If you recently purchased a home in the state of Colorado, then you need to learn all about roof hail damage and how it can affect your home. Colorado is the most hail-prone state in the country, and hailstorms in the state often result in many houses with hail damage. When these storms occur, hailstones as large as 4.5 inches in diameter can fall from the sky at great speeds. When these large, heavy hailstones hit the roof of a home, they can cause roof hail damage. Read on to learn more about how hail can affect a roof and how to choose a new roof that is as hail damage-resistant as possible.
Read on to learn more about how hail can affect a roof and how to choose a new roof that is as hail damage-resistant as possible.
How Hail in Colorado Springs Can Damage Your Roof
Hailstones range from just one-fourth of an inch in diameter, which is about the size of a pea, to about four inches in diameter, which is about the size of a softball, or larger. Larger hailstones that hit a roof typically cause more damage than smaller hailstones due to their heaviness and the high speeds they tend to fall at. For example, a two and three-quarters hailstone can fall from the sky at a speed of 100 mph. Even relatively small hailstones can damage asphalt shingles upon impact by removing protective shingle granules. When these protective granules are lost, the integrity of the entire shingle is compromised and eventually lead to house hail damage. These granules protect the asphalt mat underneath from the sun’s UV rays that can degrade this mat very quickly when it is left unprotected. When larger hailstones hit an asphalt shingle roof, shingles can puncture or tear upon impact; rainwater can then easily penetrate through these punctured shingles and onto your wooden roof decking, quickly causing wood rot and decay. Large hailstones in Colorado Springs can split wooden shingles upon impact, while clay and concrete tiles can crack or shatter when hailstones of various sizes hit them. Hailstones can even dent or even puncture metal roofing, especially roofs made of more malleable metals, such as aluminum and copper. If you suspect you have roof hail damage that was caused by a recent hail storm, then schedule a roof inspection today to have the house hail damage assessed. Most homeowners insurance companies cover the cost of roof hail damage repair unless the damage is only cosmetic and does not sacrifice the integrity of your roof.
Tips for Choosing a Hail Damage-Resistant New Roof in Colorado Springs
When you decide it is time to replace your current roof due to hail damage or simply because it has reached the end of its lifespan, you should ensure your new roof is as resistant to hail damage as possible. Not only can a hail damage-resistant roof prevent the need for roof repairs after every bad hail storm, but many homeowners insurance companies also offer discounts to clients who have impact-resistant roofs. A few roof materials that work well in hail-prone areas of the country include:
- Rubber roofing. Rubber roofing is the most hail damage-resistant roofing on the market today.
- Modified asphalt shingles. These shingles contain a rubber-like compound that makes them more resistant to hail damage than traditional asphalt shingles.
- Thick, steel roof panels. Steel roof panels are hail damage-resistant, especially when they are made of heavy-duty thick steel.
However, most roof materials on the Colorado Springs market today are given an impact resistance rating. This rating designates how susceptible the material is to damage upon impact with a heavy object, such as hail. Roofs with class-4 impact-resistance ratings are much less prone to hail damage development than roofs with lower impact-resistance ratings. Impact-resistance ratings are provided after steel balls of various sizes designed to mimic large hailstones are dropped onto the roof materials from a variety of heights and at a variety of speeds. A roof material is given a class 4 impact-resistance rating if it develops no damage after a two-inch steel ball is dropped onto it from 20 feet in the air. If you just purchased a home in Colorado Springs, then realize that the hail storms in the state can damage a roof that is not designed with maximum hail impact-resistance in mind. Contact the roofing experts at Empire Roofing and Restoration to schedule a roof inspection, repair, or replacement today.
