Does Hail Damage Metal Roofs

What Is The Best Roofing Option For Hail

When you think about a hail proof roof you need to consider the entire roof system.

This includes not only the roof covering material but the deck, valley metal, other metal flashing details, vent pipes and skylights.

Under typical hail-forming conditions, faster uplifting winds result in larger hailstones.

Those winds can cause the larger hailstones to travel with greater velocity.

In order to adequately protect the people beneath it, a hail-proof roof must be impact resistant and durable.

Each of the following roofs has its own level of impact resistance but you must also consider the substrate to which the roofing material is attached to.

What Are The Subtle And Major Signs Of Hail Damage On A Roof

In the aftermath of a hailstorm, its important to walk around your property and investigate any damage resulting from hailstones or wind. Its worthwhile to be thorough with your hailstone damage roof inspection. Picking up on any minor hail damage now will save you a headache and heartache later. Remember, any problems that go undetected will become worse and more costly to fix as time goes on.

Thats why its worth it to hire an experienced roofing professional to inspect your roof. If even a few small granules have been knocked off your roof, the integrity of your shingles may be compromised, resulting in a future water leak.

What Do I Do If I Think I Have Hail Damage

If youre a homeowner and think you may have hail damage, the first thing you should do is for a free roof inspection.

If the inspector thinks you may have damage, your next step would be to file an insurance claim with your homeowners insurance company. Your insurance adjuster will put together an Xactimate estimate.

A lot of people ask: Will insurance pay for a new roof? This depends on your policy and who you have on your team. A trained professional can determine whether the damage is functional or cosmetic in nature. A public adjuster can help you negotiate a fair deal with the adjuster.

Homeowners: Its very important that you have your contractor come out and inspect the roof with your insurance adjuster. You have to remember the insurance company is looking for reasons NOT to replace your roof. Thats why its important to make sure your contractor inspects the roof with the adjuster.

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What Is An Impact Resistant Roof

An impact resistant roof is designed to resist damage that results from hail or any flying debris that could potentially damage the roof puncturing, denting or scratching the roof material. These roofs are made from durable materials such as metal.

How resistant a roof is to impact is determined by a standardized test and ranking system.

How To Tell If A Roof Has Hail Damage

If a hail storm is really intense, with something like 2 size hail balls, the damage will be obvious. Hail this size can easily break car windows. However, even less severe hail can cause damage that needs to be looked for.

If you are concerned that you may have roof damage from hail, check your gutters and siding first. These two areas can be good indicators of damage.

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Can A Metal Roof Can Protect From Hail Roof Damage

Thinking about investing in a metal roof? While its a big up-front investment, a metal roof has tons of benefits including advanced protection from hail roof damage. Here on the Front Range of Colorado and Wyoming, we live in hail alley and get a disproportionate amount of hail storms. That means plenty of hail damage and the need for hail damage roof repair.

While our roofing company can easily come and provide you with a free hail estimate and roof repair services, its better if you can avoid hail damage in the first place! Continue reading to learn more, visit our hail damage roof repair page, or contact us today.

Question: What About Other Roof Products That Are More Resistant To Hail Damage

Why are there no concrete roof tile products mentioned under hail resistant roofing? Are they not more durable than asphalt shingles? – Robert Joseph 7/10/12

Reply:

Robert, we agree that concrete roof tiles are more hail resistant than thinner softer products such as asphalt shingles. This article is about recognizing hail damage to asphalt shingles and distinguishing hail damage from other types of asphalt roof wear such as granule loss, blistering, foot traffic, cracking, & c.

The issue of distinguishing hail from other wear on concrete roof tiles has not arisen, though I speculate that in extreme cases such as baseball sized hail that occurs in some locales, all roof materials, including concrete, tile, slate and stone can suffer damage as well. See Hail Damage Resistant Roofing Products.

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Advantages Of Metal Roofs

Metal roofs offer many benefits, including:

• Longevity. Metal roofs can last 40-70 years, depending on the material. Traditional asphalt roofing materials have an estimated life expectancy of roughly 12-20 years.
• Durability. If installed correctly, some metal roofs can sustain wind gusts up to 140 miles per hour, will not corrode or crack and may be impact-resistant . In addition, metal roofs don’t need the periodic costly maintenance that other roofing materials often require. However, they should be inspected periodically to make sure no repairs are required.
• Safety. Metal roofs will not spark and ignite into flames during a wildfire or lightning strike.
• Energy efficiency. Metal roofs reflect the suns UV and infrared light rays that contribute to roof surface radiant heat, which can result in a 10-25% reduction in cooling costs.
• Environmentally friendly. Metal roofs not only have 25-95% recycled content, depending on the material used, but are also 100% recyclable at the end of their life as a roof. In contrast, most shingle tear-off waste ends up as part of the building-related waste stream up to 20 billion pounds per year.

