Implications of Hail Damage

Hailstones impacting a roof result in primarily two types of damage – aesthetic and functional. Aesthetic damage, which affects only the appearance of the roof, is by far the most common type of damage from hailstorms. For asphalt shingles, this is usually in the form of negligible loss of granules, which will have minimal impact on the life of the shingle. For other roof coverings, the aesthetic damage may include discolorations and/or dimples. While neither of these scenarios is very attractive to building owners, the result is minimal to no impact on the life expectancy of the roof covering.

Functional damage affects the expected performance characteristics of the roof. This type of damage is defined as the loss of water-shedding ability or a reduction in the expected service life of the roof. Functional damage levels will vary from roof to roof depending on the type and age of the roof covering material.