Hail Damage Restoration vs. Roof Upgrade: Asphalt vs. Metal

What's a Typical Cost To Install a new Roof? Average Price: $5,960 - $12,740
See Costs Near You

In many states in the US, we are approaching hail season. For those that live in areas that are prone to these storms, they know that in a matter of minutes their house could be torn up. Hail the size of golf balls can come down smashing windows, siding, and damaging asphalt roofs.

After the storm, people are frantic about how to fix their home. Too many of them, however, go through the restoration process and put the same product onto their home that was just damaged. The next storm to come could well destroy that new roof. šŸ˜‰

Hail damage restoration is necessary but upgrading to a better product is even more important.

Hail Damage to Asphalt Roofs

In the U.S., around 80% of residential roofs are topped with asphalt shingles. They are cheap, quick to install, and for the most part they look pretty good on top of houses.

The problem, however, is two-fold. Asphalt roofs will wear out over time, and they are susceptible to hail damage (as they get older, smaller, and smaller hail stones can damage them).

With hailstorms increasing in frequency and intensity, the likelihood of your newly replaced asphalt roof being damaged in a hailstorm is pretty high.

Fortunately, there is a better way; instead of restoring your roof, improve it!

Upgrading to a High-Quality Metal Roof

Metal roofs have been around for ages. But as metal technology improves, these roofs get stronger, look better, and last longer. The result is that when you upgrade to a metal roof, you get a roof that can withstand hailstorms, and it will likely last longer than you do.

How much stronger is metal than asphalt? Most high-end metal roofs are made with 24-gauge steel; thick enough to withstand a class 4 hailstorm (thatā€™s a storm that produces hail up to two inches in diameter). Such a storm would shred an asphalt roof, but a metal roof will come out just as strong as before the storm started, notwithstanding a few dents from hail impact here and there (while still having a functional roof).

But the strength of a metal roof isnā€™t the only perk that you will get when you upgrade rather than restore. You get the peace of mind that your home is going to weather just about any storm Mother Nature brings along.

You also get a roof that looks better than asphalt, provides superior fire protection, sheds snow, ice, and water better is environmentally friendly, and ultimately costs less than an asphalt roof (on a lifecycle cost basis).

Hail Resistant Materials are Becoming Required in Hail-prone Areas

In areas that suffer from a number of hailstorms, homeowners are finding that they are being forced to upgrade to better products. Either that, or they must tempt fate and forego homeownerā€™s insurance.

Because these companies are paying out millions of dollars every year to the same areas, they are finding that insuring these homes is not worth their time. The result is that homeowners who live in high-risk areas are being dropped from coverage until they upgrade to better products. This includes getting rid of the thin (non foam-backed) vinyl siding, opting for a hail resistant roof, and still filing fewer claims.

Donā€™t wait until your insurance company is ready to drop your coverage, upgrade to an impact resistant metal roof such as stone coated steel tiles or heavy gauge steel shingles.

Donā€™t just Restoreā€¦ Improve!

Metal comes in a variety of styles and colors. You are no longer stuck with the ugly plain metal ā€œtinā€ roof. Instead, you can choose a variety of standing seam profiles, steel tiles, or double-stamped metal shingles.

You can choose just about any color you want (although you might be hard pressed to find a neon pink metal), that contrasts nicely with the rest of your home.

Donā€™t just restore your home after hail damage, improve it, so you never have to touch it again.

What's a Typical Cost To Install a new Roof? Average Price: $5,960 - $12,740
See Costs Near You

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