Hail damage is a common cause of concern for homeowners – even with a new roofing system. While you can’t really stop hail from coming down hard on your home, you can reinforce your roof to minimize its effects. Renovation Team explains that the extent of hail damage comes down to three factors: size, density and free-fall velocity. These three comprise the “impact energy” of hail, or the amount of energy transferred to the roof-covering material when hailstone strikes.
As we will show you below, impact energy is the most important factor influencing the severity of damage.
Hail Size
Larger hailstones bring more impact energy than smaller hailstones. Thanks to the properties of aerodynamics, the more massive the hailstone, the faster they fall. Damage left by hailstones of the same size varies; it depends on the hailstones’ density and angle of impact, and the properties of the material they hit.
Hail Velocity
The speed at which a hailstone falls out of the sky is its velocity. Its shape, size and the quality of its surface affect a hailstone’s velocity. The higher its velocity, the more impact energy a hailstone carries. It will likely cause greater damage when it hits than a similar hailstone falling slower. Some hailstorms also fall at an angle, which may also damage your siding in addition to your roof. Renovation Team offers vinyl siding installation to replace hail damaged siding.
Hail Density
Hailstones vary in density, which indicates their hardness. The layers of ice in a hailstone often contain air bubbles that make it softer and lighter. Softer hailstones may not damage roof-covering materials. Still, they can leave marks caused by the removal of surface oxidation. They can also bring dust and dirt, or microbial growth.
Hail Shape
Hailstones’ shapes affect how their impact energy transfers to the material it strikes. For example, a conical hailstone hitting at its wide end may disperse its impact energy over a larger area, but, when it hits on the narrow end, it will create more pounds-per-square-inch (psi) force, increasing the chance of hail damage.
Renovation Team offers quality roof replacement services. You can count on us to give you the best value for your money. We serve homeowners in St. Louis and Chesterfield, MO. Call us today at (314) 200-2228 for a free inspection and estimate.