Hail Claim Repair on Discontinued Laminated Shingles
A 2006 two-storey house has 220 m² of discontinued laminated asphalt shingles on a 6:12 roof. A 40 mm hail event bruised about 30 shingles on the south slope and filled gutters with granules. The homeowner reports two leaks at the chimney. The insurer authorizes repair of the 30 shingles using salvage shingles from a matching lot, not full replacement. The contractor finds 7/16 in. OSB sheathing that is soft near the chimney and one layer of 15 lb felt underlayment. The salvage shingles have the same color name but were stored outdoors for two years. The homeowner asks whether to accept the repair or demand replacement of the slope.
1. Evaluate the repair versus replacement decision. What factors matter beyond the number of bruised shingles?
Read the worked answer
The number of bruised shingles is only one factor. A repair can be reasonable if the damage is limited, the shingles can be integrated without damaging adjacent shingles, and the replacement shingles will perform and match. Here there are several cautions:
- The shingles are discontinued, and the salvage lot was stored outdoors for two years. Sealant strips may be contaminated or brittle, and the shingles may not seal or lie flat. Colour name alone does not guarantee a match after weathering.
- A 40 mm hail event that fills gutters with granules may have caused mat damage beyond the 30 visible bruises. Bruised shingles can fail later even if they do not leak immediately.
- The two chimney leaks are probably flashing-related, not hail-related. Repairing shingles will not fix them.
- Soft OSB near the chimney indicates water intrusion and deck deterioration; that area must be opened and replaced regardless of the shingle decision.
A limited repair may be technically possible, but it must not be presented as restoring the roof to pre-loss condition if the slope will have mismatched, older, or compromised shingles.
2. What inspection and documentation would you complete before agreeing to the insurer's repair scope?
Read the worked answer
Inspection:
- Walk the south slope and mark each bruised or fractured shingle; check for soft spots, exposed mat, and granule loss.
- Probe the OSB near the chimney and at any other suspected wet area; determine the extent of soft decking.
- Inspect the chimney flashing, counterflashing, and cricket; the two leaks should be traced to their actual source.
- Check the salvage shingles for flexibility, sealant strip condition, and whether they can be hand-sealed or require adhesive.
Documentation:
- Photographs of hail hits, granule accumulation, chimney flashing, and soft decking.
- Moisture readings and a sketch of damaged areas.
- Manufacturer installation requirements and warranty terms; note that a repair using salvage or non-matching shingles may affect warranty coverage.
- A written comparison of repair versus slope replacement, including colour match and expected service life.
Send the findings to the insurer and homeowner before installation. If the repair cannot restore a uniform, watertight slope, request a scope change in writing.
3. How would you handle the chimney leaks and the soft sheathing?
Read the worked answer
The chimney leaks must be treated as a separate flashing repair, not as hail damage. Open the flashing area and inspect the step flashing, counterflashing, cricket, and underlayment. Replace corroded or inadequate flashing, install a proper cricket if missing, and integrate new underlayment with the existing roof. Do not rely on surface sealant.
The soft OSB near the chimney must be removed and replaced. Cut back to sound decking, install new sheathing of the same thickness, and support the joints. Install new underlayment and ice-dam membrane at the chimney and in the repaired area before installing shingles. If the soft area extends under the salvage repair, the repair scope must expand.
Sequence: correct the deck and flashing first, then complete the shingle repair or replacement. If the chimney leak has saturated insulation or ceiling finishes, recommend interior inspection and drying. Document the separate causes so the insurer can allocate the claim correctly.