Don’t Get Hammered by Hail

If a heavy storm drops hail, look out. Hail can pack a powerful punch on your property.

Although you may not immediately think of hail as a danger to your car or home, each hailstone can shred roof coverings, scar automotive finishes and lead to water damage.

“Hailstones that reach about 1.5 inches in diameter, or the size of ping pong ball, may cause significant damage to cars, windows and siding,” said Scott Huber, vice president and manager, Property and Subrogation Claims. “Some hailstones reach 3 inches in diameter — about the size of a large apple — which is big enough to cause major roof damage.”

Know your materials

Knowing which roof coverings resist impact well can save you time and money. When building or re-roofing, the Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recommends roofing products that have a Class 3 or 4 rating under the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2218 standard. The (UL) 2218 standard rates a roof covering’s resistance to impact.

The UL test involves dropping steel balls of varying sizes from heights designed to simulate the force of free-falling hailstones. The four impact-level designations help you compare products: roof coverings that show the most resistance earn a Class 4 rating; and ones that have the least earn a Class 1 rating.

Keep in mind that while the UL 2218 standard is the best method to test impact resistance, it isn’t perfect and works better for some coverings than for others.

Make sure you’re covered

Building codes do not require roofs to be impact resistant, so you shouldn’t rely on codes or regulations. Be proactive and consult with your builder, roofing installer or insurance Agent about which materials to use and additional steps you can take to help your roof covering stand up better against high wind. To cover all bases, you may also want to check for wind-resistant features and a fire-resistance rating.

“It’s never a bad idea to review your homeowners insurance policy periodically with your Agent to make sure you have sufficient coverage, especially if you are putting an addition on to your home,” advised Huber. “If you do suffer property damage, report it to your Agent immediately and make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.”

When the Storm Hits …

If a hail storm is expected in your area, move inside immediately and stay there.

• Park vehicles in a garage or under a car port.
• Keep away from skylights, doors and windows in case hail shatters the glass.
• Close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent wind from blowing broken glass inside.

For more information about things you can do to protect your home from hail damage, visit the IBHS Web site at www.ibhs.org.

• Print
• Bookmark
• Link
• E-mail
• Share
• Blog