21 Jun Hailstorms
Oftentimes in our blog posts, we bring you information that is not necessarily related to roofing but will make your life and home more efficient, comfortable, and enjoyable. Because we have heard from so many of you that you are planning roofing projects in 2013, we want to talk about roofing this week. In particular, we want to discuss an enemy of roofing – hail.
With the thousands of hail events that occur in the United States each year, our roofs regularly get hit by hail. The vast majority of these storms cause no problems to our roofs, even though they may cause other materials to crack and leak. However, what happens when a Classic Metal Roof gets hit by a severe storm that takes out everything in its path? Classic Metal Roofing Systems received a letter from a customer last week in that situation. Before giving you some interesting statistics on hail, we wanted to share this story that is the result of a whopper Louisiana hailstorm which destroyed virtually every roof in its path:
“Our new Country Manor Shake roofing system replaced a previous Country Manor Shake roofing system which was installed in November 2001. That previous roof lived up to everything it was supposed to live up to (including the winds of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005)!! In over 11 years, it had not faded, peeled, chipped, or cracked. It also proved to be energy-efficient with a noticeable reduction in my electric bill almost immediately. This new roof was installed because the previous roof was damaged by hail in February 2013. My homeowner’s insurance covered the cost of this new roof. Country Manor Shake is great-looking, energy efficient, and worth the investment for ALL of the reasons I stated above.”
Hail can be very damaging. While it is unfortunate that this homeowner’s 11+ year-old aluminum roof was damaged by a devastating storm this spring, you can see from their comments that they are very pleased with their product choice. This spring, they saw every roof in their neighborhood replaced, including their own.
There are a few things to remember about Classic Metal Roofs and hail:
• Our warranty includes the paint finish to not be damaged by hail and the product to not leak due to hail damage. This is important because, after severe storms, you may wait weeks and even months for a contractor. Not having interior damages during that period is critical.
• Whereas other roofing materials soften or become brittle with age, making them more susceptible to hail damage, a Classic roof is just as hail-resistant in 10, 20, 30, and 40 years as it is when it is new. This is absolutely not the case with most other roofing materials.
• The deep texturing of most of our metal roof designs helps to mask minor indentations which may occur during hailstorms. This is far different from what occurs with less textured metal roofs. We also offer high density foam backers as an option behind our panels to enhance their hail resistance.
• Classic Metal Roofs have a UL Class IV Impact Resistance Rating. This is the highest rating available and may make you eligible for discounts on your insurance premiums. It’s important to note that accepting a discount may waive your right to an insurance claim for future hail damage that is cosmetic – check with your insurance agent.
So, here are a few statistics on hail:
• Every year has its fair share of severe hail storms. They tend to be concentrated in the eastern two-thirds of the United State. Hail Reporter provides interesting statistics, maps, and graphs of storm activity in recent years.
• The largest hail event ever recorded in southern California was a storm with 2.75″ diameter hail stones that occurred in Riverside County in September 1960.
• The largest recorded hail stone in the US fell in Vivian, SD in July 2010. It measured nearly 8″ in diameter – about the size of a bowling ball. This individual stone weighed nearly two pounds.
• While we think of the worst storms as being in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, the costliest hailstorm in US history occurred in St. Louis, Missouri in April 2001 with claims totaling over $2 billion while the second costliest was in St. Louis in April 2012 with losses estimated at $1.6 billion.
• The most expensive damages caused by hail tend to be roofs, sidewalls, gutters, and vehicles. Severe storms, though, can even crack concrete sidewalks and driveways. Depending upon the timing of the storm, crop damage can also be extensive.
2013 has been a very active year for hail thus far. While March through June are historically the worst months for hail, devastating storms can occur throughout the year and are the result of layered ice particles being formed by unstable air masses with strong updrafts.
While the effects of severe hail will be seen on any materials the hail impacts, your best protection is a roof that is not brittle, soft, or decaying as the result of years of exposure. If you think that a new Classic metal roof could be good for your North Carolina home, its beauty and its protection, please call us at (919)900-1100 or contact us. And, be sure to read here for information on how a Classic metal roof can protect your home from high summer temperatures and reduce your energy costs.
Warmest Regards,