By Mule-Disguise. 

Hailstorms are by no means enjoyable, particularly in the case of the injury they’ll trigger to flat roofs. A Texas contractor shares his greatest recommendation for getting ready a roof for hail.  

Central and North Texas are infamous for his or her annual hailstorms, and contractors have tailored specific practices for holding industrial roofs as protected as potential from these storms. Mule-Disguise shares insights from Texas contractors on how one can adapt the identical methods to guard your prospects’ roofs from hail injury.  

“All of Central and North Texas will get annihilated by hail no less than yearly. Typically greater than that,” mentioned Mike Anderson, common supervisor and industrial estimator with Clark Roofing in Waco, Texas. 

Texas has led the nation within the variety of main hail occasions – with hailstones no less than 1 inch in diameter – for the previous eight years. From 2020 to 2022, there have been 1,747 main hail occasions within the Lone Star State, accounting for 13.6% of the nationwide whole. State Farm paid $510 million in hail-related insurance coverage claims to Texas house and auto house owners in 2022 alone. 

A thick, hail-resistant membrane 

Clark Roofing’s go-to single-ply membrane is the 80-mil Commonplace TPO from Mule-Disguise. 

“It’s by far the very best roofing system on the market when it comes to sturdiness and getting hail rankings and FM World protection,” Anderson mentioned. “We do quite a lot of work with municipalities, the state of Texas and the US army. They need a long-lasting, sturdy product and are keen to pay a bit extra for it.” 

He continued, “TPO can deal with the Texas warmth. PVC plasticizes in scorching climates; the membrane breaks down and deteriorates quickly because the plastics in it leach out. TPO isn’t as prone to that, making it way more sturdy.” 

The thicker 80-mil membrane additionally withstands Texas’ hailstorms, making roofing techniques eligible for 20-year system warranties overlaying hailstones as much as 2 inches in diameter. 

A powerful, wrinkle-free bond 

A wrinkle-free set up is vital to maximizing hail resistance, Anderson mentioned. 

“The roof must be very tight,” he defined. “If there are locations the place the membrane isn’t touching the substrate, hail has a greater probability of puncturing it.” 

To stop wrinkles – and obtain a better-looking roof – Clark Roofing recommends full adhesion. 

“We at all times absolutely adhere if the constructing proprietor has the finances as a result of it seems so good,” Anderson mentioned. “It’s costlier and time-consuming than mechanical attachment, however the outcomes are higher.” 

And when in search of a extreme or very extreme hail score, a completely adhered system is the one choice. “If a big piece of hail strikes a plate or screw, it will possibly injury the membrane,” Anderson defined. “So, the system is absolutely adhered, with plates and screws solely used on the roof perimeter to satisfy wind uplift or FM World necessities.” 

Clark Roofing crews use solvent-based adhesives, comparable to TPO Bonding Adhesive from Mule-Disguise Merchandise, to safe the membrane. 

“It flashes higher and delivers a stronger bond,” Anderson mentioned. 

In fact, the roofing membrane, attachment technique and adhesive alternative are simply a part of reaching a hail-resistant roofing system. Keep tuned for a future dialogue about choosing the appropriate coverboard to guard the membrane and insulation, and the appropriate equipment to create a refined, professional-looking roof. 

Unique article supply: Mule-Disguise