How to Spot Hail Damage on Your Roof

Hail often leaves damage that hides from the ground. These are the signs to look for, and what an inspection adds.

What Hail Does to Shingles

Hail bruises shingles. The impact cracks the mat under the granules and knocks granules loose, leaving a dark spot. The shingle looks mostly fine at first and fails sooner than it should.

Hail can also crack tiles, dent metal and break skylights.

Clues You Can See From the Ground

Look for dented gutters, downspouts, vents and flashing, and for granules washed into the gutter outlets. Dents on the car, patio furniture or siding tell you hail fell.

These clues suggest the roof deserves a closer look.

Why an Inspection Matters

Up close, an inspector can see bruises, test the shingles and mark every hit. A record of the damage helps you decide on repair or replacement, and shows what to share with others.

A roof may have damage that is hard to see even from the ladder, so a trained eye helps.