Don’t Get Hammered by Hail

June 13, 2011 — You may not immediately think of hail as a danger to your car or home, but larger hailstones can shred roof coverings, scar automotive finishes and lead to water damage.

Research from the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) indicates that more than 75 percent of U.S. cities will experience at least one hailstorm each year.

Fortunately, impact-resistant roof covers can help reduce losses and associated property ownership costs.

If you have property damage, contact your ERIE Agent or the closest field office as soon as possible. On nights and weekends, contact ERIE’s Extended Hours Claims Service at (800) 367-3743.

Know Your Roof Materials

When building or re-roofing, especially in hail-prone regions, IBHS recommends roofing products that have a Class 3 or 4 rating under the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2218 standard. The UL 2218 standard rates a roof covering’s resistance to impact.

The UL test involves dropping steel balls of varying sizes from heights designed to simulate the force of free-falling hailstones. The four impact-level designations help you compare products: roof coverings that show the most resistance earn a Class 4 rating; and ones that have the least earn a Class 1 rating.

Keep in mind that while the UL 2218 standard is the best method to test impact resistance, it isn’t perfect and works better for some coverings than for others.

You can be proactive by consulting with your builder, roofing installer or insurance agent about which materials to use and what additional steps you can take to help your roof covering stand up better against hail and high wind. To cover all bases, you may also want to check your roofing materials for wind-resistant features and a fire-resistance rating.

When the Storm Hits …

If a hailstorm is expected in your area, move inside immediately and stay there.

Park vehicles in a garage or under a carport.
Keep away from skylights, doors and windows in case hail shatters the glass.
Close your drapes, blinds or window shades to prevent wind from blowing broken glass inside.

If you’re in a car, pull off the road preferably under a bridge or highway overpass and wait for the storm to pass.

Check Your Coverage

You should also review your homeowners insurance policy periodically with your Agent to make sure you have sufficient coverage. If your property is damaged, report it to your ERIE Agent immediately and make temporary repairs to prevent further damage.

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