OnTheRock Engineering, LLC

Transcription

1 OnTheRock Engineering, LLC File No. L14-Sample FAX RESIDENTIAL ROOF EVALUATION Hail Damage Claim - Sample Short Report Claim Number: XYZ Insured: Joe Homeowner Property Address: 765 Front Street, Hometown, KY Prepared for: Prepared By: Integrity Insurance Co. 124 Middle Street Bigtown, NY Attention: Ms. Kimberly Adjuster James A. Skees, PE President & Sr Forensic Engineer January 30, 2014

2 File Number: L14-Smple Insured: Mr. Joe Homeowner TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction... 2 Authorization... 2 Purpose... 2 On-Site Study... 2 Report Basis... 2 Discussion and Analysis... 3 General History and Description... 3 Typical Shingle Aging Background... 3 Observations of Roof Condition... 4 Conclusions...5 Report Attachment: Site Photographs 1

3 File Number: L14-Smple Insured: Mr. Joe Homeowner Introduction Authorization On January 25, 2014, Ms. Kimberly Adjuster of Integrity Insurance Company retained OnTheRock Engineering, LLC, to perform a study and evaluation of the roof of the residence located at 765 Front Street in Hometown, Kentucky. Mr. Joe Homeowner owns the property. Purpose The purpose of our evaluation was to determine if the roof of the residence has hail damage. On-Site Study James A. Skees, P.E., visited the site on January 28, 2014 to study the roof of the residence. Report Basis The conclusions and opinions expressed in this report are based upon our site study of the roof of the residence. Should additional information become available, please contact our office so we can determine the impact, if any, of the new information on our opinions and conclusions. 2

4 File Number: L14-Smple Insured: Mr. Joe Homeowner Discussion and Analysis General History and Description The structure is a one-story residence of wood framed construction. For purposes of this report the front of the residence faces due west toward Front Street (Photograph 1). The exterior walls are covered with brick veneer (Photographs 2 and 3) and the roof is covered with dimensional asphalt/fiberglass mat composite shingles. Typical Shingle Aging Background The granular surface on the typical shingle is comprised of multiple layers of ceramic granules. The waterproofing structure of the modern shingle is composed of a woven fiberglass mat saturated in asphalt. The granules protect the asphalt from the harmful effects of solar radiation (sunshine). Some granule loss occurs with each rainfall or hail event. This minimal granular loss is considered normal wear and tear. A simple analogy might be to the rubber in the tires on an automobile. The tires wear normally under typical driving conditions. Fast starts and hard stops cause more wear on the tread, similar to the extra wear from rain and hail on a roof. Locking the brakes and skidding causes significantly more wear. Rainfall is like the normal driving. Small hail is analogous to a skid. It causes more wear, but until the granules are completely worn away (similar to tire tread), the roof (like a tire) is still fully functional. A shingle is not considered damaged by hail until the fibers of the mat are broken. Small hailstones usually do not have enough mass to break the fibers or puncture the mat. The typical impact damage mark from larger hail is at least ½-inch diameter caused by a much larger hailstone, usually at least 1½-inch in diameter. The aluminum roof vents on the east-facing rear roof slope are exposed to weather from all directions and they have only very small dents consistent with hailstones less than oneinch in diameter (Photographs 4 and 5). The small dents on the vents do not indicate that damaging hail has fallen on the roof of the Homeowner residence. 3

