A Study of Hail and Its Impact on Roofing

Hail is one of the more destructive forces of nature—it can damage buildings, trash cars, flatten crops and fields, and even injure people. It’s such a force to be reckoned with, it was one of the ten plagues of Egypt (it was the third, to be exact)!

However, not all hail damage is made equal. Some hail damage may be as light as the gentlest snowfall, but some would make entire neighborhoods look like a war had been fought there. But why isn’t hail damage standard or uniform? Patriot Roofing, the top-tier roofing contractor in the area, discusses a few reasons why hail damage is irregular.

Size of the Stones

The bigger the hailstone, the bigger its mass, and hence its destructive potential. Fortunately, not all hailstones are of the same size. Some range from pea-sized pellets (about a quarter of an inch) to so-called “giant” hailstones, which measure four inches at the widest. In fact, some giant hailstones reach up to 10 inches, as were those recorded to have fallen in 2003 in Hastings, Nebraska.

Note that hailstones get more irregular as they get bigger, as a result of hailstones merging as they fall or as more ice and supercooled water merge with it. As a result, the larger mass and its irregular shape can spell trouble for anything it comes in contact with—especially a roof that may need immediate roof repair.

Terminal Velocity

In physics, terminal velocity is the maximum speed of an object as it falls through a medium, such as air. A hailstone can achieve terminal velocities of up to 130 feet a second (20.4 miles per hour, or 35 kilometers per hour). At this speed, a hailstone of enough density and mass can punch through regular roofs like asphalt shingles. They are also highly dangerous for people caught outside.

Angle of Impact

Hailstones deal damage at the moment of impact, but the angle of impact may deflect the damage more than you might think. The closer to 90 degrees the angle of this impact, the greater the damage. This is why roofing contractors advise homeowners to install sloped roofs in hail-prone areas, as the lower angle of impact can diffuse the force.

Patriot Roofing specializes in roof replacement and repair, but we also dabble in gutter installation. Call us today at (405) 289-8807. You can also fill out our form to get started. We serve residents of Norman, OK, and nearby areas.

Jerott Wall

15:12 30 Jan 23

We needed our roof replaced and contacted Patriot for a quote, Devin came out within a couple of days, went over the roof with me and was up front about the process and time-line! Their quote was great and so were the reviews so we decided they were the company we wanted to do the work. We met at the showroom and they gave us accurate numbers before we signed the contract. Within a couple days they had us scheduled and the morning of install, the guys were there at 7am sharp! Blake was our on site supervisor and was great at explaining the details and checking each step of the install process! Kaylee the office lady was also a great help with the insurance portion and did a wonderful job at making in a pain free process! Super happy with the new roof and definitely recommend this company for your roofing needs!

Jessica Wall

14:30 30 Jan 23

Just had our roof replaced by Patriot. Devon was our salemen and he was very helpful and upfront about the situation with our roof. Blake was ouron site supervisor and did a great job at explaining the process and checking each stage of work to completion. They worked with us and our insurance, and helped us get what was owed to us from our insurance company! Highly recommended for any roofing and gutter needs! Definitely not a company that will nickle and dime you! Will definitely use again if the need ever arises!

Berta Young

18:45 18 Nov 22

I was having difficulty finding anyone to replace rotted fascia board on back porch and a portion along side and NW corner of mobile home. Also vinyl siding replacement in these areas. I contacted Patriot Roofing, was greeted promptly then connected to Ernie who came out, assessed the damage and in a few days sent an itemized list of cost of project. Repair was done in a timely and satisfactory manner. At my request they also installed guttering to my front porch. All employees were friendly and competent. This was a small job but they made time to help in time of need.

Tracey Phillips

19:03 24 Oct 22

Patriot Roofing responded quickly to our request for a quote on work around windows and doors. Ernie and Ron were very attentive and easy to work worth. Work was beautifully done and completed as quoted. Office staff followed up promptly to see if all was okay. Would definitely work with Patriot again.

N. B.

14:54 09 Sep 22

Patriot Roofing came out and replaced my roof, window wraps, gutters, and siding twice after last year’s hail storms. Matt and Brandon were always available and could not have been more professional, friendly, and knowledgeable. Matt even came to the insurance inspection to make sure they didn’t miss anything! The work was done quickly and my house was back to its former glory within weeks. On the backside, Kaylee put so much time into getting my insurance to pay what was needed and I was really happy to be able to hand that off to someone else. Really great experience overall!

