Bridger steel recommends a minimum of a 26 gauge steel roofing panel to survive a harsh hail storm.
Metal roof hail rating standard.
There are impact resistant product options at a higher rate.
Despite this thicker lighter gauge panels can make sense for buildings in hail prone areas but not because of structural integrity.
These tests are widely accepted by the roofing industry and the results are widely quoted in industry promotional materials.
Thicker steel protects better when it comes to protecting a roof the thickness of the metal is a key factor to resisting large sized hail stones.
Summarizing the result we would be looking at for a class 3 roof is earned if the sample does not crack when hit twice in the same spot by a 1 75 inch diameter steel ball.
Metal roofing has always been known as one of the toughest materials available to use for a roof and most metal roofing panels carry class 3 or 4 ratings.
A quality 29 gauge panel is more than adequate for this which is why it s used on nearly 80 percent of homes with metal panels.
The most effective way to minimize hail damage is to choose durable hail resistant roofing materials.
Standard three tab are the most common type of shingle.
Homeadvisor s metal roof vs shingles guide compares pros cons differences and costs of metal shingle or panel roofing versus asphalt shingle roofs.
Ul standard 2218 describes a series of tests which involve dropping steel balls from various heights onto roofing materials and then measuring whether the material cracks.
Just choosing any metal roof will leave many owners with regrets after the next big hail storm.
Here are the top hail resistant roofing options available for modern homes.
Hail resistant is not hail proof.
A thicker metal panel will resist punctures and form stronger seams between panels.
Ul standard ul 2218 edition 2 impact resistance of prepared roof covering materials edition date.
After performing the test roofing manufacturers would be scored based on the resistance of the material getting a rating from 1 least hail resistant to 4 most hail resistant.
Hail damage to a roof is usually not the hail itself but the water that can seep through a roof damaged by hail.
This has to do with the testing itself.
Many have high ratings for fire safety.
Metal roofs can handle hail extremely well even better than most other roof types.
Even in extreme weather situations damage to a metal roof will take the form of small dents but not puncture break or tear the roof.