Methods for Protecting Roofs from Hail – The Best Way to Prevent Damage

Summer is not only a period of the year when we all enjoy the nice weather and we go on vacation – it is also a period when storms and hail become more frequent and a period when responsible homeowners must figure out the best way for protecting roofs from hail. If you have experienced hail before, you are surely familiar with the devastating force of the strong winds and of the balls of ice that come with hail and you are surely trying to figure out how to hail-proof your home right now, so here are a few ideas to help you.

hail damage roof repair

Prevention with Regular Inspections and Repairs

It is not possible to completely hail-proof your roof, but a strong and impact-resistant roof can endure much more than a weak, leaky roof. Hire a professional roofer to inspect your roof and to address common problems, such as leaks, damaged or missing ridge caps, shingles and tiles, clogged gutters or damaged roof flashing. Get the entire roof surface checked and inspected by roof Manhattan contractors. They should be looking at the flashing around the openings, the ridge caps and other areas where the roofing structure is weakened by joints. These minor repairs don’t cost much, but they are the best way to fortify your roof and to prepare it for facing hail.

Consider Roof Replacement

If your roof is old and the area where you live is likely to get really strong hail this year, too, it might be a good idea to start considering roof replacement with impact resistant materials.

Impact resistant roofing solutions use modern materials that have undergone extensive testing, including resistance tests with steel balls dropped on them to simulate how a hail storm would affect them. The most common impact-resistant materials are special shingles that are more flexible than conventional shingles and bounce back into shape after coming into contact with hail stones. Given the high resistance to very strong impact, hail resistant roofing materials provide enhanced protection not only against hail stones, but also against high winds not accompanied by ice balls as well as against sleet, heavy rain and snow.

When selecting impact resistant roofing materials, check the product specifications and look for products that make reference to impact resistance in their name and check for the product’s impact-resistance classification – currently, roofing materials are categorized into four classes of resistance, the higher the class of the material you choose, the better.

Replacing your existing roof with impact resistant roofing comes with other benefits as well. The initial investment into the special materials and the professional installation is not small, but many insurance companies offer significant discounts for homes that have impact resistant roofing systems. To know exactly how these discounts work, check with your insurer to find out about the materials that they offer discounted premiums for and about the process of participating in such an incentive program.

Protecting roofs from hail is an excellent way for homeowners to improve the overall safety of their homes – whether it is roof Manhattan preventive maintenance and repair that you choose or complete replacement, any action improves the hail-resistance of your roof.