The Long-Term Cost Savings of Hail-Resistant Roofs

A hail storm is not something that anyone looks forward to.  Depending on the size of the hail and the amount of time that the hail storm takes to pass, it can be anything from an inconvenience to a damaging experience that causes you to have to spend a considerable amount of money on fixing damages.  Cars left out in the hail are especially at risk for extreme hail damage. Hail resistant shingles aren’t often the first thing that comes to mind. But something that people rarely think about in a hail storm is their roof.  Hail storms are terrible on roofs, as a general rule. It’s not just the wind that usually accompanies such storm, but the combination of wind and what can be, at times, hearty strikes against shingles on your roof, that can cause damage. If you walk through your neighborhood after a rougher hail storm, you’re likely to find shingles on the ground, in bushes, and in yards. If you look around your neighborhood within a few days of a hail storm, you are likely to see more than a few houses with roofers on their roofs, either replacing roofs or inspecting them. Hail damage can be quite expensive, and the costs add up quickly. Even if the damage is minor and doesn’t require the replacement of the entire roof, the cost can be considerable, especially if you live in an area that is prone to hail. An option that you may want to consider is a hail resistant roof. Hail resistant shingles can protect your roof and save you money in the long run.

What Is A Hail-Resistant Roof?

After a few years of research, engineers found that shingles made with oxidized asphalt did not stand up to hail as well as those that are made with polymer-modified asphalt.  These engineers found that using hail-resistant shingles over the top of a pre-existing roof structure was a way to ensure that the damage from hail would be less. Further, they found that increasing the pitches of roofs could also assist in ensuring that hail damage would not be so catastrophic. Underwriters Laboratories even went to work designing a new testing method in 1996, to better grade the ability of a shingle to survive hail impacts, grading them from Class 1 (the least resistance) to Class 4 (the greatest resistance).

Are Hail Resistant Shingles Worth The Investment?

As you would expect, a hail resistant roof is more expensive than a standard roof. If you have not had to deal with hail damage in the last few years, it may not be a good investment for you.  However, if you have hail storms with any regularity, the slight addition in cost to your roof can pay off in the future, when you don’t have to repeatedly spend money to fix your roof. If you want to know more, contact your local home improvement contractor. Our Littleton roofing professionals can help to determine if a hail-resistant roof is right for you and your budget.