Hail Damage Wood Shake Roof Restoration in Roswell, GA

When severe hail struck Roswell, Georgia, a residential property with a large, complex wood shake roof sustained significant damage across nearly 6,000 square feet of roofing surface. Safeco Insurance Company documented the loss and approved a comprehensive restoration scope addressing not only the hail-affected shakes but also the underlying weatherproofing layers, flashing, ventilation, and drainage systems essential to long-term performance.

With multiple roof sections climbing to pitches exceeding 12:12 and numerous intersecting planes creating installation challenges, the project required a meticulous approach to restore complete weather protection. The homeowner needed a solution that would address both visible storm damage and the critical waterproofing details hidden beneath the wood shake surface.

Project Details

• Location: Roswell, Georgia
• Property type: Residential home
• Roof size: 60 squares (approximately 6,000 sq. ft.)
• Roof type: Wood shake
• Roof pitch: Multiple slopes, including 10:12 to 12:12 and over 12:12 sections
• Underlayment: 30-lb. felt and wood shingle underlayment with ice and water shield
• Additional materials: Modified bitumen roofing, aluminum gutter apron, drip edge, 6-inch K-style gutters, gutter screens, 3×4 downspouts
• Roof penetrations: 3 pipe flashings, 3 furnace vent caps, 2 static roof vents
• Insurer: Safeco Insurance Company
• Cause of loss: Hail damage
• Roof measurements: 5,960 sq. ft. roof area, 383 linear feet of eaves, 139 linear feet of ridge

Problem: Widespread Hail Damage Across a Steep, Complex Wood Shake System

The hail storm left its mark across the entire 5,960-square-foot roof, with damage documented on wood shakes covering numerous intersecting roof planes. The home’s roof design featured approximately 32 squares at 10:12 to 12:12 pitch and another 17.5 squares on slopes steeper than 12:12, creating exceptionally challenging working conditions and heightened safety requirements for any restoration work.

Beyond the visible shake damage, the insurance adjuster’s assessment revealed the need to address underlying weatherproofing components that protect the home from water intrusion. Ridge and hip materials, multiple underlayment layers, ice and water protection at vulnerable areas, modified bitumen sections, and all associated flashing required replacement to restore the roof’s complete weather barrier.

The property’s drainage system also needed attention, with gutters, gutter screens, and downspouts included in the restoration scope. Given the roof’s size and steep pitch, effective water management from the roof surface to the ground level was critical to preventing future water damage to siding, foundation, and landscaping around the Roswell home.

Solution: Full Wood Shake Replacement with Integrated Weatherproofing and Drainage

The restoration began with careful removal of the hail-damaged wood shakes across all roof sections, exposing the deck for inspection and preparation. Given the extreme pitch on portions of the roof and the home’s substantial height, the RoofServ crew implemented comprehensive safety measures including harness systems, scaffolding where appropriate, and staging areas that protected landscaping and provided secure material access throughout the multi-day installation.

The weatherproofing foundation started with installation of 30-pound felt underlayment and specialized wood shingle underlayment designed to work with the breathability requirements of wood shake roofing. Ice and water shield went down at eaves, valleys, and other vulnerable transition areas where water concentration or ice damming could threaten the deck. Modified bitumen roofing sections were replaced where the original roof design called for this additional protection, typically at low-slope or flat areas adjoining the main steep-slope sections.

New wood shake materials were installed across the primary roof areas, with careful attention to proper exposure, alignment, and fastening patterns that ensure long-term wind resistance and weather performance. Wood shake hip and ridge materials were applied at all ridge lines and hip intersections, creating continuous weather protection along these critical roof peaks. Three pipe jack flashings received new boots and collars, two static box vents were removed, reset, and sealed, and three aluminum furnace vent caps were replaced to protect mechanical penetrations through the roof deck.

Perimeter protection included new aluminum gutter apron along eaves and rake drip edge at gable ends, creating clean transitions that direct water into the gutter system and prevent wind-driven moisture from working under the roof edge. The complete 6-inch K-style aluminum gutter system was replaced around the home’s perimeter, with gutter screens installed to prevent leaf and debris accumulation. New 3×4 aluminum downspouts were positioned to carry runoff safely away from the foundation, completing the water management system from roof peak to ground level.

Result: Complete Weather Protection Restored Across a Challenging Roofing System

The completed restoration returned the hail-affected roof to full weather protection by addressing every component in the roofing and drainage assembly. New wood shakes, underlayment layers, ice and water shield, modified bitumen sections, flashing at all penetrations, edge metal, gutters, and downspouts now work together as an integrated system to shed water, resist wind, and protect the home’s interior and exterior from moisture intrusion. The property owner gained peace of mind knowing that both the visible roof covering and the hidden weatherproofing details were restored to reliable condition.

For the homeowner, Safeco’s comprehensive documentation and approval of the full restoration scope meant that the hail damage claim addressed the complete roofing system rather than a simple surface patch. The detailed measurements, roof plan, and component-by-component scope provided transparency throughout the insurance process and ensured that the steep-slope complexity, extensive roof area, and integrated drainage needs were all recognized and funded. The result is a wood shake roof built to deliver years of dependable performance for the Roswell residence.