You heard the hail. You saw the dents on your car. Now you're looking up at your roof wondering: is it damaged?
The honest answer is that you may not be able to tell from the ground. Some hail-related conditions are hard to see from the street and may contribute to later leaks. Policy reporting and filing requirements vary, so read your policy and contact the carrier promptly after a suspected loss.
Here are possible observable conditions, how to look from the ground safely, and when to call a professional.
What Hail Damage Looks Like on Asphalt Shingles
Hail can produce different observable conditions depending on the roofing material, its age and installation, the impact, and storm conditions. Possible indicators a qualified roof inspector may assess include:
- Random dents or dark spots where granules have been knocked loose
- Localized soft spots or mat changes that a qualified roof inspector may assess without asking the homeowner to touch or climb onto the roof
- Exposed black substrate where the protective granule layer is gone
- Circular or irregular impact patterns scattered across the roof
Hail impacts may appear irregularly across exposed surfaces. Marks in straight lines can have other causes, including foot traffic or manufacturing conditions, so pattern alone does not establish hail damage.
What to Check from the Ground (Safely)
You should never climb on your roof to check for damage. But you can look for evidence from the ground:
- Check your gutters and downspouts for dents, cracks, or granule buildup. Dented gutters can justify a closer roof inspection, but do not by themselves prove roof damage.
- Look at your siding, window frames, and AC unit for visible marks. Conditions on metal surfaces may be easier to see from the ground than conditions on shingles.
- Check painted surfaces like decks, fences, and window sills for chipped paint from hail impacts.
- Look for granules - the sand-like coating on shingles - collecting in your gutters or at the base of your downspouts. Granule accumulation can have more than one cause, so document what you observe rather than treating it as a diagnosis.
When Hail Damage Requires a Professional Inspection
If any of the following are true, consider asking a roofing contractor for an inspection:
- You observed hail or a severe storm near the property
- Your car, siding, or outdoor furniture shows dents or damage
- Your neighbors are getting their roofs replaced
- You notice a change in the roof or exterior after the storm
- You can see granules in your gutters that weren't there before the storm
After a significant local hail or wind event, an inspection can determine whether the roof has observable construction damage. The storm's presence alone does not establish that a particular property was affected.
The Timeline That Matters
Your policy may set separate requirements and deadlines for reporting the loss, filing a claim, completing repairs, and requesting any recoverable depreciation. The timing, coverage, and payment terms depend on your individual policy, the facts of the loss, and the carrier's coverage decision, so read the policy and contact the carrier promptly.
Early documentation helps preserve a clear record of the roof's condition. It does not establish coverage or a payment amount; only the carrier determines coverage under the policy.
What to Do Right Now
If you suspect hail damage, get a professional roofing inspection. A roofing contractor can inspect and document the damage and estimate the repair; the carrier determines whether the loss is covered. At Eagle Star, our roofing inspections are free and come with a damage report - whether or not you hire us.
Call (224) 490-3939 or request your free inspection at eaglestarroof.com.
