Hail damage is one of the most common reasons to replace residential roofing. However, many homeowners may be surprised when a roofer recommends replacement instead of repair. After all, shouldn't it be relatively easy to fix the seemingly small and minor damage caused by most hail storms? Unfortunately, repairs rarely work out as well as many people expect.

This guide is for you if you've received an estimate for a roofing replacement due to hail damage or if you think your roof may have suffered damage in a recent storm. Keep reading to learn three crucial reasons you'll often need to consider replacement following any substantial damage from hail.

1. Widespread Damage

A notable feature of hail damage is that it's widespread and random. Roofers will often look for this characteristic when determining if spots on your roof are due to hail damage or some other problem, such as heat blistering. When the damage is spread relatively evenly throughout the entire roof in a seemingly random pattern, that's a good sign that hail was the source.

Unfortunately, this feature of hail damage means that repairs are often much more costly than replacement. Repairing the damage requires determining each impact location and often removing shingles across the entire roof, potentially repairing or replacing sections of the decking beneath them. In other words, repairing the damage often begins to look more like a roof replacement anyway.

2. Decking Problems

Hail will do more than damage your shingles. When hail hits your roof, it usually does so with enough force to knock granules away from the shingles and damage the underlayment or roof decking. It can also loosen shingles, creating a path for water to reach the lower layers of your decking. In many cases, these problems may not be apparent until a roofer begins to remove damaged shingles.

As a result, hail damage is often more than skin deep. Since there's the potential for water intrusion or physical damage to the decking, the safest bet is to tear off most of the old roof and look for areas requiring more extensive repairs. Replacing your roof ensures that you don't leave any of these areas behind to cause further water damage in the future.

3. Ongoing Granule Loss

The granules on asphalt roof shingles are not simply cosmetic. These granules help protect the underlying asphalt from environmental damage and, ultimately, help your roof last longer. Impacts from hail will often leave behind bare spots, but these aren't the only parts of your roof that hail damage can affect.

Less violent impacts may loosen or weaken other shingles, causing them to shed their granules more rapidly in the future. This damage can reduce your roof's lifespan, but it's hard to spot at first, even with a thorough inspection. A roof replacement ensures that you replace all damaged roofing shingles, preventing costly problems from recurring.

For more information on a full roof replacement, contact a professional near you.