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Restore Your Home With Top-Notch Vinyl Replacement Windows

If you’ve lived for any amount of time in the Denver area (or anywhere along the Colorado Front Range), you know it’s true: We get more than our fair share of hail storms.

In fact, the government agencies that track this sort of thing tell us we’re located smack in the middle of one of the worst hail corridors in the world… and certainly the worst in the United States.

A Denver or Colorado Front Range home owner can figure on an average of eight hail storms per year… a fact that keeps roofing companies, siding firms, and landscapers fairly hopping this time of year.

Not to mention insurance agencies!

Of course, not all hail storms are created equal.  A storm on the milder side might not inflict any damage on your home and yard… and you might get lucky, with the worst of the hail missing your home altogether (even though your neighbors might not have the same good fortune).

If you look outside after a hail storm and see a fair amount of broken tree branches and scattered leaves… damaged plants and bushes… chances are, your property has sustained some degree of hail damage. 

When that’s the case, it’s time to call your insurance company, and to get quotes from contractors who can restore your property to its pre-storm beauty (and soundness).

And while you’re at it… don’t make the crucial mistake some home owners make when working to restore their homes from hail damage.

Don’t forget the windows! By the way you can check out our Windows Denver Colorado page

A Hail Storm Can Wreak Havoc On Your Windows

There are several indications you (or your qualified professional window replacement experts) can look for to determine how the hail storm has affected your windows… and what remedies you’ll have at your disposal.

• First, check out the glass.  One of the most obvious indications of hail damage to your windows is cracked, broken, shattered, or pitted glass.  And don’t forget to check for obvious damage in the glazing or finish.
• What about the screens?  It’s also pretty plain to tell you’ve had damage if you find mesh screens that’ve been torn or ripped.
• The window frame is vulnerable, too.  If you see breaks or dents in the frame, or in the flashing around the window, you need help from a window replacement pro.

You’ll be able to spot the most obvious problems yourself. 

But if you know your property has had hail damage, but you can’t see problems with your windows, you’d be well-advised to call a good window replacement company and have them check to make sure… while you’re still “in the window” (no pun intended) for your homeowners’ insurance coverage.

What Are Your Options For Recovery?

Will you have to replace damaged windows entirely?

Chances are, that will be the way to go, to make sure your property is fully restored to its pre-storm condition.

But in the case of some windows, you can get by with replacing only the hail-damaged glass. 

Ask your window experts for an honest assessment of this option… if they’re worth their salt, a good window replacement company will know when to refer you to a glass company instead (and they’ll have a good glass company or two with whom they’ve partnered for such referrals).

When the windows need replacement, though, go with the best choice for Colorado’s climate and altitude: vinyl replacement windows from Amerimax. 

They’re made right here in Colorado – not shipped from sea level – so they won’t warp or change shape (or lose their effectiveness) before they arrive at your home.  They’re specially designed to withstand our high-altitude UV ray bombardment, and to stand up against Colorado’s challenging weather.

Living in Colorado is wonderful, of course… but we do get a lot of hail, don’t we?  If your property sustains hail damage, you’ll find our local insurers and contractors (and especially our local window replacement specialists here in the 303 area code) know exactly what to do to make your home “right as rain” again.

The process of detecting and evaluating hail damage is subjective at best, and often everyone involved will offer a different assessment. Damage can range from large, highly visible dents and tears to almost undetectable indentations or invisible granule damage. However, even small amounts of damage can harm the surfacing material, leading to deterioration of the shingles months later. Normally, if a shingle indicates outward damage, the underlying components may be compromised and affected to some degree.

On damaged roofs, the hail impact may affect the embedment of the granular surfacing in the asphalt top coating. This loosens the granules, potentially allowing the granules to separate from the coating layer and wash off the roof. Without the granule surfacing, the asphalt top coating is exposed to ultraviolet radiation from ordinary sunlight and will eventually deteriorate, exposing the fiberglass substrate and creating the potential for a leak. On severe hail damage, the fiberglass substrate may be physically broken further, compromising the weather integrity of the shingle.Without visible damage there is no real way to be sure how much damage shingles have encountered. Outward damage may not appear until months or years later.In accordance with the terms of the Limited Warranty, there is no coverage for damage caused by hail. However, should the shingles be damaged by hail, there is continuing coverage for manufacturing defects.There is a definite distinction between a manufacturing defect and damage caused by hail.When evaluating hail damage, look for the following conditions:

Tears in the Shingle – Tears are normally worse on reproofs due to the irregular surface support. The main areas showing damage usually include hips, ridges, sides of dragon’s teeth, and butt edges of shingles.
Indentations in the Shingle – Indentations will be either round or half-moon shaped. Some damage may not be visible and will require you to feel for any indentations, or to break the bonds of the shingle and feel the backside for any irregularities.

Excessive Granule Loss – May be an indicator of possible damage. Check gutters or the ground around the house for loose granules. Accelerated granule loss will significantly reduce the life of the shingle.

Other Collateral Damage:

• Broken skylights
• Broken windows
• Tree or shrub damage
• Car dents

Hailstones vary in size, shape and hardness. They can create a random pattern of dents or depressions consisting of various sizes, shapes and depths. If you keep in mind the typical random pattern of hail damage when evaluating a damaged roof, you should be able to assess the situation properly. If you have any further questions regarding hail damage, contact your homeowner’s insurance company.

Information provided by: Remedy Roofing, Lakewood, CO www.remedyroofing.com