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Some homeowners may wonder whether their roof has been damaged after a hailstorm. Hail can cause damage to properties including to roof tiles. Hail size, density, pressure, frequency, velocity, impact, wind speed and roof tile vulnerability are all factors that can impact the amount of damage caused.
How does hail affect roof tile materials?
There are very few roofing materials which are completely hail proof but some are considered to be hail resistant. The Australian Roofing Tile Association (ARTA) with James Cook University (JCU) conducted tests on the effects of hail on concrete roof tiles and metal sheet roofs.
Concrete roof tiles are effective against average size hail and are able to withstand their repeated impact, experiencing little, to no damage. Testing at JCU revealed that out of 21 concrete roof tiles tested, all experienced no damage from the repeated impact of hailstones (3.5 cm in diameter) at various velocity speeds and at various locations on the concrete roof tiles. Only larger, less common hailstones (6 cm in diameter and larger) caused some damage, to some concrete roof tiles.
Regular size hail can damage metal sheet roofs. Considerable damage occurs to metal sheet from hailstones that are large in diameter (6cm and larger). Testing revealed that 4/5 metal sheet experienced damage, 3/5 showed medium sized dents and 2/5 showed minor sized dents. Repeated impacts can cause a metal sheet's protective coating to chip off, leaving it exposed to further corrosion and cracking in the future following hail damage. Roof materials such as asphalt shingles and slate are less effective against hail.
How often does it hail?
The occurrence of hail varies geographically and by season. There have been several hailstorms which have impacted capital cities across Australia over the last few decades. Severe hailstorms that consist of hailstones that are greater than 2cm in diameter (such as the 1999 Sydney hailstorm – the worst in Australian history) can lead to considerable damage to roofs and can require roof repair.
How can you identify hail damage?
If hail has affected your roof, there are certain things you can do. You can try to identify what material your roof is made of, as this will affect the visibility of hail damage. Metal sheet roofing will likely show clear or minor dents and loss of paint from hail. However this can vary according to the pitch of your metal sheet roof. Notable dents may lead to the leakage of water or dirt through your roof or corrosion. In the unlikely event concrete roof tiles have been damaged from rare, large size hail, that have made a significant impact, cracks may occur. This is because concrete roof tiles can withstand hail well.
However, it may be a good idea to check for water leaks or loose roof tiles nearby. You may contact a roofing contractor to assess whether the hail damage is severe or if there are other issues with your roof. This is a good opportunity to prevent recurring issues and prevent possible issues in the future.
Concrete roof tiles hold their ground against hail. To find out more about how concrete roof tiles can withstand hail, check out our video here.