By Ronnie Elliott, Owner & Licensed Roofing Contractor, Alron Construction — Published 2026-05-20 · Storm Damage · 5 min read
If your Winter Springs home was in the path of the May 12, 2026 Seminole storm, schedule a free photo-documented roof inspection. Most hail and wind damage on a Florida asphalt shingle roof is not visible from the ground, and homes in the 15–25 year age range are particularly vulnerable to broken sealant bonds that fail in later storms.
FOX 35 Orlando reported a storm system moved through Seminole and Orange counties on May 12, 2026, bringing heavy rain and hail. Marble-sized hail was documented in Lake Mary, just north of Winter Springs. The broader Seminole County corridor — including Winter Springs neighborhoods in Tuscawilla, Highlands, Oak Forest, and along the Greeneway — was in the impact zone.
Winter Springs has a particular vulnerability that newer master-planned communities don't: a lot of housing stock built in the 1980s and 1990s. That puts a meaningful percentage of local roofs in the 15–25 year age range, where shingle flexibility is dropping and the bond between the shingle tab and the course below it is weaker than it was a decade ago.
Asphalt shingles lose flexibility as they age. The asphalt mat becomes brittle. The sealant strip that bonds each shingle tab to the course below it loses elasticity. Hail impact that would have bounced off a 5-year-old roof can bruise a 20-year-old roof. Wind gusts that would have stretched a new shingle without breaking the seal can rip the tab loose on an aging roof.
Even more important: a 20-year-old roof with a broken sealant bond may look completely fine from the ground after a storm. The shingle is still in place. The wind released it but didn't actually move it. Then the next thunderstorm — a routine Florida afternoon event in June or July — lifts that unsealed shingle, the wind catches the back edge, and it tears off entirely. By then the storm that broke the seal is six weeks in the past.
Look at the roof from the ground. Note any visibly lifted, torn, or missing shingles. On older roofs, look for shingle edges that appear to be sitting slightly higher than they should — broken seals sometimes show up as a subtle curl or lift.
Check the gutters and downspouts for granule accumulation. Older roofs lose more granules during routine weather, so a small amount isn't a clear signal — but a meaningful pile after one storm is.
Look at the soft metal — gutter end caps, gutter aprons, roof-mounted vents. Hail dimples on these surfaces typically indicate the storm cell actually crossed your property.
Inspect the attic if you can do so safely. Daylight visible through the roof deck, new water stains, or fresh dampness around penetrations are all signals.
Get a free photo-documented inspection. A licensed Alron Construction inspector accesses the roof safely, photographs each slope and key flashing point, and provides a written report whether or not damage is present. The inspection itself is not a claim — no insurance company is contacted.
On a 15–25 year-old roof, the inspection report is valuable even if no storm damage is found, because it establishes the current condition of the roof for future reference. If the next storm a year from now does cause damage, you have a documented baseline showing what the roof looked like before.
Florida Statute 627.70132 sets specific reporting timelines for windstorm and hurricane claims. Those vary by carrier and policy. We do not advise on filing decisions or your specific deadlines — for that, consult your insurance carrier directly or a licensed Florida public adjuster.
Yes. FOX 35 Orlando reported a storm moved through Seminole and Orange counties on May 12, 2026, bringing heavy rain and hail. Marble-sized hail was documented in Lake Mary just to the north of Winter Springs. Winter Springs and the broader Seminole County corridor were in the impact zone — whether your specific home was hit depends on the cell path.
Yes. Asphalt shingles lose flexibility with age. After 15–20 years, hail bruising and wind-driven sealant failure happen at lower thresholds than they would on a newer roof. The shingles can look intact from the ground but have broken seals that fail in the next storm.
Yes. Alron is a licensed Florida General Contractor (CGC1515789) and Roofing Contractor (CCC1328819) and we handle HOA and multi-unit re-roofing projects with board-ready documentation, phased scheduling, and coordinated communication with HOA management companies.
Florida Statute 627.70132 sets specific reporting timelines for windstorm and hurricane claims. Deadlines vary by insurance carrier and policy type. We are not attorneys or public adjusters and do not advise on filing decisions. For your specific deadlines, consult your insurance carrier directly or a licensed Florida public adjuster.
Alron Construction, LLC: Licensed Florida Roofing Contractor (CCC1328819) and Certified General Contractor (CGC1515789). Office: 300 N Cocoa Blvd, Cocoa, FL 32922. Call (321) 639-0911 for a free, photo-documented roof inspection. Serving Brevard, Volusia, Seminole, Orange, and Osceola counties since 2008. A+ BBB rated, 244+ verified Google reviews, veteran-owned (SDVOSB).
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