In Colorado, severe hailstorms are far from uncommon. As a part of “hail alley”, Colorado experiences many hailstorms from spring to fall, often leading to property damage for home and business owners. In particular, hailstorms often cause damage to roofing systems. Roof hail damage is common in the Centennial State, but is it preventable?
Here, we’ll talk about prevention methods for roof hail damage in Colorado. By taking care of your roofing system, you can prolong its lifespan.
Start With Strong Roofing Materials.
When you have your roof installed in Colorado, make sure to select roofing materials that are cut out for the climate. This means opting for a material that can withstand hailstorms. Not all roofing materials are made equal, and some options will hold up better against hailstones than others.
Some of the top roofing materials for hail damage include:
Rubber
Rubber is one of the most hail-resistant roofing materials. It can withstand the impact of hailstones so that even severe hailstorms don’t cause overwhelming damage. Rubber roofing can also bounce back to its original position after being dented by a hailstone, allowing you to avoid visible roof hail damage.
Asphalt
Asphalt is one of the most popular home roofing materials in the United States. Among its other benefits, repairing hail damage to asphalt roofing is much more affordable than other roofing materials. This is a perk for homeowners on a budget because while hail damage to asphalt roofing largely can’t be avoided, the hail damage repairs won’t break the bank.
Hailstones tend to knock the protective granules off of asphalt shingles. This is why you may notice asphalt granules in your gutter system after a hailstorm, if you have an asphalt roof. With a compromised outer coating, asphalt shingles will be vulnerable to future damage. So, damaged asphalt shingles should be replaced after a hailstorm.
Metal
Metal is another roofing material that generally fares well in hailstorms. As a sturdy and light material, metal lasts longer than asphalt shingles and offers greater hail-resistance. Thicker metals, as well as strong metals like steel, can further increase your roofing system’s ability to withstand hail damage.
Hail Damage Prevention With Proper Maintenance
Besides selecting a strong roofing material, properly maintaining your roof is one of the best ways to prevent roof hail damage in Colorado. Plus, by maintaining your roof, you can prevent wear-and-tear on your roof over time, thus improving its longevity.
Keep these roof maintenance tasks in mind as a Colorado homeowner for hail damage protection:
Keep The Trees on Your Property Trimmed Back.
A hailstorm can cause enough damage to your home on its own. The last thing that you need in a hailstorm is for overhanging branches to break and fall onto your roof. Branches can scratch, scrape, and puncture your roof. If you own a shingle roof, fallen branches may rip entire shingles off of your roof. In a hailstorm, when high winds are often present, tree branches are more likely to break. So, to ensure that broken branches don’t fall onto your roof, keep the trees on your property trimmed back. No branches should hang over your roof.
Have Your Roof Inspected Regularly.
Roof inspections are the best way to catch potential roofing problems and have them resolved before damage occurs. We recommend that you have your roof inspected approximately once per year – ideally before hail season here in Colorado! This will give your local roofing experts a chance to repair any weak points before hailstorms strike. Otherwise, with a weak roof headed into hail season, you could end up with severe roof hail damage, such as a leak.
Don’t Put Off Roof Replacements.
At some point, all roofs need to be replaced. If the time has come to replace your home’s roofing system, don’t put off scheduling the replacement. Otherwise, you may put the interior of your home in danger of water damage due to a roof leak. While a roof replacement may seem like a hassle, you can ensure that it’s completed seamlessly by selecting a trusted Colorado roofing company.
Contact RME today to learn more about roof hail damage and how you can prevent it.