Blue Ladder Roofing blog

Hail Damage Roof Inspection in Westfield, IN: What We Look For

austinchastain.prp@gmail.com (Austin Chastain) — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 21:32:51 GMT

After a hailstorm, many roofs in Westfield, IN look fine from the driveway. Up close, it's often a different story. Here's a look at a recent hail damage inspection by Blue Ladder Roofing in Westfield, and how we document damage so homeowners have clear proof for their insurance claim.

Why Hail Damage Is Easy to Miss

Hail doesn't always crack or tear shingles. More often it leaves soft spots or "bruises," knocks the protective granules off the surface and exposes the asphalt underneath. You can't see that from the ground, but it shortens the life of the roof. Once the granules are gone, sun and water break the shingle down much faster, and leaks can show up months or even years after the storm.

How We Inspect a Roof for Hail

On this Westfield roof, our inspector walked each slope and checked the shingles by hand. Every hail hit we found got a chalk circle. That does two things: it makes the damage easy to see in photos, and it shows a clear pattern across the roof instead of one or two random marks.

We photograph the marked areas on each slope so everything is on record. Good documentation matters because an insurance adjuster will want to see damage spread across the roof, not just a single spot.

Signs Your Roof May Have Hail Damage

Dents or dings on gutters, downspouts, window wraps or the A/C unit
Piles of shingle granules at the bottom of downspouts
Dark spots on shingles where the granules have been knocked off
Dented roof vents or ridge caps
Neighbors getting roof inspections or new roofs after the same storm

If you notice any of these, get the roof inspected before you call your insurance company. That way you know what you're dealing with before you file a claim.

Help With the Insurance Process

Storm restoration is a big part of what we do. If we find damage, we can walk you through the claim process and meet with your adjuster on the roof, so the damage we documented gets seen. If the roof is in good shape, we'll tell you that too.

Storm Damage in Westfield?

Blue Ladder Roofing is based in nearby Fishers and serves Westfield and all of Hamilton County. Learn more about our roof repair services and roof replacements, or call (463) 222-5211 for a free roof inspection.

New Roof in Progress in McCordsville, IN: Decking and Underlayment

austinchastain.prp@gmail.com (Austin Chastain) — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 21:22:41 GMT

This week Blue Ladder Roofing is replacing the roof on a two-story home in McCordsville, IN. This is part 1 of the project, covering the parts of a roof you never see once the job is done but that matter most: the decking and the underlayment.

Tear-Off Comes First

We remove the old shingles and underlayment completely instead of layering new shingles over old ones. A full tear-off lets us inspect the wood deck, find hidden damage and give the new roof a flat, solid surface to sit on.

Why Deck Repair Matters

Roof decking (the plywood or OSB under your shingles) can soften or rot after years of small leaks, poor ventilation or storm damage. Shingles nailed over a soft deck won't hold properly and can fail early. When we find bad sections, we cut them out and replace them with new boards instead of covering them up.

What Synthetic Underlayment Does

Once the deck is solid, we cover it with synthetic underlayment. It's a tough, water-resistant layer that sits between the deck and the shingles. Compared with old-style felt paper, synthetic underlayment resists tearing, lies flatter and keeps the deck protected if a shingle is ever damaged or blown off.

Coming Up in Part 2

Next up are the new shingles, flashing and ridge ventilation. We'll share finished photos once the roof is complete.

Need a Roof Inspection in McCordsville?

Blue Ladder Roofing is based in Fishers and works throughout McCordsville and Hancock County. Learn about our roof replacement process, or call (463) 222-5211 to book a free inspection.

Skylight Replacement and Re-Flash in Carmel, IN

austinchastain.prp@gmail.com (Austin Chastain) — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 21:22:39 GMT

Skylights are one of the most common sources of roof leaks we see around Carmel, IN. On this recent project, Blue Ladder Roofing replaced the skylights and re-flashed them along with the chimney so the roof would stay watertight for years to come.

Why Skylights Leak

Most skylight leaks aren't caused by the glass. They come from the flashing and seals around the frame. Over time, sealant dries out, flashing loosens and shingles around the curb wear down. Water then works its way in, often showing up as stains on the ceiling or drywall around the skylight shaft.

How We Fixed It

Caulking an old skylight usually only buys a little time. The lasting fix is to replace the unit and flash it properly:

New skylights set into the existing openings
Manufacturer flashing kits made to fit each skylight, so there are no improvised seams
Ice-and-water shield around the curb as a backup layer under the shingles
New step flashing at the chimney, another common leak point on the same roof

Signs Your Skylight May Be Leaking

Water stains or bubbling paint on the ceiling or the skylight shaft
Condensation or drips that show up after rain, not just on cold mornings
Cracked or missing sealant around the frame when viewed from the roof
Rust or lifting on the metal flashing
Fogging between the glass panes, which means the seal has failed

If your roof is close to needing replacement anyway, it usually makes sense to replace the skylights at the same time, so everything is new and flashed together.

Skylight or Roof Leak in Carmel?

Blue Ladder Roofing is based in nearby Fishers and handles skylight and chimney leaks throughout Carmel and Hamilton County. See our roof repair services, or call (463) 222-5211 for a free inspection.

Full Roof Replacement in Fortville, IN: Tear-Off to Finished Ridge

austinchastain.prp@gmail.com (Austin Chastain) — Wed, 11 Nov 2026 21:22:36 GMT

Blue Ladder Roofing recently finished a full roof replacement on a brick two-story home in Fortville, IN. Here's a look at the job from start to finish, and what every homeowner should expect when their roof is replaced the right way.

What We Found

The existing shingles had reached the end of their life. Steep pitches, multiple gables and a chimney meant there were plenty of places for water to get in as the old roof wore out. Instead of patching, the homeowner chose a full replacement so the whole system would be new and covered under one warranty.

Step 1: Full Tear-Off and Deck Inspection

We removed the old roof all the way down to the wood decking. That's the only way to see what's really going on underneath. Once the deck is exposed, our crew checks every section for soft, rotted or delaminated boards and replaces anything that isn't solid before a single new shingle goes down.

Step 2: Underlayment and Flashing

With a solid deck, we installed new underlayment across the roof to add a second layer of water protection under the shingles. Valleys, walls and the chimney got new flashing, which are the spots where most roof leaks start.

Step 3: New Architectural Shingles and Ridge Vent

The finished roof uses architectural shingles with a ridge vent along the peaks. Good attic ventilation helps the shingles last longer, keeps the attic cooler in summer and helps prevent moisture problems in winter.

Thinking About a New Roof in Fortville?

If your roof is getting older, you've noticed missing shingles, or you've had a recent hail or wind storm, it's worth getting it looked at before small problems turn into leaks. Blue Ladder Roofing is based in Fishers and serves Fortville and the rest of Hancock and Hamilton County.

Learn more about our roof replacement process, or call (463) 222-5211 to schedule a free roof inspection.