5 File Number: L14-Smple Insured: Mr. Joe Homeowner In the southern United States, the major cause of deterioration to shingles is not hail, but heat from the summer sun. Composite shingles typically do not age at a constant rate. During the initial curing phase of the life cycle the shingles will appear to age quite rapidly. Significant granule loss may occur on the surface. With inadequate ventilation, the heat from the sun can cause minute cracks and blisters to develop as the volatile materials in the asphalt begin to evaporate and the edges may begin to curl slightly. The initial weathering stage typically lasts about two or three years. During the mid-life period of the shingle life, the aging process typically slows down on most shingles. Cracking and blistering may continue, but usually at a much slower rate over the next 10 to 12 years. The initial granular loss on the shingles occurs quickly because the outer layers of granules are not directly embedded into the asphalt emulsion. These less firmly adhered granules wear away more easily. After the initial layers are gone, the lower layers are much more firmly attached to the surface. This is the long, durable stage in the life of the shingles. The shingles on the roof of the Homeowner residence appear to be in the mid-life period at this time. Eventually, during the declining years, the asphalt emulsion will begin to deteriorate, and even the lower levels of granular protection lose their adhesion properties and begin to spall off. The fabric cracks become visible, blisters become more prevalent, and the deterioration accelerates. The additive effects of years of granule loss exposes the fabric and the shingles get very brittle and begin to fall apart. In the southeastern U.S., this final deterioration stage typically begins when the shingles are about 15 years old on a 30-year shingle. Observations of Roof Condition We performed an examination of the roof to evaluate possible hail damage. Photographs were taken and notes were recorded to document the condition of the roof. Selected photographs are included in the attachment section of this report. Additional photographs are retained in our file and are available upon request. 4

6 File Number: L14-Smple Insured: Mr. Joe Homeowner The composition shingles on all slopes are in good condition. The roof was studied for visual evidence of hail damage. Hail damage to shingles appears as bare or broken spots in the granular surface of the exposed shingles, typically centered at a depression into the mat. Usually these bare spots are randomly scattered and can be on any side or slope of the roof dependent on hail direction. Other types of blemishes similar to hail impact marks are often found on composite shingle roofs. The installers cause some scuff damage during the original application. Typically shoe scuff marks or gouges and scrapes from dropped equipment are most common (Photograph 7). Later, after the roof is complete, maintenance workers might cause similar damage walking or working on the roof. A relatively small number of light surface blemishes (less than 10 ) were also observed on the west-facing front roof slope of the Homeowner residence that are similar to damage to be expected from hailstone impacts (Photograph 9). The granules have been dislodged at these blemishes, but the fabric of the shingle was not broken. These light surface scuffs do not compromise the integrity of the shingles because the mat was not broken; they will not cause leaks over the advertised life of the shingles. No hail-like blemishes were observed on the east-facing rear roof slope. It is our opinion that the light hail damage does not require replacement of the shingles on the roof of the Homeowner residence. Conclusions Based on the available data, we have formed the following conclusions: 1. A relatively small amount of man-made damage was observed on the roof of the Homeowner residence. 2. The west-facing shingles have a relatively small number of blemishes (less than 10) that are similar to damage to be expected from the impact from hailstones. However, those light surface scuffs do not compromise the integrity of the shingles; they will not cause leaks over the advertised life of the shingle. 3. The small amount of light hail damage does not warrant replacement of the shingles. 5

7 ATTACHMENT Site Photographs

8 File Number: L14-Sample Insured: Joe Homeowner 1. The satellite view of the Homeowner residence shows that it faces generally west toward Front Street. 2. The west (front) elevation of the Homeowner residence.

9 File Number: L14-Sample Insured: Joe Homeowner 3. The southeast corner at the rear of the Homeowner residence. 4. Twelve aluminum roof vents on the east-facing rear roof slope are exposed to weather from all directions. The east-facing rear roof slope has no hail damage.

10 File Number: L14-Sample Insured: Joe Homeowner 5. The typical aluminum vent with small dents consistent with hailstones less than one-inch in diameter. 6. The typical shingles on the east-facing rear roof slope with light surface scuffs, but no nail damage that compromises the integrity of the shingles.

11 File Number: L14-Sample Insured: Joe Homeowner 7. A relatively small number (less than ten) large man-made surface scuffs were observed on the roof. 8. The west-facing front roof slope has no significant hail damage.

12 File Number: L14-Sample Insured: Joe Homeowner 9. Less than ten light surface scuffs were observed on the west-facing front roof slope. The light surface scuffs do not compromise the integrity of the shingles because the fabric of the mat is not broken; surface scuffs will not cause leaks over the advertised life of the shingle.