In May of 2011 the Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues, Inc. conducted two investigation programs covering the effects of high wind and hail on various roof surfaces. The Roofing Industry Committee on Weather Issues, Inc. (RICOWI) was founded in 1990 as non-profit focused on identifying and solving issues associated with wind damage. Since then RICOWI expanded to cover other weather related issues. The RICOWI recently completed an inspection of over 100 DFW area homes to determine the effects of hail on various roofing systems.
Meteorological Data
On May 24, 2011 several storms containing large hail passed just north of College Station, TX (Dallas / Fort Worth). According to the National Climatic Data Center, reports of hail 2 inches in diameter and larger were reported over the area. Large hail over 4 inches in diameter was also reported to damage airplanes and nearby airfields.
Investigation Methodology
Trained inspection members identified affected roofs by properly identifying dents and other impact marks, known to be hail related. Property owners and other eye witnesses were interviewed to verify the extent of hail impact.
Trained inspection members identified affected roofs by properly identifying dents and other impact marks, known to be hail related. Proper data was then collected and analyzed. The data included meters covering location, roof construction details, pitch, estimated hailstone size, and severity of hail impact. Impact severity was measured on a scale of 0 (no real damage) to 5 (severe damage and potential leaks as a result). y owners and other eye witnesses were interviewed to verify the extent of hail impact.
Investigation Findings
- Low Slope Roofing Systems
A focus of the investigation was to determine the differences between roofing products rated for impact resistance and those that were not. It was found that low slope roof systems that had membranes that were strictly supported by gravel or stone ballast performed the best.
- Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt shinglees that were rated as impact resistant did perform better than those not. Out of the roofs that were tested 75% of the impact resistant roofs were rated in the damage categories 0, 1, or 2 (the lowest damage categories). The average damage rating for impact resistant roofs was 1.3. The damage rating for non-impact resistant roofs was 2.5. Older roofs also showed more damage than newer roofs within the same area due to additional wear and tear and aging.
- Tile
Tile roofing systems performed well. Even though hail sizes were estimated to be between 2 and 4 inches, very few tiles had any damage. The damage noted on tiles is a pattern of multiple fractures from a single hailstone impact. Tile roofs older than 12 years also showed no noticeable differences in performance, probably due to repeating materials of clay and concrete.
- Metal Roofs
Most metal roofing systems also performed well. Of all the metal roofs tested only 1 had severe damage where roof had disturbed sides. None of the metal roofing systems, where raised, galvanized steel, or standing seam, had any evidence of leaks or punctures.
Final Results
Hailstone damage was easily identifiable by the trained personnel on many varieties of roofing types. Hailstone size is more of an indicator of the amount of damage than hailstone number. Across the board impact resistant products performed better than standard products. Roofing systems that possessed a more substantial substrate also performed better than those without.
Conclusion
It appears that roofing systems that provide a complete system of protection from hail include impact resistant materials, a solid substrate backing, and a proper installation.
