How Deep Does Hail Damage Go?

5/12/2021 (Permalink)

After a hail storm, you should always check your roof.

Hail Damage To Your Commercial Building

Hail consists of large spheroid ice particles that have the potential to cause significant damage. While severe hail measures one inch or larger, hailstones that measure one-half inch or less can still cause significant damage by denting or dinging surfaces or causing roof damage that leads to leaks. Learn how hail damage affects commercial buildings in Oklahoma City, OK.

Surface Dents and Dings
Hail creates dents or dings in malleable surfaces. While this damage is often more considerable on vehicles, hailstones can still damage a building in any of the following ways:

• Breaking skylights or windows
  
• Denting metal roofing
  
• Causing dings or cracks in siding
  
• Puncturing roof membranes
  
  

While some hail damage is only superficial, hail that damages roofing materials has the potential to affect the interior of a structure. Roofers can identify and fix damaged areas that would otherwise be prone to leak.

Broken Roof Membranes
If a built-up roof or a roof membrane is damaged by hail, the roofing material may allow water to drip down to the roof deck or attic. A leak can affect building materials such as insulation and work its way down into a building interior.

Leaks Cause Interior Damage
A major roof leak that originates from hail damage has the potential to affect building materials and contents. From insulation in the attic to ceilings and drywall in finished interiors, hail has the potential to damage the exteriors and interiors of commercial structures.
In the year 2020, over 4,500 hail storms occurred across the United States. Maintaining roofing is the best way to prepare any commercial building for hail. It is easier to find and fix roof damage on a roof that is well-maintained, and it is less likely that minor hail damage will affect the interior. After a hail storm in Oklahoma City, OK, a property owner or manager should always check on the roof.