Dec
Choose the right roof for hail prone areas
North Carolina is no stranger to hailstorms and severe weather. Across the country, hail storms caused $1.1 billion in damages in 2022 alone. Hail happens to be one of the more common causes of roof damage in Greensboro-Burlington, NC, but there are some things you can do to reduce your risk of damage and costly repairs.
This will involve knowing how to spot hail damage, what to consider in a hail-resistant roof, and what to expect from the insurance process.
Spotting Hail Damage On Your Roof
Even minor hail occurrences can cause a lot of expensive damage to your roof and home. That’s why the sooner you spot hail damage, the better, as minor damage can rapidly morph into major damage if you get a leak in your attic.
The signs of hail damage will vary with the roof type you have. For instance, hail will leave cracks, dents and craters on asphalt shingles, while it will leave small, surface-level dents on metal.
Class 4 Impact Ratings
If you live in a hail-prone region, the roofing material you choose should have a UL2218 Class 4 Impact Rating as specified by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL). This is a not-for-profit independent organization responsible for testing and certifying roofing products. This is the national standard for any roof’s ability to withstand hail strikes.
Roofing materials are typically rated Class 1 through Class 4 depending on their resistance to the impact of hail from varying heights. A Class 4 rating is the highest a roof can receive.
Wind
Hail forms in wind updrafts of thunderstorms, which then push raindrops into the cold upper portion of the storm where it will freeze into a hailstone. Once this process has repeated itself over and over, the updrafts can no longer hold them all and they fall to the ground. The resulting hail that can hit your roof may vary from tiny balls to golf ball-sized hailstones to grapefruit-sized hailstones.
You may want to consider a hail-resistant roofing material that has a Class 4 impact rating as well as a high wind resistance rating.
Insurance
Not all hail damage is covered by all insurance policies, which is why it’s important to ask your insurance company what they cover.
Often, insurance policies will have a deductible when it comes to hail damage, so you will have to pay out of pocket for some of the repairs. Also, covered damage in many cases has to be considered “reasonable and necessary,” which means if the hail damage does not pose a safety hazard, the repairs may not be covered.
Metal Roofing: Best For Hail
Durability and longevity are two main qualities you want to see in a hail-resistant roof. Metal roofs happens to have the highest Class 4 Impact Rating of all roofing types, and can withstand lots of adverse weather – including:
- Hurricanes, High Winds and Tornadoes
- Salt Air and Humidity
- Snow and Ice
- Fire
Redeem Roofing Burlington, NC
To make sure you’re getting a hail-resistant metal roof, contact our Burlington-Greensboro Triad NC roofers at 336-350-1450 for a free quote and consultation.
Redeem Roofing did a fantastic job installing our new roof. We love the Certainteed Landmark Pro shingle. The crew did a great job with cleanup, we are very happy with the work.
- Category: Roofing