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How Does Hail Damage A Roof Your Roof Inspection Checklist

September 10, 2019 –

HomeNewsHow Does Hail Damage A Roof? Your Roof Inspection Checklist

Hail is a powerful force of nature, especially in south-east Queensland. But did you know even minor hail storms can damage your roof in subtle yet significant ways? These subtle signs of hail roof damage like shingle granules in your roof gutters or broken corners on your clay roof tiles are easy to miss. That is, until the damage increases over time, resulting in expensive roof leaks or an urgent need to .

Our roof inspection checklist will help you identify signs of hail roof damage. If youre a homeowner, this is a must-read! In this article, well explore all your burning questions, such as:

• How fast does hail fall?
• How does hail damage a roof?
• Can pea sized hail damage a roof?
• What is hail and how does hail form?
• What factors make my roof vulnerable to hail damage?
• What are the subtle and major signs of hail damage on a roof?
• What should I do if I discover hail damage on my roof?
• How do I know if I need a hail damage roof inspection from a professional?
• What are signs of hail damage to roof shingles?

Why Be Concerned About Slight Indentations

If its a low pitched roof, you may find you have significant indentations in the pans. This can lead to an accumulation of dirt and also ponding. This is where water collects in small pools typically on roofs. Ultimately the combination of dirt build-up and water can cause corrosion over time.

In addition if the hail storm has been particularly strong, then your sheet overlaps may well have come under attack and significantly bent out of shape. As a result the anti-capillary effect the way in which water easily flows off the roof down specified channels, may be lost. As a result any subsequent water can easily absorb underneath the sheeting and cause further corrosion.

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Hail Damage Your Metal Roof

So, if you have a metal roof and it gets hit by a hail storm, what should you do?

Work with the Right Roofing Professional

Again, regardless of what type of roof you have, if your neighborhood gets hit by hail, you will have lots of contractors knocking at your door and roaming around your neighborhood. Many will actually be from several hundred miles away though they will have often somehow obtained a local address that cleverly disguises that fact. Some may even tell you stories such as they were sent by the manufacturer of your roofing to come do an inspection. Dont believe them. No manufacturers do that. They may also push you to just sign a paper allowing them to make and settle an insurance claim on your behalf. Dont do it unless you know and trust the contractor very well and have verified they are local and experienced with your type of roof. You lose all control once that paper is signed, committing yourself to using them as your contractor.

Inspect Your Roof

If you have a metal roof that gets hit by hail, we first suggest that you perform a visual inspection. Walk around your home. If possible, look out of upstairs windows onto lower roofs. Do you have a ladder that will allow you to safely look down into the roof? We do not suggest getting on the roof but just inspect it the best you can. Use binoculars if those are helpful.

Cosmetic and Functional Hail Damage

Read Your Insurance Policy Carefully: Look For Cosmetic Damage Exclusions

The problem of denial has become so acute that some insurance companies are writing exclusions for what they call cosmetic damage into their policy. And since their adjusters call virtually all hail damage to a metal roof cosmetic, they are effectively writing policies that cover nothing. In doing so, the insurance companies are claiming that, because minor dents dont allow leaks, reduce the service life of the roof in any significant way, they shouldnt be covered. Unfortunately, these policy exclusions may soon become the norm, especially in areas more prone to hail, such as the Midwest and large parts of Texas.

Insurance companies advertise themselves as protectors and promise to cover everyone when your business or your home is damaged, but in reality their main purpose is to collect as much money as possible and pay out as little as they can get away with. The latest wrinkle, when it comes to excluding cosmetic damage to metal roofs, is unfair and needs to be stopped. Insurance companies need to be held accountable for doing what they say they will do whenever you suffer damage to your property.

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Question: Phoenix Hail Storm

There was a hail storm in Phoenix, AZ, in October 2010. I was out of the country at the time. I have returned in April 2012. I am in the process of determining if there were hail damage on my roof currently.

The insurance inspector claim there was no hail damage on the roof except on the AC condenser and some of the window screen. The inspector claimed the damages seen on the roof were mainly due to weather and acid from the bird dropping. Is is possible for me to send some photos to you to obtain your opinion? Thank you in advance for your time and help in this matter. – PSF Chan 5/24/12

Reply:

Bird droppings are not likely to produce a shingle scouring / granule loss pattern that would in the slightest be mistaken for hail damage. Even if we buy the “acid damage” claim the birds would have to poop uniformly over an entire roof and the effect would have to be granule loss without remnants of guano.

I’d like to see some sharp photos both of the whole roof, all slopes, and of the slope where the damage seems apparent to you, and sharp close ups of the shingle damage area details. Use the CONTACT US link found on any website page.

