If your roof took a hit from a hailstorm, get it inspected, especially if you see dents, missing shingle granules, leaks, or hail larger than a golf ball fell in your area. First, photograph everything from the ground, avoid climbing onto a steep or wet roof, and call your insurer or a vetted local roofer promptly. When in doubt, schedule a professional inspection promptly rather than waiting for a small problem to become a bigger one.
TL;DR:
- Small hail under an inch can cause cumulative damage that weakens shingles, increasing the risk of serious problems in future storms.
- Visual inspections from the ground can identify dents and cracks on gutters, vents, and skylights, but professional inspections examine the roof more thoroughly.
- Damage such as missing shingles, leaks, or large hail over an inch requires immediate action, including documenting damage and reporting to insurers without delay.
- Hiring a licensed, local inspector with proper insurance verification and multiple estimates reduces the risk of scams or subpar inspections.
- Insurers assess hail damage using test squares to count hits and evaluate functional damage, which can influence whether repairs or full replacement are needed.
Table of Contents
- How hail actually damages your roof
- When should you schedule a hail roof inspection?
- How to check for hail damage yourself, and what pros check
- How to hire an inspector without getting scammed
- What happens during a professional inspection and claim
- What we've learned helping homeowners through hail season
- Get a hail roof inspection from Budget Roofing & Siding
- Sources
- FAQ
How hail actually damages your roof
Hail hits a roof like a tiny hammer, and the result depends on the material, the size of the stones, and how many times a spot gets struck. On asphalt shingles, an impact often bruises the mat, knocks off protective granules, or leaves a dark spot where the surface below is exposed. Metal panels dent instead of tearing, vents and flashing crease or crack, and skylights can develop stress cracks that leak weeks later.
- Asphalt shingles: bruising, dark spots, or granule loss exposing the mat underneath.
- Metal roofing and gutters: dents or dings, sometimes cosmetic, sometimes structural.
- Vents, flashing, and skylights: cracks or dents that create new leak points.
Even hail under an inch, often called sub-severe hail, does more than it looks like. Repeated exposure to small hail can significantly increase the likelihood that shingles will suffer serious damage in a later, larger storm, according to testing from IBHS. That cumulative wear means a roof that looks fine after a minor storm may already be more fragile than it appears, which is one reason inspections matter even when the hail wasn't dramatic.
When should you schedule a hail roof inspection?
Not every hailstorm requires an emergency call, but some situations do. Sort your response into two tracks: safety issues that need immediate attention, and cosmetic damage that still deserves a prompt look.
- Leaks, missing shingles, or visible holes: contact a roofer the same day and cover exposed areas with a tarp if it's safe to do so.
- Large hail (over an inch) or a long storm: document damage right away and call your insurer promptly, since most policies expect timely reporting.
- No visible interior damage but hail was reported nearby: schedule a professional inspection soon, since surface damage can be easy to miss from the ground.
- Minor dents on gutters or siding only: note it, photograph it, and plan a full roof check when convenient, since it may signal impacts you can't see on the roof itself.
Reporting early matters. The NAIC's post-storm guidance recommends contacting your insurer promptly and documenting losses before any cleanup begins.
How to check for hail damage yourself, and what pros check
Start on the ground. You do not need to climb onto your roof to get useful information, and for steep or wet surfaces, you shouldn't.
Safety rules first:
- Skip the roof walk if the pitch is steep, the shingles are wet, or you don't have fall protection.
- Use binoculars or a zoom lens from the ground or a stable ladder against the gutter line.
- Photograph every angle, including chimneys, vent pipes, and skylights.
A basic DIY check:
- Walk the perimeter and look at gutters and downspouts for dents or dings.
- Check vents, flashing, and skylight frames for cracks or new dents.
- Look at siding, window screens, and outdoor AC units for hail marks, which often confirm a storm was severe enough to matter.
- Check parked cars or outdoor furniture for dings as a rough gauge of hail size and intensity.
- Photograph shingles from the ground with a zoom lens, looking for dark spots or bald patches where granules are missing.
Pro Tip: Take a photo next to a coin or ruler for scale whenever you spot a dent or bruise. It helps adjusters and roofers judge severity later.
Professionals go further because they can safely access the roof surface and because insurers expect specific documentation. A trained inspector will walk the roof, examine multiple slopes, and use a systematic approach rather than a quick glance.
- They mark and count verified hail hits within measured sections, often called test squares.
- They check for functional damage, meaning impacts that compromise the shingle's ability to shed water, not just cosmetic marks.
- They inspect flashing, pipe boots, and valleys, which are common leak points after hail.
- They document findings with photos tied to specific roof sections so an insurer or estimator can follow the trail.
That combination of measured sampling and functional-damage assessment is what separates a homeowner's visual check from a claim-ready inspection.
