Canadian homeowners living in areas where hailstorms are common need to put some thought into hail-resistant roofing techniques. Hail damage can be detrimental to both a roof's appearance and functioning.

Types of hail damage

Hail can not only damage roof shingles and tiles. It can also cause damage to a roof's vents, valleys, and flashing. It can cause impact damage to metal roofs and it can also puncture or rip into softer roofing materials. 

After a particularly heavy hailstorm, homeowners should have their roofs examined by a roofing contractor. Even if damage or leaks from hail damage are not immediately apparent, hail damage can build up over time. Repairs are often easier to make and more affordable if damage is immediately discovered and repaired. 

Roof materials

While no type of roof will be completely invincible to hail, certain types stand up to this form of precipitation better than others. If your area gets a lot of hail, you should be looking for impact resistant roofing materials. Roofing made from a variety of different materials can be classified as impact resistant. Some popular roofing solutions for hail-prone areas are rubber, interlocking metal shingle, and asphalt shingle roofing. 

Rubber roofing

Rubber roofing (also known as EPDM or "M-class rubber roofing) makes for one of the most resistant roof types when it comes to hail damage. This type of roofing material cannot be dented as easily as metal roofing, and typically only very large hailstones can cause any appreciable damage to a rubber roof. 

Interlocking metal shingle roofing

It is almost impossible for interlocking metal roof panel systems to become punctured due to hail. The only damage that such a roof can suffer is typical denting. In many cases, any denting that results from hail will not even be visible from the ground. Metal roofs that are classified with an impact resistance of UL 2218 Class 3 or Class 4 are the most able to stand up to hail damage. 

Asphalt shingles

Some types of asphalt shingle roofing show strong resistance to hail damage. When it comes to asphalt shingle roofing, a rating of UL 2218 Class 4 usually provides effective impact resistance against hailstorms. 

Traditional asphalt shingles may develop rips and tears due to hail unless they have been specially designed for impact resistance. Asphalt shingles that are made from polymer-modified asphalt stand up better to hail than those that are manufactured from oxidized asphalt.

For more advice, contact a roofing company like R & A Roofing Services.