Hail isn’t a common occurrence in the Pacific Northwest, but we are occasionally inconvenienced by it. Small-sized hail that comes in quick bursts rarely does damage, so when should you be worried about the roof on your home in Gig Harbor, Port Orchard, or Tacoma? Let’s learn a little more.
For hail to be destructive to your roof, many factors are at play. First, hail that is larger than one inch in diameter is the most destructive.
You also must take into consideration the condition of your roof, how long the hailstorm lasts, and the materials of which your roof is made.
Condition of your Roof
If your roof is already past its prime, hail that is half an inch to three-quarters of an inch can cause asphalt shingles to tear, or simply wear very quickly. The larger hail can cause the protective granules on your roof to wear off.
The Big Ones
Any hailstorm that produces hail that is bigger than an inch can cause significant damage to your roof and are large enough to damage asphalt roof shingles and in cases where the impact speed is too much can cause dents to metal roofs or can even break the tiles on your roof that may be made of slate or other materials.
Materials Matter
Asphalt shingles are more susceptible to hailstorms, while cedar shake roofs can withstand hail that is one-and-a-quarter inches.
Duration
Damage to the home will also depend on the time and duration for which the hailstorm was active. A hailstorm that lasts just a few minutes will most likely cause less damage than a hailstorm that last 30 minutes or more.
Speed and Intensity
It’s time for a mini physics lesson. When we talk about damage caused because of a moving object we often need to consider the speed at which it was moving and the force of the impact.
The speeds at which hailstones can impact can vary from 20 mph to 130 mph based on their size.
We are lucky that hailstorms aren’t as prevalent here as they are for the Inland Northwest, but it’s still important for homeowners to understand what can damage a roof. If you think you might have damage from a hailstorm, give us a call. We can help you assess the damage and recommend the next best steps.