What Kind of Hail Is Damaging to a Roof?

As a general rule, you should have a roofing company inspect your roof after a hailstorm or any extreme weather event for that matter. That’s because no matter how durable your roof is, it’s likely to have suffered some form of damage.  

How Does Hail Damage Weaken Your Roof?

Even small hailstones can shorten your roof’s lifespan. They can dislodge the granules embedded in the shingle’s top layer. Without these granules, your roof is more vulnerable to damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays and premature aging. And in addition to causing cracks, hailstones can also weaken your shingles’ self-seal strip, which in turn increases the risk of shingles being dislodged by strong winds. 

How Big Do Hailstones Need to Be to Damage Your Roof?

The extent of the damage to your roof depends on several factors, which include the velocity and size of the hailstones. Here’s an overview of hailstone sizes and the extent of the damage they can cause: 

• Dime-sized hailstones – You shouldn’t worry too much if the hailstones that fell on your roof are dime-sized. They aren’t big enough to damage a newly installed residential roofing system. However, they can damage old roofing systems. 

• Quarter-sized hailstones – Hailstones the size of a quarter don’t usually cause significant damage, but they are large enough to put extra wear and tear on your roof and damage delicate flower beds. 

• Walnut-sized hailstones – Hailstones that are 1.50 inches wide are large enough to leave dents on wood and severely damage your roof. 

• Golf-ball-sized hailstones –  Hailstones the size of a golf ball or 1.75 inches wide can dent cars and damage other parts of your exterior. 

• Tennis-ball-sized hailstones – Tennis-ball-sized hailstones (which are roughly 2.50 inches large) are large enough to break your car’s windows and cause extensive damage to your roof. 

If you notice any signs of hail damage, schedule a roof inspection as soon as possible. The sooner hail damage to your roof is fixed, the lower the risk that roofing damage will affect other parts of your home.

Christian Brothers Roofing, a family-owned company with more than two decades of experience, offers a wide range of professional roofing services as well as premium metal roofing options. To get a free estimate, call us at (270) 715-1999, or fill out this form.