Honestly, I think it's a bit of both.
I had a similar experience with metal roofs. They definitely hold up better against wind, but hail can be brutal. My cousin's roof looked like a golf ball after one storm, and insurance said it was "cosmetic damage," so no payout...typical insurance move, right?
Had a similar issue with my asphalt shingles—hailstorm left them cracked and chipped, but insurance covered it fully since it wasn't just cosmetic. Metal roofs seem durable, but the "cosmetic" loophole worries me...especially considering the upfront cost. Tough call for budget-conscious homeowners.
Went through something similar myself a couple years back—had metal roofing installed, thinking it'd be bulletproof. First big hailstorm rolls in and bam... dents everywhere. Insurance shrugged it off as cosmetic, so I was stuck with a roof that looked like a golf ball. Durability-wise, metal's solid, but the cosmetic loophole can bite ya. Wonder if anyone's tried negotiating that clause out of their policy beforehand or if that's even doable?
I've run into similar issues during inspections. Had a client once whose metal roof got peppered pretty badly; insurance called it cosmetic too. Makes me wonder if some providers might consider a rider or endorsement for cosmetic hail damage...could be worth asking around.
Had a similar experience a couple years back—client had a metal roof that got dinged up pretty good after a hailstorm. Insurance adjuster came out, took one look, and said it was all cosmetic. Client wasn't thrilled, obviously. But I've also seen asphalt roofs get denied for minor granule loss, so it's not always clear-cut. Might be worth checking with different providers...some seem more flexible than others when it comes to cosmetic damage coverage.