After a major storm rolls through, your first instinct might be to check for obvious damage — missing shingles, branches on the roof, or water coming through the ceiling. But most storm damage isn't that obvious. Hail, in particular, creates a pattern of destruction that is invisible from the ground and easy to miss even on a casual walk-around. Here's how to know when to call a professional.
Check Soft Metals First
Before you look at anything on the roof itself, check the soft metal surfaces around your home. Aluminum gutters, downspouts, window screens, and AC unit fins all dent from the same hailstones that damage shingles. If you see a pattern of consistent dents in these surfaces, that's a reliable proxy indicator that your shingles took similar impact.
Dent patterns tell you approximate hail size: dents the diameter of a dime suggest marble-sized hail (under 3/4 inch), which may or may not have caused significant shingle damage depending on shingle age. Dents the diameter of a quarter or larger indicate 1-inch or greater hail — the threshold at which most asphalt shingles experience impact bruising that shortens their lifespan.
Look for Granule Loss in Gutters and Downspouts
Asphalt shingles are coated with mineral granules that protect the underlying asphalt mat from UV radiation. When hail hits a shingle, it knocks granules loose. After a storm, check your gutter downspout discharge area — heavy granule accumulation (the grit looks like coarse sand) is a clear sign of widespread impact across the roof surface.
Some granule loss is normal over a shingle's life, but a storm event that displaces granules accelerates the degradation of the exposed asphalt significantly. Areas where granules have been removed will visually darken over the following weeks as the exposed asphalt oxidizes.
Look for These Signs Inside the Attic
If you have attic access, a quick inspection after a storm can reveal issues that haven't yet appeared inside the living space:
- Daylight visible through the roof deck — if you can see light in places you shouldn't, there's a breach somewhere
- Water staining on rafters or sheathing — dark discoloration or streaking that follows a path from the underside of the decking downward
- Wet insulation — compressed, discolored, or water-logged insulation beneath the roof deck indicates ongoing infiltration
Attic moisture problems identified early can be addressed before they create rot, mold, or structural damage to the framing.
When Not to Get on the Roof Yourself
Inspect from the ground using binoculars after a storm. Do not climb onto a roof that has sustained storm damage without professional fall protection equipment — wet, impacted, or compromised shingles have significantly reduced slip resistance. Ladder placement on soft ground after heavy rain also presents collapse risk.
If you suspect damage, the right next step is scheduling a professional inspection. We provide free storm inspections with no sales obligation. Our crews carry fall protection equipment and carry documentation tools — cameras, written reports, hail impact density charts — that support insurance claims.
Next Steps After a Storm
- Document what you can from the ground with photos
- Note the date of the storm event — insurance claims require a specific date
- Avoid making permanent repairs before the insurance adjuster's inspection
- Schedule a professional inspection promptly — most carriers require claims within 1-2 years of the damage event, but early documentation gives you the strongest position
Learn more about our storm damage repair and insurance claim process. We work with all major carriers and can be present during your adjuster's inspection to ensure nothing is overlooked.