Valuable Hail Damage Information From The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association

Colorado’s damaging hail season is considered to be from mid-April to mid-August. Colorado’s Front Range is located in the heart of "Hail Alley," which receives the highest frequency of large hail in North America and most of the world, so residents usually can count on three or four catastrophic (defined as at least $25 million in insured damage) hailstorms every year.

During the 1990’s, asphalt shingles and other roof coverings were found to perform below reasonable expectations during multiple hurricanes. This fact is reiterated by the publication of the Wood Building Performance and Analysis (Bradford K. Douglas, P.E. A Special Report of the National Forest Products Association, November 1992). The roof coverings (shingles) were the first portions of the buildings that failed during Hurricane Andrew. This failure included both asphalt and tile roofing products.

This article has been published in the September 2006, Vol. XXIV, No. 8 issue of Interface Magazine, The Journal of RCI, Inc., the Institute of Roofing, Waterproofing, & Building Envelope Professionals.

The appraisal process for settling disputes can be easy or it can be a long, drawn out procedure finally ending with both sides appealing to an umpire.

Article written by Tim Trial, PhD, a polymer scientist for Carlisle SynTec Inc., where he develops formulations for ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) membranes and flashings, and conducts research on membrane service life.

In the 1950s, ethylene-propylene-diene-monomer (EPDM) membranes were first used in waterproofing applications by being employed as pond/reservoir liners. The membrane was rolled out to line the tank, seamed, and held in place once water was added. From this came the use of EPDM membranes on roofs, which relied on stone, rather than water, for anchoring.

Hail damage…an occurance which can create work for both roofers and adjusters, but may mean a loss of revenue to insurers. Roofers love hail damage because they know they have the potential to convince a homeowner into a full roof replacement. Some adjusters dislike dealing with hail damage claims because if they don't provide money for a new roof to the homeowner, they are viewed as the "bad guys." That is where the experts come in. An investigative engineer will do roof inspections to evaluate the cause of damage.

Roof designs for buildings in the mountains of Colorado should not be the same as those in southern California. Roofs in cold, snowy climates require special considerations to function well. Ignoring these differences can lead to impractical, problematic roofs that require excessive maintenance.

By Edward Fronapfel, M.S.C.E., P.E., John Risi, P.E, and Steve Bunn, Roofing Consultant

Colorado often experiences severe hailstorms that can cause devastating property damage. The Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association reports that Colorado's Front Range and Wyoming's eastern plains, commonly referred to as "hail alley," receive the highest frequency of large hailstones in North America. Over the past 10 years, hailstorms have caused nearly $1.7 billion in damage to roofs and automobiles in hail alley. The damaging hailstorms generally occur mid-May through late July. Damages incurred to roofs during hailstorms can, however, be reduced with proper roof design and roofing product selection.