TAMPA, FL – When you think of natural disasters, hailstorms don’t usually top the list. But early damage estimates from the storm that pummeled the Dallas-Fort Worth area last weekend are at $30 million, and more claims are expected to pour in.
What can you do to protect your home? The Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) says the right roofing materials are your best defense.
Hail can occur in any strong thunderstorm, which means almost every city and state is at risk. And while it’s a year-round threat, storms get worse this time of year and peak in June. Each hit of a hailstone can shred roof coverings and lead to water damage to your ceilings, walls, floors, appliances and personal possessions.
When building a home or re-roofing, IBHS recommends roofing products that have met stringent testing standards for resistance to impact. Look for materials that have a Class 3 or 4 rating under the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 2218 standard. The standard rates a roof covering’s resistance to impact, with Class 4 being the highest rating obtainable by this test method.
For more information on how to protect homes from hail damage, visit the IBHS web site, www.disastersafety.org.
The site’s video gallery includes a report on how to prevent hail damage, and one explaining the benefits of impact-resistant roofing. The IBHS brochure “Protect Your Home Against Hail Damage” and a more detailed illustrated guide are also online. Free single copies can be requested on the site or by calling toll free 1-866-657-IBHS (4247).
IBHS is a national nonprofit initiative of the insurance industry, to reduce deaths, injuries, property damage, economic losses, and human suffering caused by natural disasters.
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