Hail damage is a common concern for homeowners. The frozen precipitation can reach the size of a golf ball when it drops from the sky. The force can leave cracks and dents throughout your property, leaving the inside of the house in danger of damage, too. For an idea of how to protect your home during a hailstorm, below are a few areas that suffer the most.

Where Can Hail Damage Your Property?

1. Roof

Your roofing system can see substantial hail damage during a storm. When the ice hits the surface, it can crack tile and slate shingles or leave dents in metal panels. Hail can also dislodge and break asphalt shingles. Asphalt granules on the ground along the house perimeter should be cause for concern. Inside, check for moisture infiltration in the attic, as it could mean hail left holes in the roof for water to leak through. If a hailstorm is in the forecast, schedule a roof inspection to ensure it can stand up to inclement weather.

2. Windows

During a storm, hail can also crash into house windows at high speeds. The force can crack the glass or shatter it completely. This makes it easier for the rain to get inside and cause water damage. Even hairline fractures can create air leaks, compromising home efficiency and causing a spike in energy costs. To prevent the need for new window installation, board up the fixtures in anticipation of bad weather. 

3. Siding

Wind can also cause hail to hit siding, leaving behind dimples. If the ice cracks the panels, moisture could seep behind the installation, saturating the wooden supports and causing mold, mildew, and rot. Hail can also strip the lacquer off painted exterior walls. To determine whether you need a new coat of paint of siding replacement, look for hail damage after the weather clears.

If a hailstorm has left property destruction in its wake, the professionals at Bel-­Aire Home Improvement in Platteville, WI, will return your house to its former condition. For a free hail damage repair estimate in southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, or eastern Iowa, call (608) 348-­2381. Visit the full-service home improvement contractors online for more information about the work they perform, and become a Facebook follower for upkeep advice.