When hail meets metal: a suburban legend

- Stone-coated steel is tough, but not invincible.
- Seen a few cases where the fasteners rusted out after years - water sneaks in if the coating chips.
- Hail can sometimes knock granules loose, too.
- Insurance adjusters love these roofs, though... less paperwork for them.
- My neighbor’s metal roof survived hail, but a branch took out a gutter. Nature always finds a way.

I’ve always liked the idea of stone-coated steel for durability, but I do wonder about those fasteners over time. My neighbor had to replace a bunch after about 12 years - turns out the installer used the wrong type and water got in around them. Not cheap to fix, either. Has anyone tried swapping out the standard fasteners for stainless or something more corrosion-resistant? Curious if it’s worth the upfront cost, especially in places with wild weather swings.

Had a job last fall where the homeowner insisted on stainless fasteners after hearing a similar horror story. Honestly, it was a pain to source them, but he hasn’t had any issues so far. Upfront cost was higher, but he figures it’s cheaper than fixing leaks down the road. Weather here swings from blizzards to hail, so I get the worry. I’d say if you’re already spending for steel, might as well go all in on the fasteners too... unless you like surprise roof repairs.

Weather here swings from blizzards to hail, so I get the worry.

- Stainless fasteners sound nice, but man, the price adds up quick. I looked into them when we did our garage roof last year - ended up sticking with the standard ones because the quote jumped by a few hundred bucks.
- Our neighborhood gets hammered by hail every couple years. Asphalt shingles on my main house are already looking rough after just 8 years. The metal garage roof? Not a scratch, but it’s LOUD when the hail hits. Like, can’t-hear-the-TV loud.
- Insurance adjuster told me some folks try to save money by mixing cheaper fasteners with pricier panels, but then you risk rust or leaks anyway. Seems like one of those “pay now or pay later” deals.
- If I ever redo the main roof, I’m tempted by that stone-coated steel too, but not sure if it’s worth the upfront cost for us. Anyone else notice their premiums go down after upgrading roofs? Ours barely budged.
- Maintenance-wise, metal’s been zero hassle so far - just gotta clear leaves out of the gutters more often since they slide off faster.

I get the sticker shock on stainless fasteners, but honestly, I’d argue it’s worth it in the long run - especially with all the hail and wild weather swings. I cheaped out on galvanized screws for my shed roof a few years back, and now I’m seeing rust stains already. It’s annoying having to go back and replace them piecemeal. The upfront cost stings, but I’d rather pay once than mess with patch jobs every couple seasons. As for insurance, mine barely moved too after switching to metal... seems like they only care if you go from wood shake or something really risky.

- Stainless fasteners are pricey, but I’ve seen too many roofs with early failure from rusted hardware. The labor to swap them out after-the-fact is a real pain (and cost).
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“It’s annoying having to go back and replace them piecemeal.”

How’s everyone handling noise on metal during storms? Some tenants complain, others say they don’t notice. I’ve tried adding insulation underlayment but not sure it makes much difference for hail...

I get the argument for stainless, but honestly, I just couldn’t justify the cost when I did my roof last year. I went with those coated screws (the ones with the fancy paint and rubber washers) and so far, so good. I’m in a pretty average Midwest suburb - lots of freeze/thaw, some hail, nothing too wild. My neighbor did stainless everything and his bill was almost double mine. Maybe I’ll regret it in 10 years, but right now, the budget just wouldn’t stretch that far.

I do wonder if the corrosion thing is more of an issue closer to the coasts or in places with crazy humidity. Around here, most of the older metal roofs I see are still holding up okay, even with regular fasteners. Maybe not perfect, but not falling apart either. I guess if you’re planning to stay in your house forever, it’s a different calculation.

On the noise - yeah, it’s definitely louder than asphalt, especially when we get those big spring storms. My kids actually think it’s kind of fun, but my partner hates it. We put down a layer of foam board under the panels and it helped a bit, but hail still sounds like someone’s throwing rocks at the house. Not sure there’s any way around that unless you go crazy with insulation.

