What Size Hail Will Damage A Roof The Guide For Commercial Property Owners
Some of the most common concerns for commercial property owners are how to best protect their buildings from hail storms.
When you consider that up to 80% of the cost of a roof replacement can be attributed to hail damage, it makes sense as a commercial property owner to be proactive and make sure your building is prepared.
This article provides information on what size hail will damage a roof, and what to do after a hail storm managing repairs and insurance claims.
How Much Damage Does Hail Cause
destructive effect on anything it comes into contact with, including roofs. Roofs are designed to withstand heavy rains and high winds, but they can be damaged by hail. The amount of damage that hail can cause depends on the size of the hailstones and the type of roof.
Hailstones range in size from pea-sized to golf ball-sized, and they can weigh up to half a pound. The largest recorded hailstone in the United States was found in South Dakota and weighed more than two pounds. While most hailstones are small, even the smaller ones can cause damage if they hit your roof hard enough.
The type of roof you have will also affect how much damage hail can cause. Shingle roofs are the most vulnerable to hail damage, followed by metal roofs and then tile roofs. Flat roofs are the least likely to be damaged by hail.
If your roof is damaged by hail, it is important to have it repaired as soon as possible so that further damage does not occur.
Protect Items On Your Roof
The top membrane on most newer RV roofs is made of rubber or PVC. Both of these materials are quite flexible and do a good job of keeping moisture out and repelling hail without damage.
However, your vent covers, air conditioning shroud, plumbing vents, skylights, etc. are made of plastic that can easily be damaged by medium-size hail stones or collapsed by heavy snow. This is especially true of plastics that have become brittle after years of exposure to the suns UV rays.
To protect these items when hail or heavy snow is expected, consider covering them for protection. Items RVers use include wood sheathing, inverted metal wash tubs, inverted Rubbermaid containers, old wooden fruit boxes, etc.
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What Do I Do If I Think I Have Hail Damage
If you’re 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: It’s 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. That’s why it’s important to make sure your contractor inspects the roof with the adjuster.
What Size Hail Can Cause Roof Damage
North Texas is gearing up for all that comes with the spring season. Crisp mornings, warm afternoons, sunshine, and unfortunately, severe weather and hail storms.
Even if we are well-aware of the chance of a severe storm before it happens, sometimes storm damage is inevitable. Although hail is more often than not small and non-destructive, a few times a year in Texas, well receive a strong hail storm that can cause some severe property damage. And while most people take the necessary precautions for their cars, plants, and other visible assets, a crucial consideration that is often overlooked is the damage that hail can do to your roof.
Whether the forecast says pea-sized or golf ball-sized, its important to know what size hail can damage your roof. Here are some tips for recognizing the various hail sizes and the risk they pose to the roof over your head.
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What Size Hail Will Damage Your Roof
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Clean Cut
Did you know that nearly all severe thunderstorms produce hail? But whether or not that hail reaches the ground is the question.
In 2021, there were 3,762 hail reports across the country the vast majority occurring in the Midwest and South Central U.S. Thats a lot of hail! Homeowners in these regions may be familiar with hail storms, but what about roof damage? What size hail will damage a roof? This is the real question we need to know.
Today, well detail how much or how big hail needs to be to cause significant damage to your home because when hail hits, you need to act fast to repair the damage.
Remove Snow From The Rv Roof
Even if the snow falls as light, fluffy powder, it will eventually start melting and turning to ice. The repeated freeze/thaw cycle of ice on the roof of your RV can potentially cause all kinds of damage to seams and fixtures.
The other concern is heavy rain following a snowstorm. Like a sponge, snow can absorb copious amounts of water. Snow left on the roof of an RV can eventually become so heavy with rainwater that it can collapse the roof.
Use caution when on the roof of an RV removing snow. Also, use something soft like a broom to sweep away the snow. Sharp objects like a snow shovel can easily cause damage to the roof membrane or vents/covers.
