What you can do to help protect your home from hailstorms

Keeping your home secure from extreme weather is part of being a homeowner, and that includes hail if you live somewhere with hailstorms.

Hailstones are solid balls of ice formed when rainwater meets freezing high-altitude air temperatures. Ranging in size from a quarter inch (similar to a pea) to 4 inches or more (similar to a softball), hailstones can do extensive damage to your home, especially if the roof isn’t reinforced against storms. Water and high winds can compound the damage.

Here’s what you can do to help protect your home from hailstorms and avoid costly repairs.

1. Use weather-resistant roofing materials

Your roof is your home’s front-line defense against hail. Asphalt shingles rated to withstand hailstone impacts and high winds are less likely to break, bend, or otherwise fail during a hailstorm and let water and wind damage your home’s structure.

Shingles are rated for hail impact resistance from Class 1 to Class 4, with higher numbers indicating more resistance to impact. Most impact-resistant shingles are rated Class 3 or 4. That indicates they’ve passed a test where a steel or ice ball 1.75 inches wide (Class 3) or 2 inches wide (Class 4) hits a test shingle in the same location twice, with no damage that would permit water to enter.

Shingles are also rated for wind resistance, with most manufacturers giving a specific wind speed rating. Impact-resistant shingles typically also have wind ratings of at least 110 mph.

While weather-resistant materials can be more expensive than the alternative, that expense can pay for itself over the long term. Preventing the expense of a repair after a cheaper roof fails is one way. Another? Many home insurance companies offer discounts on your premiums for installing a weather-resistant roof.

And weather-resistant roofing may not be that much more expensive, either: A 2024 analysis by Architectural Digest found that for a 3,000-square-foot roof, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles were only 10-20% more expensive than standard asphalt shingles.

Even if you use the best materials, your roof’s ability to keep hail and water out of your home will degrade over time. This could be because the materials have simply reached the end of their service life, or as the result of damage from previous storms, nearby trees, or animals.

A reputable roofing company can inspect your roof for loose or missing shingles, nails, or flashing. These could turn into something worse during a severe hailstorm, and might leak even during lighter weather. A professional can also let you know if your roof needs more substantial repair or replacement before serious damage happens. 

3. Consider weather-resistant materials for other parts of your home, too

While your roof is the primary point of contact for hailstones, other areas like your windows and siding are also vulnerable. Broken windows in particular can allow winds and rain a shortcut into your home, either via broken glass or broken seals. Protective window films and storm shutters can reduce the odds of serious damage.

There are many siding materials on the market, from vinyl and engineered wood to fiber cement and steel, that are built with impact resistance in mind. 

4. Trim & maintain trees as needed

Tree branches that hang near your home are a potential source of damage if they snap off during a storm. Trees that haven’t been pruned properly are also more susceptible to being blown entirely over in a storm, even if they’re otherwise healthy.

Long-term, you’ll want to monitor your trees’ health and watch for the common signs of death or illness, like if they lean to one side, have dead or dying branches, exposed roots, visible fungus, carpenter ant infestations, or other problems. Having an arborist inspect your trees at the first sign of an issue could prevent future damage and injuries from falling trees during a storm.

It’s a good idea to secure outdoor furniture and other items that might get blown around by high winds, like pots and planters. They can either be anchored in place or moved to a secure indoor spot. Also keep an eye out for smaller items, like garden tools, that might turn into projectiles and damage your home.

6. If you need repairs, hire a reputable contractor

If your roof is damaged in a hailstorm, be sure to hire someone trustworthy and licensed to repair it. Not sure where to find one? Your home insurer can direct you to a trusted contractor when you file a claim.