Rob Boulden

16:03 01 Sep 22

Gavin's crew was awesome. They were well prepared, skilled and easily delt with any unexpected issues. Old square vents were removed, and 5 new dome vents were installed. The finished job looks great, and the shingle match is exact.

Dion Hampton

22:11 22 Aug 22

Patriot roofing is a good dependable and professional roofing company. Matt who works for Patriot roofing explained the process to me on the costs of the roof and help me with my home insurance during that situation. The roof shingles on the house looks so good and they also replace my sunroom roof too. I almost forgot they also do flat roofs I have a addition to my house that has a flat roof. They did a wonderful job. I would recommend them to any one who needs a roof replacement . Plus they also did vinyl siding to my addition to the house. Thank you Matt . If I need my roof replaced again I will give them a call again. They are really excellent at what they do.

Shane Flewellen

20:17 11 Aug 22

Bobby was fantastic, came earlier than scheduled for the inspection, helped us file the claim, and got all the work done in a timely manner!

Devin Giles

16:46 11 Aug 22

These folks were great from beginning to end. Inspected my roof and told me what they found and how they would repair it and bring it up to today's code. The workers were on time and polite. No problems, zero hassle, would recommend to anyone.

jeffery enose

20:49 29 Jul 22

Very prompt and courteous. Matt explained each step of the process before they started and made sure that the site was clean after the repairs. Kaylee did an excellent job of explaining the supplemental requests. I had to use their services on twice last year and they have been amazing to work with on both occasions.

Emi Morris

12:44 11 Jun 22

I would recommend Patriot Roofing to friends and family. They did great work in the time frame that was agreed upon. Most importantly there was no problems with communication between Patriot Roofing, our insurance company and us. A wonderful job.

Laura Linn

14:41 02 May 22

I worked with Ron L. to replace our roof after the April 2021 hail storm. He has an easy demeanor, quickly responds and professional. Our roof was installed without issue, and we will continue to use Patriot for all of our exterior needs. From the office staff to the guys who are out on the ground, you will not be dissapointed with your service.

Adam Seeley

22:05 29 Apr 22

Bobby was very professional and helpful in getting this work completed in a timely manner. They kept me up to date throughout the entire process. I will use them again.

bill Boyd

21:24 28 Apr 22

Wes was good to work with. Repairs due to wind/hail. Replaced roof, added new decking, replaced siding and one window. Due to the size of the storm and damage, it took awhile to get everything done. The roof was done first, then siding, window was last. Everything was done in a workman like manner. Had a leak around skylight, and it was repaired in a timely manner.

Cameron Homeyer

15:37 23 Mar 22

We had our roof, gutters, garage door, and other miscellaneous repairs done by Patriot following a 3" hail storm in Norman in 2021. The staff were professional, the repairs were high quality, and communications were clear through the beginning. They made the process of completing the insurance claim and finalizing things painless and easy.

Ernest L

17:26 10 Mar 22

Extremely pleased with the results. Workers were very friendly, listening to and answering all of my questions. Attention to detail was great. Would recommend them to others.

sarah fipps

17:02 10 Mar 22

Bobby was responsive, kind, and willing to work with us. Actually spent time inspecting our damage to ensure he was best able to advise. It was by far the best costumer service we had received out of all roofing companies we spoke with. Once we decided and were able to move forward with the repairs, Bobby was able to get us on the schedule and quickly repair the damage. Will be using them again in the future should we ever need additional repair or roof replacement.

Jo Huntington

22:27 02 Mar 22

Erica is absolutely one of the best employees of this company. She is articulate, respectful, kind, and honest. She answers the phone and is attentive to the customers concerns and responds in a timely manner with information. She is an incredible liaison between customers and ‘managers’. Without her, this installation would have had a very different outcome.Avery was on site and assisted with communication. Any concerns expressed were addressed with roofing installation experts immediately. His articulate manner was reassuring to me through the entire project.Kaylee stepped up as a good manager. When asked, she reviewed her notes orally that she had been documenting through the our entire conversation.The actual installation gentlemen were respectful of my home and property. Truly gentlemen that speak highly of their immediate supervisor that directs day to day operations. I was very fortunate with the last two men on my property. They ‘crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s’ so I was very pleased with the last few items necessary to complete the production. (I’m sorry, I don’t know their names.)Every job has a few bumps but communication solved each concern.