When hail meets metal: a suburban legend

Over time, those little guys can really wedge themselves in and start to push things apart - especially if the flashing's already a bit loose or the seam sealant is failing.

Funny thing, I’ve actually seen more trouble from hail than roots, even in our rainy patch of the world. Maybe it’s just the age of the buildings I manage, but hail seems to find every weak spot, especially on older fasteners. I get what you’re saying about seedlings, but for me, it’s usually clogged downspouts causing overflow and rot, not so much actual roof seam damage. As for stainless fasteners, I’ve had mixed luck - sometimes they outlast the panels, but the washers still go first. Hidden fasteners do seem to hold up better after storms, but I wonder if that’s just because there’s less to get knocked loose in the first place.

- Hail’s like a bloodhound for weak spots, I swear.
- Did an inspection last spring - hail had popped a handful of those old neoprene washers right off, but the “hidden” fasteners were untouched.
- Roots? Not much action here either, unless you count that one gutter with a full-on maple sapling growing out of it...
- Stainless is hit or miss for me too. Sometimes the screw looks brand new, but the washer’s toast and leaking.
- Honestly, half the time it’s the downspouts backing up and water sneaking in under the flashing that causes the real headaches.
- Storms just seem to find the laziest bit of maintenance and make you pay for it.

- Had the same issue last year - hail trashed the old washers but left the “hidden” fasteners alone.
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“Sometimes the screw looks brand new, but the washer’s toast and leaking.”

“Sometimes the screw looks brand new, but the washer’s toast and leaking.”

And yeah, downspouts are like that one relative who only visits when you least expect it - always clogging up right after you think you’ve finally got them sorted. Skipped cleaning once last fall and ended up with a mini waterfall over my porch. Lesson learned... maybe.

Those washers really are the weak link, aren’t they? I’ve noticed the same thing on my place - standing seam metal roof, about ten years old now. After every hailstorm, I’ll get up there and check, and it’s almost always the rubber or neoprene washers that have gone soft or cracked. The screws themselves look perfect, barely a hint of rust. I’ve read that UV exposure breaks those down faster than you’d expect, especially if they weren’t seated just right in the first place.

Stockpiling spares is smart. I started buying the higher-grade EPDM washers instead of the basic ones from the big box stores. The price difference isn’t huge, but they seem to hold up a bit longer in our freeze-thaw cycles. Still, it’s a recurring cost - one of those little maintenance things you don’t budget for until you’re climbing a ladder after a storm.

And yeah, downspouts... I used to think gutter guards would solve everything, but honestly, they just trap smaller debris and then I’m stuck cleaning out wet gunk with a stick. Last spring, I tried one of those flexible drain snakes after a clog backed up water right over my entryway. Worked better than expected, but it’s still a hassle.

Funny thing - my neighbor swears by swapping out all his roof fasteners every five years “just in case.” Seems excessive to me, but maybe he’s onto something? I usually just replace what’s obviously failing.

It’s always something with these roofs. Metal’s supposed to be low maintenance, but between the washers, the seams, and keeping gutters clear, there’s more to it than the brochures let on. Still beats replacing shingles every few years... at least for me.

“It’s always something with these roofs. Metal’s supposed to be low maintenance, but between the washers, the seams, and keeping gutters clear, there’s more to it than the brochures let on.”

Totally get where you’re coming from. I went metal for the “set it and forget it” factor, but those little things add up. I’ve wondered if swapping all the fasteners every five years is overkill too - seems like a lot of extra cost for peace of mind? I just keep a stash of washers and screws handy and fix what’s needed. Gutter guards were a letdown for me as well... more cleaning than before, honestly. Still, I’d rather deal with this than shingle blow-offs every storm. Anyone else notice the price of replacement washers creeping up lately?

I’ve been told five years is pretty conservative for swapping fasteners, unless you’re seeing rust or leaks. I just check mine every spring and only replace the ones that look rough. The price hikes on washers are wild lately - wonder if it’s supply chain stuff or just inflation? Gutter guards were a bust for me too... more pine needles stuck than before. Still beats chasing shingles down the street after a windstorm, though.

Gutter guards were a bust for me too... more pine needles stuck than before.

Right there with you. Tried the mesh kind last year - ended up with a solid mat of needles and had to pull them off anyway. Honestly, I’d rather just clear the gutters twice a year than mess with those again. As for fasteners, I swap out the rusty ones after every big hailstorm. Five years sounds optimistic if you’re in a spot that gets hammered like we do.

Five years sounds optimistic if you’re in a spot that gets hammered like we do.

That’s been my experience too, but I’ve seen some folks around here try those stainless fasteners - supposedly they hold up better in hail-prone spots. Anyone actually get more mileage out of those, or is it just marketing? I’m skeptical. Also, about the gutter guards... has anyone had luck with the solid cover type, the ones that use surface tension? The mesh ones are basically pine needle magnets for me too.

- Tried the stainless fasteners last time I replaced a section - honestly, they did seem to hold up better, but the heads still got dinged up after a couple big storms. Maybe slowed the rust, but didn’t stop it.
- Had both mesh and solid gutter guards. The mesh clogged with pine needles in a month, just like you said. The solid covers worked better for me, but heavy rain sometimes overshoots them and makes a mess below. Trade-offs, I guess.
- Not sure anything’s truly “hail-proof” around here... just less of a headache to replace.

Not sure anything’s truly “hail-proof” around here... just less of a headache to replace.

That’s been my impression too. I went with aluminum gutters thinking they’d be more resilient, but after last spring’s hail, they still ended up dented in spots. Solid guards seemed promising, but like you said, the rain just shoots right over during a downpour. Has anyone tried those foam inserts? I keep seeing them at the hardware store, but not sure if they’re any better with debris or hail.

