Hail can
occur in any strong thunderstorm, which means hail is a threat everywhere.
When it hits, it can shred roof coverings and lead to water damage to your
ceilings, walls, floors, appliances, and personal possessions. Knowing which
roof coverings resist impact well can save you lots of trouble and money.
Keep in mind, however, that most roofing jobs are not for the do-it-yourselfer. Unless you have of experience in replacing roof coverings, hire a professional roofing contractor to handle this job. And before you re-roof, check with your local building officials to be sure what you're doing comp with local building codes.
WHEN YOU REPLACE YOUR ROOF COVERING
Keep in mind, however, that most roofing jobs are not for the do-it-yourselfer. Unless you have of experience in replacing roof coverings, hire a professional roofing contractor to handle this job. And before you re-roof, check with your local building officials to be sure what you're doing comp with local building codes.
WHEN YOU REPLACE YOUR ROOF COVERING
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If you are replacing your old, worn out roof covering with new asphalt shingles, make sure they have a Class 4 rating under Underwriters Laboratories' (UL) 2218 standard. A Class 4 rating tells you a sample of the product did not crack when hit twice in the same area by a two-inch steel ball
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The UL 2218 standard is a useful method for testing impact resistance, but it isn't perfect and works better for some roof coverings than for others. The UL standard measures weather product cracks under impact. Some roof coverings, particularly some made of metal, may resist cracking but can be dented and dimpled. So, while these roof coverings may test well, they may perform poorly in practice. Keep this in mind when using the UL standard to gauge the quality of a roof covering.
