How Roofing Materials Cope With Hail
Hail is an occasional rather than constant feature of Yorkshire weather, but a sudden hailstorm is exactly the moment a homeowner wants confidence in what's overhead. The two common roofing choices, toughened glass and multiwall polycarbonate, respond to impact in different ways worth understanding at specification stage.
How toughened glass responds to impact
Toughened safety glass is manufactured to withstand a significant degree of impact without shattering into dangerous shards; if it does fail, it breaks into small, blunt fragments rather than sharp pieces, which is the safety principle behind its use overhead.
How multiwall polycarbonate responds to impact
Polycarbonate roofing is inherently impact-resistant and generally more tolerant of a direct hail strike than glass without damage, though it can show surface marking over many years of exposure to hail and UV together.
Comparing the two under hail conditions
Both materials are specified with weather performance in mind, but they suit slightly different priorities.
- Toughened glass
- clearer sightlines, breaks safely if ever overloaded
- Multiwall polycarbonate
- higher impact tolerance, lighter weight
- Glass
- better long-term optical clarity
- Polycarbonate
- often preferred on very exposed or hail-prone sites
What to check after a hailstorm
Following any notably heavy hail event, it's worth visually inspecting the roof for surface marking on polycarbonate or any chips at the edges of glass panels, even though genuine damage is uncommon.
- 1Look for surface pitting on polycarbonate
- 2Check glass edges and corners for chips
- 3Inspect seals for any dislodgement
- 4Note any changes for future reference
Choosing between them isn't only about hail
Hail resistance is one factor among several, alongside noise transmission, clarity, weight on the frame and long-term appearance, so it's worth discussing the full picture with your installer rather than optimising for hail alone.
Deciding between the two: common questions
Is polycarbonate genuinely more hail-resistant than glass?
It generally tolerates direct impact with less risk of surface damage, though toughened glass is also designed to perform safely under significant impact loads.
Does hail make more noise on one roof material than another?
Polycarbonate typically transmits more sound during hail or heavy rain than glass, which is worth considering if noise matters to how the space is used.
Can hail actually crack toughened glass?
It's uncommon under normal hail conditions given the glass specification used, though very severe or unusual impact could in theory cause damage, as with any glazing.
Should I choose polycarbonate specifically because my garden is exposed?
Exposure is one reasonable factor to weigh, but discuss it alongside your other priorities — clarity, noise and appearance — rather than deciding on hail resistance alone.
In short
Toughened glass and multiwall polycarbonate both handle hail safely but differently, with polycarbonate generally more impact-tolerant and glass offering clearer long-term sightlines.
What to do next
Compare glass and polycarbonate roofing options at your free survey.
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