I’ve wondered about those foam inserts too, but I’m skeptical they’d hold up to our hail. My neighbor tried them last year - said they did a decent job with leaves, but after a big storm, he found chunks of foam scattered in the yard. I’m not sure if that’s typical or just bad luck. Has anyone had them last more than a season without breaking down or clogging up? I’m trying to avoid another round of gutter repairs if possible...

I hear you on the foam inserts. My uncle tried them out a couple years back - looked great at first, but after one of those late spring hailstorms, he was picking bits of foam out of his flower beds for weeks. They did keep the leaves out, but the hail just tore them up. I guess if you don’t get much hail, they might last longer, but around here it seems like they’re more trouble than they’re worth. I’ve had better luck with those metal mesh guards, though even those can get dented if the hail’s big enough...

Metal mesh guards are definitely sturdier than foam, but I’m not convinced they’re the end-all solution either. I put them on my gutters a few years back after a similar foam fiasco - foam was basically mulch after one bad storm, and I was still finding bits in the grass months later. But with the mesh, I’ve noticed two things: first, yeah, hail can dent them, but more annoying is how pine needles and those little helicopter seeds still manage to wedge themselves in the holes. Maybe it’s just my trees, but I’m up there with a hose every spring trying to blast stuff out.

Honestly, sometimes I wonder if any guard is really worth it in places that get wild weather. My neighbor just skips guards altogether and does a big cleanout twice a year. He swears it’s less hassle in the long run - no buying new inserts, no fiddling with bent mesh, just a Saturday morning with gloves and a ladder. Not saying that’s for everyone, but it’s hard to argue with the simplicity.

I get why people want to avoid climbing up there all the time, though. If you’ve got big trees or a steep roof, it’s not exactly fun (or safe). But between foam that disintegrates and metal that gets banged up or clogged anyway, I’m starting to think there’s no perfect fix - just tradeoffs depending on what bugs you more: cleaning gutters or dealing with busted guards.

If anyone’s found something that actually holds up to hail and doesn’t turn into a maintenance headache, I’d love to hear about it. Until then, I’m sticking with my dented mesh and hoping for mild springs...

You’re not alone in feeling like there’s no perfect answer when it comes to gutter guards, especially in areas that get wild weather swings. I’ve cycled through a few types myself - foam, plastic, stainless mesh - and every one of them had some kind of tradeoff. The foam was a disaster for me too. It basically composted itself after two seasons, and I was still pulling out soggy chunks from the downspouts a year later.

The mesh guards I put on after that have held up better, but they’re definitely not invincible. Hail left some pretty good dents last spring, and those helicopter seeds from my neighbor’s maple seem to be designed specifically to sneak into the holes and jam things up. It’s almost like nature finds a way around every “solution” we come up with. But at least with the mesh, I’m not dealing with as much heavy buildup or standing water.

I hear you about the simplicity of just doing a couple cleanouts each year. My dad swears by that method - he’s old school, just gets up there with a scoop and a bucket twice a year. I’m not wild about ladders myself, especially with the pitch of my roof, so even with its flaws, the mesh feels like the lesser evil for now.

One thing that helped me a bit: I switched to a finer stainless mesh last time around. It doesn’t stop everything, but it seems to slow down the pine needles and grit more than the wider stuff did. Still have to hose it off every spring, though. Not perfect, but a little less frustrating.

Honestly, it feels like you’re making the best call you can with what’s available. Sometimes it’s just about picking the hassle you can live with and hoping for kinder weather. If something truly maintenance-free ever comes along, I’ll be first in line... until then, dented mesh and crossed fingers here too.

I get the appeal of just cleaning them out by hand, but honestly, I don’t trust myself on a ladder after seeing how slick my shingles get in the fall. Has anyone tried those hinged mesh guards that flip up for cleaning? Wondering if they’re actually worth the extra cost or just another gimmick.

I’ve managed a few properties where we tried those flip-up mesh guards. They’re definitely easier to clean than the fixed ones, but I noticed they still let some smaller debris through - especially after a big storm. Did save us a couple ladder trips, though. Anyone else find they rattle in heavy wind? That’s been a weird side effect for us.

- Yeah, I’ve noticed the rattling too - especially when the wind picks up. Not super loud, but enough to make you wonder if something’s loose.
- Cleaning is way easier, I’ll give them that. But like you said, small stuff still sneaks through. Pine needles are the worst at my place.
- For the price, I guess it’s a trade-off. Less time on the ladder, but not a perfect fix.
- Haven’t had any major hail yet, but I do worry about dents or bending if we get a big one. Just hoping they hold up...

Had a similar worry last spring - big hailstorm rolled through and I was convinced my metal guards were toast. Ended up with a few small dents, but nothing actually bent or broke. The rattling gets worse in high winds for me too, but so far it’s just noise, not damage. Cleaning is definitely quicker, but yeah, pine needles somehow find their way in no matter what. I guess it’s always a bit of a trade-off... less hassle overall, but not totally maintenance-free.

I guess it’s always a bit of a trade-off...

That rattling in high winds is pretty common with metal guards - honestly, I’ve yet to see one that stays totally silent when the gusts pick up. As for hail, dents are almost inevitable, but like you said, “nothing actually bent or broke,” which is the main thing. I’ve seen folks worry about those surface dings, but unless the guard’s structure is compromised, it’s just cosmetic. Pine needles, though... those things are relentless. I tell people it’s a bit like sweeping sand off the beach - maintenance gets easier, but never disappears entirely.