Insurance barely budged for us too. I was hoping for a bigger break, but apparently our area isn’t “high risk” enough for them to care. Kind of annoying since we paid extra for impact-rated panels.

Anyway, just my two cents from the cheap seats. If I have to swap out a few screws down the line, I’ll just chalk it up to saving money up front... unless I end up cursing myself in a few years.

I hear you on the budget side - stainless definitely stings when you see the invoice. But I’ve seen some of those “fancy paint” screws give up the ghost faster than expected, especially after a few seasons of freeze/thaw. Midwest winters are sneaky like that. Sometimes it’s not even rust, but the washer just dries out and splits, then you get leaks in weird spots. Not saying stainless is always worth the splurge, but if you’re planning to stay put for decades... it might save a headache or two down the line. I guess it’s a gamble either way.

I get the argument for stainless, but honestly, I’ve had better luck with good old galvanized screws - at least for the first 10-15 years. My last roof (galvanized fasteners, Midwest winters, plenty of hail) held up just fine until a tree branch did it in. The key for me was checking the washers every few years and swapping out any that looked tired. Not perfect, but if you’re not planning on staying forever, it might be a reasonable tradeoff. Stainless is great, but sometimes it feels like overkill for a roof that’s gonna need other work before the screws ever fail.

I get where you’re coming from, but have you ever had the galvanized ones rust out early? I had a patch on my shed roof where the screws started to corrode after maybe 8 years - granted, it’s a pretty damp spot. I’m just not sure I trust them long-term, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here. Maybe stainless is overkill, but I kinda hate the idea of crawling up there to swap out fasteners every decade...

I had a patch on my shed roof where the screws started to corrode after maybe 8 years - granted, it’s a pretty damp spot. I’m just not sure I trust them long-term, especially with all the freeze/thaw cycles we get here. Maybe stainless is overkill, but I kinda hate the idea of crawling up there to swap out fasteners every decade...

I hear you on this one. Galvanized fasteners are supposed to hold up, but in reality, moisture plus those wild temperature swings can eat through that coating faster than you'd think. I've looked at plenty of roofs where the screws looked fine from the ground, but once you get up close, you see the heads starting to pit or even flake off. Eight years isn’t that unusual in a damp spot - especially if there’s poor ventilation or water tends to pool around those fasteners.

Stainless does feel like overkill when you’re buying a box at three times the price, but it’s hard to argue with not having to mess with it again for decades. I’ve seen sheds and small additions where folks went with stainless only on the north side or wherever the shade keeps things dampest. Kind of a compromise - maybe not perfect, but it saves a little cash.

I wouldn’t say galvanized is useless, though. It just depends how much exposure you’re getting. On steep roofs with decent sun and airflow, they can last a long time. But if you’re in a spot that never dries out, or you get a lot of ice damming, they’ll go faster.

One thing - are you using rubber washers under the screw heads? Sometimes those fail before the screw itself does and let water sneak in. Or if there’s any kind of dissimilar metal contact (like aluminum panels with zinc screws), corrosion ramps up quick.

I get not wanting to climb up there every decade. At least with stainless, it’s more “set it and forget it.” But yeah, it’s always a balance between cost and hassle down the line. Just depends how much that peace of mind is worth to you...

- Totally get the hesitation - stainless feels pricey, but the hassle of swapping out screws every 8-10 years is no joke.
- I’ve patched mine with galvanized and crossed my fingers... but yeah, in damp spots, they just don’t last.
- Mixing stainless just where it’s wettest sounds like a smart middle ground.
- Honestly, if you’re not seeing leaks yet, you bought yourself some time. No shame in holding off till it’s really needed.

I get the temptation to just wait it out, but honestly, those galvanized screws in damp spots are like a ticking clock. I swapped a few last year after a hailstorm - thought I could stretch them another season, but rust had already started creeping in. Stainless is pricey upfront, yeah, but factoring in the labor and hassle of patching every decade... it starts to make sense, especially if you’re planning to stay put. If you’re mixing and matching, just keep track of where you used what - future you will thank you when it’s time for repairs.

