"after just one hailstorm, his roof looked like a golf ball."
Haha, I've seen that exact scenario play out more times than I'd like to admit. Big-box stores can be convenient, but convenience doesn't always equal quality. Learned the hard way myself—now I always go local. Plus, dealing with someone face-to-face when things go sideways beats being stuck on hold with customer "service" any day...
"after just one hailstorm, his roof looked like a golf ball."
Yeah, that's unfortunately pretty common if the metal is too thin or the quality's questionable. Seen roofs that looked flawless at first glance buckle under just moderate hail. A quick tip: always ask about gauge thickness and coating type—thicker gauge usually holds up better, and proper coatings can significantly reduce denting and corrosion. Curious if anyone's had experience comparing aluminum vs. steel sheets for hail resistance... heard mixed reviews on that front.
"Curious if anyone's had experience comparing aluminum vs. steel sheets for hail resistance... heard mixed reviews on that front."
I've worked with both aluminum and steel roofing sheets, and honestly, steel usually holds up better against hail. Aluminum is lighter and great for corrosion resistance, but it dents way easier—especially if you're in an area prone to frequent hailstorms. Steel sheets with a thicker gauge and a quality coating (like Kynar or something similar) tend to handle impacts much better.
A buddy of mine installed aluminum sheets on his garage a couple years back because he liked the idea of less maintenance. First decent hailstorm we got, it looked like someone took batting practice on his roof. Meanwhile, my steel roof (same storm, same neighborhood) barely had a scratch. Just make sure you're not going too thin on gauge thickness, regardless of material.
Yeah, totally agree on steel being tougher overall. My neighbor went with aluminum too—thought he'd save himself some hassle with rust. But after one nasty hailstorm, his roof looked like a golf ball... dents everywhere. Meanwhile, my steel sheets held up pretty well, just a couple minor dings. Like you said:
"Just make sure you're not going too thin on gauge thickness, regardless of material."
Definitely true—thicker gauge steel makes a huge difference. Worth spending a bit extra upfront to avoid headaches later.
