Metal Roofing: Protecting Your Home From Hail Damage

To better protect homes from damage and the increasing threat of hailstorms, experts say that choosing more resilient roofing materials is essential.

Choosing Resilient Roofing Materials to Combat Hailstorms

According to the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center (SPC), 2023 saw 6,962 hail events, with many considered to be substantial in nature. Hailstorms are occurring more frequently, posing a real threat to homeowners. During hailstorms, a home’s roof must endure a fierce beating in the form of pounding ice, rain and wind. Your roof’s performance can be critical in helping protect your home—both on the inside and out. To better protect homes from damage and the increasing threat of hailstorms, experts say that choosing more resilient roofing materials is essential.

Superior Hail Resistance and UL Certification Make Metal Roofing the Ultimate Choice for Homeowners

In studies conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), while all roof types can sustain some cosmetic damage depending on hailstorm severity, metal roofing performed best and was much less likely to puncture as compared to asphalt, withstanding even golf ball-sized hail stones without compromising performance. For homeowners, determining your hail risk is the first step in deciding if your roof could withstand major hail damage and perform to expectation, protecting your structure and your possessions inside.

Many metal roofing products have the highest impact resistance and hail rating granted by Underwriters’ Laboratory (UL), a leading product safety testing and certification organization.

Hailstorm Facts

  • In 2023, The SPC documented more than 1,000 reports of very large hail, which is more than 150% higher than average. The largest hailstone reported was almost 14 centimeters in diameter and fell in Lela, Texas.
  • Hail fell on more than 10 million homes and apartment buildings across the U.S. from mid-March through November 2023, with more than half of those impacted in Texas, Colorado, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Missouri. Severe hail (greater than two inches) fell on over 850,000 homes.
  • Hail caused more damage than tornadoes and straight-line winds across the U.S. in 2023, with insured losses likely to surpass $30 billion. For example, storms in the Dallas-Fort Worth area in June caused an estimated $7 billion to $10 billion in insured losses, with 95% of that loss caused by hail.

Metal’s Hail Performance

  • Metal roofs are naturally very tough and highly resistant to hail damage. However, additional design features for metal roofing are also available that may help minimize hail damage exposure.
  • Hail will typically not penetrate a metal roof. The puncturing of a metal roof due to hail is significantly less likely than with other roofing materials.
  • Many metal roofing products have the highest impact resistance and hail rating granted by Underwriters’ Laboratory (UL), a leading product safety testing and certification organization. The majority of metal roofing earns a UL2218 Class 4 rating, meaning that a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same spot by a 2-inch steel ball which, in a storm, would translate into a huge hailstone.

Save on Home Insurance with Impact-Resistant Metal Roofs – Ask Your Agent!

While homeowner’s insurance policies are all unique, many companies do offer discounts when you protect your home with an impact-resistant metal roof. The MRA recommends homeowners ask their insurance agent for more information regarding their current policy and what options are available to cover their home.

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