- Seen too many “temporary” fixes turn into full-on headaches later.
- Last spring, had a whole row of galvanized screws rot out on a north-facing wall - looked fine from the ground, but up close? Not so much.
- Stainless is steep, yeah, but replacing water-damaged sheathing is worse.
- Mixing fasteners gets confusing fast... I’ve had to chase old repair notes just to figure out what’s where.
- If you’re staying long-term, I’d lean stainless for high-risk spots at least, even if it feels like overkill upfront.

Stainless is nice, but man, the price tag always makes me wince. I get it though - last time I tried to save a few bucks with “good enough” fasteners, I ended up paying double in the long run. Had a patch job on my shed roof where I mixed whatever screws I had left in the garage. Looked fine for a year or two, then we got one of those sideways spring storms and half the patch peeled up like a sardine can. Turns out, some of those old screws were already rusting out from the inside.

I’m not saying you need to go full stainless everywhere (my wallet would mutiny), but for spots that see a lot of water or shade? It’s probably worth it. North wall on my place is always damp, and that’s where things seem to rot first - screws, trim, even the paint peels faster there. If you’re planning to stick around for more than a couple years, it’s less hassle just doing it right once.

Mixing fasteners is a headache too. I’ve got a notebook somewhere with scribbles about what went where, but good luck finding it when you actually need it. Half the time I end up guessing and hoping for the best.

If you’re on a budget like me, maybe just pick your battles - use stainless or coated stuff in the worst spots (gutters, north walls, anywhere water sits), and save the cheaper stuff for areas that stay dry. That’s worked okay for me so far... at least until hail season rolls around again and reminds me what corners I cut last year.

- Stainless is pricey, but I’ve had similar regrets with “good enough” fasteners - especially on the shady side where moss loves to grow.
- I started using coated screws for the north wall and gutters, and it’s made a difference.
- For hail, though, I’m curious - has anyone tried swapping to green or living roofs? Supposedly they cushion hail pretty well, but I wonder if the extra weight and drainage are worth it.
- Anyone notice if hail damage is worse on spots with mixed fasteners, or is it just me?

Mixed fasteners definitely seem to be a weak spot, at least from what I’ve seen after a couple hailstorms. I’m not convinced the difference is huge, but the spots where I used leftover zinc screws next to stainless sure seem to have more pitting. As for green roofs, I looked into it but the weight calculations and extra waterproofing made me back off. Has anyone actually done a retrofit on a typical ranch roof, or is it mostly new builds?

I had the same idea about green roofs after seeing a few cool photos online, but once I started reading about all the extra support and waterproofing, it felt like way more than I could handle. My place is a pretty standard 70s ranch, and honestly, just getting the gutters to drain right has been enough of a project for me. The weight thing really threw me off - didn’t realize how much dirt and plants could add up, especially when it rains.

On the fasteners, I’ve noticed some weird spots too. I used a mix of whatever was left in my garage when patching a section last year, and now there’s definitely more rust where the zinc screws are. Maybe it’s just coincidence, but the stainless ones look almost new. Not sure if it’s worth redoing those spots or just keeping an eye on them for now.

I’m still figuring out what’s “normal” wear and what’s a problem. Hail seems to find every weak spot, no matter what you do.

- Totally get you on the green roof dream vs. reality. I looked into it for about five minutes, then remembered my attic sags if I store too many Christmas lights up there.
- Fastener roulette is real... I did the same thing with leftover screws and now it’s like a science experiment up there. The stainless ones are holding up, but the others look rough after every storm.
- Hail is basically nature’s way of pointing out all your shortcuts. I just patch what looks bad and hope for the best - my “normal” is probably someone else’s “needs immediate attention.”
- If you figure out a gutter that doesn’t clog, let me know. I’ll trade you a box of mismatched screws.