Can You Claim Hail Damage Twice

Yes. But there are some things to keep in mind before you make this decision. You can file as many claims as you need, but the more claims that are filed means the higher your premiums will be. One claim won’t typically affect your rates but two claims in a row may cause an increase in your premium.

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Example Of Shingle Damage From Hail Scouring Granule Loss

Here’s my update. I had other roofers take a look. One of their photos of hail damage is below. They all said I had significant hail damage. It was noted there was pitting which could be caused by blisters but there was separately lots of hail damage.

I had an insurance adjuster come out and he said I needed a complete new roof, new gutters, replacement of various window screens and cladding, replacement of exterior post lights, re-staining fence, etc.!

So, it seems a bit fishy that the roofer sent out by the agent initially said I had no damage. Do you have any comments?I do have one question. I have 2 Velux skylights in the vaulted roof. They do not appear to have any damage. The adjuster and the roofer said they would just get new Velux flashing kits for them. Online, the consensus seems to be that the skylights should be replaced when the roof is replaced. What is your opinion? – Anon, 22 July 2015

Reply: conflicts of interest in building or roof inspections

Regrettably there are often conflicts of interest. A building inspector whose opinions are costing the insurance company more than the company feels is appropriate may find herself or himself out of a job.

Similarly, some real estate agents will not refer home buyers to home inspectors who inspect and report thoroughly because they’re afraid that their deal may be hampered – which is too bad since it’s rare to find conditions so costly that buying a home is unreasonable.

See CONFLICTS OF INTEREST for details.

So What Should You Do

Always inspect your steel roof thoroughly after any type of hail storm and keep a close eye out for any indentations or sheet overlap damage. If ponding occurs due to indentations or any of the overlaps are badly warped, then change them as soon as practically possible. This should extend the life of your roof and will ensure that any insurance claims you make in the future are valid.

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Impact Resistance Of Roofing Material

The most effective way to reduce hail damage is to use impact resistant roofing products. Underwriters Laboratory has developed a test, UL 2218, to evaluate the impact resistance of roofing material. This test evaluates materials by dropping a 2-inch steel ball onto the roofing panel twice at the same location, simulating the impact of large hailstones. The material must show no evidence of fracture, cracking, splitting or any other failure, which would result in an opening of the roofing material, to earn the highest rating. Four impact levels are defined in Table I. Class 4 is the most impact resistant, earning the highest rating. Class 1 is the least impact resistant. The Institute for Business & Home Safety has recommended UL2218 Class 3 or 4 products in hail-prone regions 2.

Table I. UL 2218 Class Rating Description 3

There are many different types of materials available for roofing applications, and metal is one of them. While metal roofing is primarily used for commercial applications, it has become an attractive alternative for residential roofing because its relatively lightweight, meets UL2218 Class 3 or 4 specifications, and may have a Class A or B fire resistant rating. Metal roofs have good impact resistance and are very likely to survive hailstones without functional damage, but can be vulnerable to aesthetic damage since hail can cause permanent indentations in the roofing panels.

Dent resistance 2 x 4

The Homeowners Guide To Hail Roof Damage

Winter is a time of stress for many homeowners. The risk of frozen pipes, ice dams, and other snow-related problems are always a risk. Yet there is one type of winter weather you might not have given much thought to hail.

Unlike snow, hail attacks your home as chunks of ice, varying in both size and velocity. Your windows are the most obvious risk during a hailstorm, but it can also damage your roof. This can mean costly repairs, especially if you dont catch the damage early.

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Asphalt Roof Shingle Storm Or Hail Damage Identificationhail Damage Types Causes Identification Photographs Claims

• about Roof Shingle Hail Damage & how Hail Damage is Distinguished from Blistering, Foot Traffic, or Other Roof Wear, & about Roof Inspection Procedures

InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website.

Hail damage to asphalt roofing:

This article tells readers how to identify roof shingle hail damage and how to distinguish a hail damaged roof from blister rash damage, foot traffic damage, wind, and other conditions such as shingle rash blistering, cracking, and granule loss associated with normal shingle aging.

We include photographs and text that help identify different types of roof damage and wear, and we discuss up-close examination of wear areas to improve the accuracy of roof damage or wear diagnosis. We explain the role of hailstone size, direction, and velocity in roof damage from hailstorms, and we discuss the role of roof slope or pitch, orientation and other factors in roof wear.

We also include a set of codes that can be used in marking areas of wear or damage on roofs to assist in photo documentation of roof condition. The article includes a list of manufacturers of hail-damage resistant roofing products and invites questions or comments from building owners, roofing experts, insurance company adjusters and roofing manufacturers.

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