What Does Hail Actually Do to My Roof?

When it comes to the severity of hail damage and what it does to your roof it is going to be dependent upon several factors which include the following.  

• Roofing materials, which can include asphalt shingles, tile, wood shingles, or metal.  Another factor that may affect the severity of hail damage is the age of your roofing materials as well as things such as roof slope and the overall quality of your roofs construction.

• The size, density, shape, and velocity can also be big factors in the effect of the hail damage on your roof.  Here is a list of items that can help identify the size of the hail:

  • Pea  = 1/4-inch in diameter

  • Marble = 1/2-inch in diameter

  • Dime or penny = 3/4-inch in diameter (hail the size of a penny or larger is considered severe)

  • Nickel = 7/8-inch

  • Quarter = 1 inch

  • Golf Ball = 1½  inches

  • Tennis Ball = 2½ inches

  • Baseball = 2¾ inches

  • Teacup = 3 inches

  • Softball = 4 inches

• With hail damage to your roof, another factor is the number of layers you roof has.  If you have second layer shingles they will be more susceptible to damage than first layer shingles because the surface beneath is less supportive than dense wood.  

With these various factors to consider it’s always important to contact a professional roofing inspector if you suspect hail damage to your roof (reference our blog Things You Can Inspect as a Homeowner if you think your roof has been damaged by hail).  From there the Roofing Inspector can provide you with next steps when it comes to your roof.  Please keep in mind when contacting a Roofing company to inspect your roof that you reach out to a local company who understand the insurance claim process and has a good understanding of damage recognition when it comes to your property.  You want to avoid the “Fly by Night,” roofing contractors who will come out of the woodwork and try to take advantage of people who are dealing with damages to their property.

So if that time comes when you are looking for a qualified and professional roofing company with over 15 years of experience in Northern Colorado and the Greater Denver Area feel free to reach out to Harmony Roofing LLC to handle your roofing needs for residential and commercial properties.  

*Interesting Fact: it takes hail approximately 1” in diameter or greater to cause damage to most asphalt shingles.