Hail Damage To Clay Tile Roof

At first glance this roof may look normal.

Hail damage to clay tile roof. A lack of glazing b pitting c spalling and d void in the tile when made. Our photo left shows the author df back to camera examining a clay tile roof installed on the hwang lim won orphanage in seoul korea in 1966. If small hailstones have damaged your clay roofing tile the damage is usually limited to shallow hairline cracks. There is also damage that cannot be seen from the ground.

Clay tile deficiencies not caused by hail. The tile roof below resembles wood shake shingles. Varying manufacturing process create varying levels of durability for different clay tiles. There is the apparent damage caused by hail when you have broken roof tiles.

However it is possible for small chips to break off the edges and corners of the. Yes hail does damage clay and concrete tile roofs. The roof was constructed using an s tile profile and was not leaking. In many cases these characteristics are accompanied by impact spatter marks within and or adjacent to the damaged area.

Gutters are also susceptible to hail damage. Moisture damage to tiles has involved surface peeling delamination erosion and pitting just to name a few problems. Figures uploaded by tim marshall author content. We have undertaken a study of various roofing tiles.

Actual hail damage to clay or concrete tiles is typically characterized by crescent shaped fractures at the edges shattered tiles or star shaped fractures emanating from the point of impact. Severe impacts or forces such as a tree branch or a heavy tool dropped onto a roof can crack or break roof tiles. Tile roofs are naturally fireproof and exceed current seismic load requirements for building materials when installed to the current fastening requirements. Hail is a powerful force of nature that can even damage roofs made with concrete tiles if the stones are large enough and wind speeds are high.

Clay and concrete tile have been tested in the harshest of weather elements including heavy rain hurricane force winds damaging hail and freeze thaw conditions. Roof tiles are tested in the range of a one to two inch simulated impact testing in accordance with fm 4473 impact testing standard. Clay tile roofs are often damaged by foot traffic ice and snow or by severe storms. You can even see spots where roof tiles have broken off.

Because seamless gutters are frequently feature aluminum or copper construction the signs of hail damage include telltale denting. When a hailstorm occurs damage inspectors unfamiliar with these products can erroneously conclude that certain anomalies with the roofing tile had been caused by hail.