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What Does Hail Do To Your Roof
A hail damage to roof of house can compromise areas of the roof which provide connections and additional support such as roof flashing or valleys. These areas are essential in providing a streamlined path of water flow away from roofing materials so its best to check these areas after a hail storm. Whats more, any perforating roofing materials such as chimneys, eaves, skylights or gutters can be particularly impacted as they jut out from the roof. Its not uncommon to see loosened gutters and downspouts from the sheer impact of hail.
What Hail Damage Looks Like On A Roof
Hailstorms can come out of the woodwork and cause colossal damage to your property, including your roof. When a massive hailstorm blasts your home at top speed, your roof will almost certainly bear most of the brunt.
If you want to know what damage hail can do to your roof and what the damage looks like in different types of roofs, keep reading to learn all you can about it. In addition, well give you valuable tips on what to do to prevent hail damage on your roof.
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Repairing Roof Damage From Hail
Repairing hail damage can be difficult because the area may seem like its in good condition however, professionals who are familiar with different types of roofing materials will know how to identify problems.
Its important you hire a reputable company for your roof repair needs after hailstorms this is especially true if youve had any damage to your home. Its also good to ask your insurance company for a coverage on hailstorm damages.
Factors That Can Cause Roof Damage From Hail & What Size Hail Will Damage A Roof
Hail storms can prove to be pretty destructive in certain cases and the extent of the damage caused by them will be depending on the following.
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How Hail Damage Looks On A Roof
When you wake up one morning and notice some damage to your car, it could also mean some damage to your roof!
The damage to your roof will depend on the size and strength of the hail. If the hailstone is smaller than a golf ball, you might notice the following damage to your roofs surface and exterior siding:
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Scrapes or scratches in wood trim paint.
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Worn out caulking around doors and windows due to the force of rainwater between the exterior and shingles.
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Blistered paint due to rapid contraction and expansion of shingles caused by changes in temperature within a short period.
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Larger-sized hail can cause extensive damageyou may see holes and broken shingles in your roof.
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Downspouts and plastic gutters loosened at the lining of the roof, which is typically caused by hail thats larger than a grapefruit hitting them with an almighty force.
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The exterior siding of your home can also get damaged by hailstones larger than a softball.
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The shingles may be bruised. Dents from arent always fully visible. Touch the shingles to feel for little dents on the surface.
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Check for missing bits in the roofs asphalt. Look for the black substrate on exposed parts of the shingles. This indicates that something else has weakened the asphalt granules or removed.
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Look for cracks in the shingles. Large-sized hail can cause a round crack if it hits your shingles hard enough.
Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Storm Damage
Hail damage is covered by home insurance in most states. However, the coverage will depend primarily on where you live, your insurance company, and how your policy is set up. It is best to check your homeowners insurance to find out whether hail damage is covered by your insurance. The home insurer will typically need you to file a claim within one year after your roof has sustained hail damage. This is yet another reason why it is advisable to have your roof inspected by a professional as soon as you suspect the possibility of hail damage. It will help you assess the damage and get a quote for necessary roof repairs. A reputable roofing contractor will help you through the process of insurance filing and ensure a positive experience.
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How To Check The Damage
Damage caused due to hail on a roof is very difficult to find out. It is because it may get as late as two to three years before any leaks in the roofs can be observed. It is, therefore, best to have a professional come and check your roof for any damages.
If you plan to inspect and examine your roof yourself. You can check certain areas such as chimneys, vents, shingles, skylights, etc. However, there are certain ways you can check the damages yourself as well. Different roof types will have different types of damages.
Some of the damage may be completely visible whereas some other damages may not be that evident. Based on the material types, the damage examination and assessment techniques will differ.
What Is The Difference Between Sleet And Hail
The difference between sleet and hail has to do with how the precipitation forms. Sleet forms when raindrops fall through cold air and freeze into ice pellets before they reach the ground. Hail forms when updrafts in thunderstorms carry raindrops high into the atmosphere where they freeze into pellets of ice and then are blown around by wind currents until they eventually fall to the ground.
