Hail Storm Water Damage Cleanup in Keller, TX

Is This What You Are Seeing in Your Keller Home?

• New ceiling stains after a storm. Brown rings that appear right after hail usually mean water came through a damaged roof or vent.
• Wet or matted insulation. Insulation that looks flat, dark or clumped in the attic has absorbed rain.
• Daylight through the decking. Light showing through the roof deck in the attic means hail or wind opened a hole.
• Water at window frames. Damp sills, swollen trim or wet drywall under a window can come from cracked glass or broken seals.
• Dented vents and gutters. Dents in metal vents, gutters and downspouts show the hail was large enough to damage the roof too.
• Musty attic smell. A damp smell in the attic days after a storm means water is still trapped up there.

How Hail Storm Water Damage Cleanup Works in Keller

Hail does its damage in minutes, but the water damage often comes later. Large hailstones crack shingles and knock off granules, punch through roof vents and skylights, dent flashing and break windows. The storm cells that bring hail usually bring heavy rain and strong wind too, so water pours through the new openings while the storm is still overhead, and keeps leaking with every rain after that until the roof is covered.

Most of that water lands in the attic first. Blown insulation soaks it up, gets heavy and presses on the ceiling drywall below. Water also runs along rafters and trusses to the top plates of walls, then down inside the walls. Broken windows let rain blow straight into rooms, soaking carpet, wood, window sills and the drywall around the frame. Rain from a damaged roof is often treated as category 2 once it crosses insulation and debris.

A local restoration crew focuses on stopping more water first. Technicians tarp damaged roof sections or board broken windows, then go into the attic to pull wet insulation and check the decking and trusses. Below, they open soaked ceilings, extract water from floors, and set air movers and dehumidifiers in both the rooms and the attic so the framing dries along with the drywall.

Keller sits in a part of North Texas where the spring severe season runs roughly April through June, and hail statewide peaks in May with April close behind. Large hail, damaging wind and heavy downpours are the main threats. After a big storm, many homes in the same neighborhoods, from Hidden Lakes to Marshall Ridge, can have damage at once.

Do These Things Before the Crew Arrives

1. 1
   Wait for the storm to pass Stay inside and away from windows until hail, lightning and high wind have moved through.
2. 2
   Check the attic and ceilings Look for drips, wet insulation and new stains with a flashlight, staying on the framing if you step into the attic.
3. 3
   Catch drips safely Set buckets and towels under drips, and keep people out of any room where the ceiling is sagging.
4. 4
   Cover broken windows Tape plastic over broken glass from inside, and move furniture and rugs away from the opening.
5. 5
   Stay off the roof Wet, damaged shingles are slick, so leave roof inspection and tarping to the crew.
6. 6
   Photograph everything Take photos of hail on the ground, dented vents, broken glass, ceiling stains and wet rooms.

How a Keller Crew Handles Hail Storm Water Damage Cleanup

1. 1

   Cover the openings

   Technicians tarp damaged roof sections, vents and skylights and board or cover broken windows, so the next spring rain does not add more water to the home.

2. 2

   Inspect the attic

   The crew checks decking, trusses and insulation with meters and thermal cameras, marking every wet area and any spot where ceiling drywall is holding water.

3. 3

   Remove wet insulation

   Soaked blown or batt insulation is vacuumed or bagged out, taking weight off the ceiling and letting the decking, framing and top plates dry out.

4. 4

   Open damaged ceilings

   Sagging or saturated ceiling drywall is removed in controlled sections, and water is extracted from carpet and floors in the rooms below the roof damage.

5. 5

   Dry rooms and attic

   Air movers and dehumidifiers run in the affected rooms, and airflow is directed into the attic so the framing and decking dry along with the walls.

6. 6

   Verify and hand off

   Final readings confirm the attic and rooms are dry, and the crew documents everything so roofing, window, insulation and ceiling repairs can be scheduled in order.

Why It Happens in Keller Homes

Cracked and bruised shingles

Hail can crack shingles or knock off granules, which lets rain reach the decking and nail holes.

Broken vents and skylights

Plastic roof vents, turbines and skylight domes can crack or shatter under large hail.

Damaged flashing

Dents and lifted flashing around chimneys, valleys and walls open new paths for water.

Broken windows and seals

Wind driven hail can break glass or damage seals and frames, letting rain blow inside.

Clogged gutters after a storm

Hail and shredded leaves can pack gutters, so water backs up under the roof edge.

Spring is the stretch Keller homeowners watch most. Severe storms from April through June bring large hail, damaging wind and heavy downpours, and many homes here have attic HVAC equipment and ductwork sitting right under the roof decking. Homes with big windows facing open yards or the greenbelt near the Bear Creek area can also take the brunt of wind driven hail.

When a storm moves across the city, damage is often spread over entire streets. That makes quick tarping important, because the next round of spring rain can arrive before roofers reach every home in Keller. The crew handles the water side, so the attic, ceilings and rooms are dry by the time roof and window repairs begin.

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

How to Keep It From Coming Back

• Inspect after every big storm. Have the roof checked after any hail, even when no leak shows yet, since damage can leak with a later rain.
• Clean gutters in early spring. Clear gutters before April so storm water drains away from the roof edge.
• Trim trees over the roof. Cutting back limbs reduces the debris and branch damage that come with hail and wind.
• Ask about impact resistant shingles. When a roof needs replacing, ask about shingles designed to resist hail impact.
• Keep the attic hatch clear. Keep a clear path to the attic so you can check for leaks right after a storm.

Hail Storm Water Damage Cleanup FAQs