How to hire an inspector without getting scammed
Storm season brings legitimate roofers and opportunists side by side, so vetting matters as much as the inspection itself. Confirm a contractor's license number and ask for proof of both liability insurance and workers' compensation, then call the insurance carrier directly to confirm the policy is active rather than trusting a printed certificate.
- Verify licensing and insurance directly with the carrier, not just from paperwork the contractor hands you.
- Get at least three written estimates before signing anything, and compare scope of work, not just price.
- Insist on a contract with a defined start date, finish date, and payment schedule, and avoid paying the full amount upfront to leave a clear payment record.
- Be wary of door-knockers offering to "inspect for free" right after a storm, especially those from out of town.
FEMA warns homeowners to verify local licensing and insurance and to avoid any contractor who claims FEMA certification, since FEMA does not certify or endorse contractors.
Assignment of Benefits agreements deserve particular caution. An AOB lets a contractor bill and negotiate directly with your insurer on your behalf, which can speed repairs but also transfers control over your claim. NAIC's claims guidance notes homeowners should read the fine print carefully before signing one, since it can limit your ability to dispute costs later. If a claim gets complicated, a licensed public adjuster can represent your interests without handing over that control.
What happens during a professional inspection and claim
Insurance adjusters typically use a method called test squares, marking off a 100 square foot section of roof and counting verified hail hits inside it. The number and pattern of hits, along with the material's ability to still shed water, determines whether the damage counts as functional or purely cosmetic. According to MU Extension, having an experienced roofer walk the property with the adjuster often improves how thoroughly damage gets documented, since a roofer may catch marks the adjuster's initial pass misses.
Good documentation supports every step of the claim:
- Take dated photos and video of all damage before any cleanup or temporary repairs.
- Keep a folder of written estimates, correspondence, and the adjuster's report.
- Save damaged shingles or materials where practical, since insurers may request physical evidence.
- Note the exact storm date, since that timestamp matters for both claims and warranty questions.
If the insurer's assessment feels unsatisfactory, you can request a second adjuster visit, contact your state's Department of Insurance, or hire a licensed public adjuster to review your claim.
What we've learned helping homeowners through hail season
Most people underestimate small hail and overestimate how obvious damage looks from the ground. The safest habit is to document first and assume nothing, because a roof that looks fine in July can leak in September. Get more than one estimate, ask hard questions about licensing, and don't let anyone rush you into a contract you haven't read.
— Dan
Get a hail roof inspection from Budget Roofing & Siding
Free inspections and estimates are available for homeowners, with a guarantee designed to facilitate easy comparison against other quotes without pressure. We handle everything from roofing repairs and replacements to siding repairs, and if hail also dinged your gutters or fascia, we cover that too.
Insurance claims are where a lot of homeowners get stuck, so our Insurance Made Easy service walks you through documentation and adjuster meetings so nothing gets missed. We'd rather you get multiple estimates and pick the contractor that's right for your home. If that ends up being us, request a free inspection and we'll get someone out to look at the damage before it turns into a bigger repair.
This article is general information, not a substitute for advice from a qualified financial advisor. Consult a qualified financial professional about your own circumstances before acting on anything here.
Sources
- Impact testing of high concentrations of small hail (IBHS)
- Beware contractor fraud — go local (FEMA)
- What to do after a storm — read the fine print (NAIC)
- Call insurance adjuster to determine hail damage (MU Extension)
FAQ
Should I get my roof inspected after a hail storm?
Yes, especially if you noticed large hail, heard loud impacts, or see any dents on gutters, vents, or siding. Even when damage isn't obvious, IBHS research shows small hail can weaken shingles in ways that only show up during a later storm.
How do I inspect for hail damage on a roof?
Start from the ground with binoculars or a zoom lens, checking gutters, vents, flashing, and skylights for dents or cracks, then look at shingles for dark spots or bald patches where granules are missing. Avoid walking on steep or wet roofs and call a professional if you spot anything suspicious.
How much does a typical roof inspection cost?
Costs for roof inspections vary by region and company, so request quotes from local roofers to find an accurate price. Free inspections and estimates are offered for homeowners as part of standard practice.
What will fail a roof inspection?
Inspectors typically flag functional damage such as cracked or bruised shingles that no longer shed water properly, exposed mats from granule loss, and compromised flashing or vents that can leak. Adjusters often use test squares to count verified hail hits and determine whether the damage meets the threshold for repair or full replacement, as described in MU Extension's guidance.
Who should I hire to inspect hail damage, and how do I avoid scams?
Choose a licensed, locally based contractor and verify their insurance directly with the carrier rather than trusting paperwork alone, since FEMA warns that it does not certify any contractor. Get at least three written estimates and avoid signing an Assignment of Benefits agreement without understanding what rights it transfers.