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How Much Damage Can Hail Cause
The amount of damage that hail can cause to your roof depends on the size of the hail. The smallest sizes of hail may not be large enough to cause much damage at all, while larger hailstones can wreak havoc.
How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?
Typically, hail larger than one inch or larger can damage your roof.
What Does Hail Damage Do To A Roof
Hail can have some obvious surface damage, including:
- Cracks in shingles
- Round black spots
Not all damage is easily visible, however. Sometimes hail can splinter the underside of a shingle. The surface of the shingle looks fine to a non-professional eye, however, so it may be difficult for a homeowner to detect the full extent of the hail damage.
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How Long Do You Have To Report Hail Damage To Your Roof
Temporary repair work by a licensed contractor should be conducted as soon as possible to prevent any complications with the claim.
Although this timeframe will vary across insurance providers, typically a roof hail damage insurance claim will need to be made within a month.
If they are available, before and after photos are great. Once a claim is made and an appointment set, an insurance claim inspector will come out to survey the damage.
When It Comes To Roof Hail Damage Size Matters
If you are able to observe the size of the hail during a hail storm it can suggest the type of roof damage you can expect to find.
- Less Than 1 Inch: When smaller than an inch, or about the size of a quarter, hail can inflict serious damage to an asphalt roof but can make identifying the damage difficult Most often though a hail damaged roof at this size can be more difficult to identify. You may require the assistance of a trained roofing inspector to accurately identify any specific hail damage.
- 1 Inch 2 Inch: If the hail size is between 1 and 2 inches, or between a quarter and egg size, the hail damage should be more easily found on the asphalt shingles themselves, as well as any soft metal on the roof.
- Greater Than 2 Inches: Hail greater than 2 inches will usually create some level of hail damage, especially to an asphalt roof. If this is the case, contact your preferred roofing contractor for a full assessment of the damages and notify the your insurance company.
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What Kind Of Damage Will Hail Cause To A Roof
Building materials absorb hail impacts differently. For example, hail can cause dings in aluminum siding, gutters, or asphalt shingles, whereas it can crack vinyl siding or wood shakes.
Softball-sized hailstones can be dense enough and strong enough to puncture a roof.
Additionally, the age and condition of a roof could affect the degree of hail damage. The most common effect of hail on a roof is indentation, leaving the shingles looking like they have waves in them.
When it comes to shingles and shakes, two different types of hail damage can occur: compression and puncture.
Three Quarters Of An Inch And Bigger: Golf Balls And Baseballs
When it comes to severe hail like this, its guaranteed that you will have moderate to severe roof damage. It might not happen often, but when it does, you need to get your roof inspected immediately to assess the damage.
Its also a good idea to get your insurance company on the phone and find out more about your coverage options for repairs, if needed.
As with most things in life, when it comes to your roof, taking precautions can save you a whole lot of trouble and money in the long run. The first thing you should do is find out the current state of your roof by booking an inspection with roofing experts.
When the hail does come, be sure to give your roofing experts a call to assess any potential damage. Stay safe out there, Texas!Looking for a reliable roofing expert in north Texas? Contact UPI Roofing to get a consultation.
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What Is The Difference Between Blistering And Hail Damage
Occasionally, damage from hail is mistaken for damage from blisters. Blisters are caused by the expansion of volatile gasses escaping from the asphalt layer. Blisters leave steep-sided pits or pockmarks that are usually missing some asphalt material. Sometimes, enough asphalt is missing that the mat is exposed.
Whats The First Thing You Should Do When You Think Your Roof Has Hail Damage
If your roof has any sign of extensive hail damage, theres a good chance youll have a homeowners insurance claim. Your first instinct might be to call a roofing contractor to come out and take a look.
It’s not a bad idea to have a reputable roofing company on hand, but the first thing you should do if you think you have hail damage is . After talking to your insurance company, theyll give you the next steps.
Theyll either send out an insurance adjuster or tell you to contact a roofing company for a hail damage inspection. Lets break down what each of those scenarios looks like.
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