How to Identify Hail Damage To Your Roof

Some of a homeowner’s worst issues can come from a damaged roof, including leaks, mold, and structural concerns throughout the home. It’s important to get your roof checked regularly to prevent extensive issues like these, especially as the roof ages and when a storm may have caused damage.

Right after a severe storm can be a particularly important time to schedule a roof inspection for a number of reasons. It’s important to address any problem areas right away. If you know the signs to look for after a storm, you will be better prepared and can avoid the surprise of major repairs. 

There are several ways to identify hail damage after a major storm that you can do yourself, without having to climb on your roof. But depending on the severity of the storm, you might not be able to see all the damage. Clean Roof Today is here to offer you a free roof inspection and give expert recommendations for repair.

We’re giving you some tips to help identify when it might be time to have your roof inspected and avoid the unfortunate risks that come when you neglect hail damage to your roof.

 

What Does Hail Damage Look Like on my Roof?

Hail damage to your roof can be as easily detectable as blown-off shingles or downed tree branches. If the storm produced hail bigger than an inch, there will likely be obvious signs of hail damage to your roof.

Small hail can still create minor damage that may require a trained eye to find. We recommend getting your roof professionally assessed after any major storm. 

Visual signs of hail damage to your roof include the following: 

• Noticeable black colored divets on the shingles 
• Loss of granules on your shingles 
• Soft, bruised shingles — this is where a trained roof comes in handy 
• Impact marks or dents 
• Tears or splits in the shingles 

These are common signs of hail damage to asphalt shingles. Hail has the potential to crack or shatter other roofing materials, such as any clay or concrete you have on your roof. 

 

Types of Hail Damage to Watch Out For On Your Roof

If you are aware of these signs of hail damage, you’ll know what to look for so that you can decide if it’s time for a repair or at least time to ask for an expert’s advice. 

 

Cracked and Damaged Shingles

The impact of hail and high winds can crack asphalt or composition shingles and leave your roof with bare spots. Cracked shingles of any materials will not effectively protect your roof.

Clay or concrete shingles could be shattered. Wood shingles could have a split that you can spot because of its color that differs from the rest of the shingles in that it stands out as brown or orange. Shingles could also have a split that has sharp or jagged edges or a split with no deterioration at the edges, meaning it is new damage likely caused by the storm. 

 

Loss of Granules 

Granules are the rough, sandpaper-like material on the outside of the shingle. When these are worn down by hail damage, it accelerates the aging of the shingle beyond the normal wear and tear of the shingle. Some indicators that granules have worn off are when the shingle is lifting up, cracked, or has curled edges. 

You may also spot these granules on the ground surrounding your home or near the downspouts of your gutters if the storm washed the granules away from the shingles.

 

Exposed or Damaged Fiberglass Mat

Hail impact can cause fractures to your roof’s fiberglass mat or shatter the shingles that protect it, exposing the fiberglass mat altogether. A fractured fiberglass mat is typically harder to spot but can result in cracks at the point of impact. If you can see something shiny on your roof, it may be a shiny fiberglass mat that’s visible, indicating possible damage.

 

Weakened Seal That Can Lead to Leaks

High winds can cause the seal that adheres the shingles to the roof to weaken, leaving your roof exposed if the shingles fly off. Once the seal is damaged, your roof is vulnerable to leaks and this can cause tears in other shingles. 

 

What Size Hail Causes Hail Damage?

You may be wondering if a recent hail storm could have caused damage to your roof. Do you know how large the hail was? Even if the hail was small in diameter, it could still have some impact, especially when combined with strong winds. The potential damage also differs as the size of hail grows.

Below, we’ve listed the typical size ranges of hail and the types of damage that follow:

• Quarter size or 1 inch: Even pea-sized hail can cause damage, although it is likely less severe than larger-sized hail. 
• Half-dollar size or 1.25 inches: This can cause minor exterior damage to roofs and siding, even without high winds. 
• Walnut size or 1.5 inches: Anything from 1.5 to 2 inches can cause serious damage to roofs and wood on the exterior of houses.
• Golf ball size or 1.75 inches: This is likely to cause exterior damage to paint and dent cars. This size has the power to penetrate soft parts of your roof or even tear off siding when combined with high winds. 
• Tennis ball size or 2.5 inches: When hail is this size, it’s a matter of finding the damage done and not determining whether it’s there or not —there is likely damage. After experiencing a storm with hail this size, call a roofing inspector with insurance experience. 

 

What Other Forms of Hail Damage Should I Be Aware of? 

Since minor damage may be hard to detect, looking at other forms of exterior hail damage may help you determine if your roof should be inspected. Be sure to check the surrounding areas of your home. 

 

Dented or Clogged Gutters 

One easy way to find any hail damage to your roof is to check your gutters. Significant hail damage will likely have dented the gutters and downspouts, which is a good indicator of roof damage.

You should also check your gutters for debris that may have come off of your roof. Look for any granules that may have pooled in your downspouts. If your gutters are clogged after a storm, it may also indicate roof damage. 

 

Damaged Siding or Deck

Look in other places like your siding or a deck for signs of hail dents, cracks, or splits. If the hail damaged these exterior locations surrounding your home, then it is recommended that you get a roof inspection, as roof damage is also likely. 

 

Dented or Scratched Car 

While not part of the house, this is an easy indicator that the hail was strong enough to cause damage. If the hail was forceful enough to damage your car, it likely damaged your roof as well. 

 

I’ve Identified Hail Damage to My Roof. What Now?

Roof damage is repairable once the severity of the damage has been determined. It is absolutely recommended that you get a hail damage roof inspector to assess any damage. Even minor hail damage to roof shingles can cause long-term consequences like wood rot, mold, or leaks. 

Find a Trusted Roofer to Inspect the Severity of the Hail Damage

Clean Roof Today offers free and thorough inspections that will give you peace of mind. We even offer contactless inspections via drone footage.

Our experienced inspectors will evaluate your roof, siding, gutters, and windows for leaks or water damage, wind damage, and any other hail damage to your commercial or residential roof. 

 

Hire an Experienced Roofing Contractor to Repair Your Roof

Your inspection found significant damage, and now it’s time for repair. At CRT, we follow a four-step repair process that will ensure the safety and aesthetic integrity of your roof. Our emergency repair services allow us to prioritize severe roof damage projects.

Once an inspection is done, we give you a detailed quote that outlines material, labor, and estimated time expectation for repairs. We also specialize in the cleanup and restoration of the damaged materials.

File an Insurance Claim for Hail Damage

Our restoration and home repair team can help you identify whether your insurance will cover the type of damage done and repairs needed. Better yet, we’ll work with your insurance company to help you through the process.

Coverage often depends on your insurer, type of policy, and where you live. If you are home during the storm, and once it is safe to do so, it’s helpful to go outside and photograph the hail and show its size, as well as to document any other visible damage in the area or to your home. This can later be used when you file your insurance claim. 

 

Don’t Let Hail Damage to Your Roof Go Unnoticed

If you’re not sure whether a severe storm has caused hail damage to your roof, schedule a free inspection to help you determine if repair is needed.

Many signs of severe damage can be found on your own but if minor, hard-to-find signs of roof damage go unchecked, they can cause long-term issues and costly repairs.

An inspection will allow you to get the right repairs in a timely manner, keeping the look and safety of your commercial or residential space intact. Contact us for a free inspection today.