Fronts: These occur when cold air clashes with warm air from a thunderstorm
Derechos: These long-lived, widespread wind storms come with a band of multiple showers or thunderstorms
Haboobs: These are walls of dust pushed along the ground by thunderstorm downdrafts
Bow Echoes: These winds are shaped like an archer’s bow and can produce severe straight-line winds and even tornadoes
Tornadoes: These destructive vortexes can exceed 300 mph and travel over dry land
Cyclones and Hurricanes: In the U.S., tropical storms rotate inward toward areas of low atmospheric pressure and are most common near the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern seaboard. So, you will never see a cyclone or hurricane in Illinois or even the Midwest.
High wind damage from wind can be widespread and can affect not only your roofing but also your home’s roof structure. Be aware of the potential for falling trees and poles and damaged power lines, and take care of these problems right away. After the storm, examine your property for structural damage to the home, including roofing, windows, siding and roof materials. In the most extreme high wind scenarios, roofs can be blown clean off by storm damage.

Hire a Professional Contractor

It’s vital to repair storm damage to your home’s roof quickly, so you can be covered by your home insurance for you roofing and/or siding. Before you try making roofing repairs yourself, work with your home insurer and hire a fully licensed and bonded contractor like JnJ Restoration. You can find an expert home restoration and repair service in your area by calling 312-804-1336. We’re available for emergencies 24/7.