When hail rolls across Denton County, the calls I get from Argyle homeowners with metal roofs sound different from the shingle calls. Shingle owners want to know if they need a new roof. Metal owners usually ask, “I thought metal was supposed to handle hail. Is mine ruined?” The honest answer is almost always somewhere in the middle, and it helps to know what to expect before the next storm, not the morning after.
I’m Blake Snow. I’ve been roofing for 30 years, I’m the third generation in a family roofing business that goes back 75 years, and our crews have completed over $80 million in roofing projects. Here’s what I tell people about metal roofing and hail.
What a Class 4 rating really means
Every metal roof we install is Class 4 impact rated under UL 2218. That’s the highest rating there is. The test drops steel balls on the product in a lab, and a Class 4 product holds up to the biggest ball in the test without cracking through.
That rating is real, and it’s one of the main reasons people around here choose metal. But it’s a lab test, not a promise. Ratings belong to a specific panel, gauge and assembly, not to “metal” in general, so ask for the product paperwork on any roof you’re quoted. Our standard on standing seam is 26-gauge steel, and 24-gauge is available. We roll the panels on our own roll formers, right on the jobsite.
No roof is hail-proof. Big enough hail can dent any metal. So the better question isn’t “Will it dent?” It’s “Will it still keep water out?”
Dents vs. leaks: cosmetic and functional damage
After a hailstorm, I sort what I find on a metal roof into two piles.
Cosmetic damage is a dent that looks bad but doesn’t let water in. You might see it on the flat of a panel or on soft trim, especially when the sun hits it at a low angle. It’s annoying, but the roof still works.
Functional damage is the kind that can cause a leak:
- Paint or coating cracked open at a dent, which can let rust start
- Seams that got bent or opened up
- Busted, loosened or backed-out fasteners on exposed-screw roofs
- Damaged flashing, pipe boots or ridge cap
We photograph both kinds separately, so you and your adjuster can see exactly which is which. If something needs fixing, our metal roof repair crew can handle it, from a few screws and washers to replacing damaged panels to match. And if a repair will keep your roof watertight, I’ll tell you so.
Standing seam vs. exposed-fastener panels in hail
Both can do well in hail country, but they fail in different ways.
On standing seam, the fasteners are hidden under the panels, so there are no exposed screws or washers for hail to hit. The things I check are the seams, the flat of the panels and the trim.
On R-panel and PBR, every screw and washer is out in the weather. Hail can crack the washers or knock screws loose, and those spots can leak later even when the panels look fine from the yard. Our post on hidden fasteners vs. exposed screws goes deeper on that.
Read the insurance fine print before the next storm
Here’s the part that surprises people. Some Texas policies exclude cosmetic hail damage on metal roofs. That can be a fair trade for a lower premium, but you should know it’s there before you need it. Our page on Class 4 metal roofs and insurance covers it in detail, but here are the questions I’d ask your agent:
- Does my policy have a cosmetic damage exclusion on a metal roof?
- What credit do you give for a Class 4 roof, and do you need the Texas impact-resistant roofing form?
- Is my wind and hail deductible a percentage of my home’s value?
The amount of any discount is set by each insurance company, so I don’t quote a number. Your agent can tell you the exact figure for your policy. If you’re still deciding between materials, our metal vs. Class 4 shingles guide lays out both sides.
After a hailstorm: what to do first
Hail doesn’t need to be huge to be worth a look. NOAA’s preliminary storm reports logged 1-inch hail about 4 miles west-northwest of Justin on May 24, 2026, just a few miles from Argyle. If your area got quarter-size hail or bigger, here’s what I’d do:
- Stay off the roof. Wet or dented metal is slick. Let a crew with the right gear go up.
- Get it inspected. We’ll get on the roof, photograph every damaged area and tell you plainly what we find. Every inspection comes with a free digital photo report. See our storm and hail inspections page.
- Watch the calendar. In Texas you generally have one year from the date of loss to file a claim, but check your own policy, since some differ. Don’t let that deadline slip by while you wait to see if a leak shows up.
- File only if there’s real damage. If the inspection doesn’t find damage worth claiming, I’ll tell you that, and you can skip the claim.
About the photo
The photo isn’t from Argyle. It’s a dark standing seam roof our crew installed on a red brick ranch home in Denton County, between Sanger and Valley View, after the homeowners switched from shingles to metal.
Nearby towns
We inspect and install metal roofs all around Argyle, including Northlake, Bartonville, Flower Mound, Roanoke and Denton. Our Rhome office is about 15 road miles away.
Let’s look at your roof
Whether you want a metal roof that stands up to the next storm or you just want someone to check yours after the last one, we’re glad to help, and no job is too small. Our workmanship warranty runs from 10 years up to lifetime, depending on the job. We’re A+ rated on the BBB, and our Google ratings are 5.0 at all three offices: 86 reviews in Bridgeport, 13 in Decatur and 3 in Rhome. We serve the entire DFW Metroplex and towns within about 65 miles of Bridgeport.
Call (817) 733-9228 or request an estimate, and we’ll set up a time to walk your roof with you.