Hail Damage Roof Inspection After a Storm
General information for homeowners. Not insurance, legal or roofing advice. Reports near an address are not proof of damage.
Hail can leave marks on a roof that are hard to see from the ground. Soft asphalt shingles may bruise without an obvious hole. Metal flashing, vents and gutters can dent while the roof surface still looks fine from the driveway. Before you worry about next steps, start with a simple question: was hail reported near your address, and how large was it?
We show NOAA hail reports near that location—dates, sizes and distances. Not a roof inspection.
What size hail damages a roof?
Size is the first clue. On Hailstorm Report we use the same plain thresholds as our address lookup:
- Under 1 inch. Roof damage is usually unlikely. Smaller hail can still mark siding, screens and cars.
- 1 inch or larger. Damage is possible on some roofs, especially older ones.
- 1.75 inches (golf ball) or larger. A professional roof inspection is often recommended. Hail this size often marks shingles, gutters and vents.
Size is not the whole story. Roof age, shingle or panel material, and wind during the storm also matter. An older roof may show wear after a smaller storm; a newer impact-rated roof may hold up better. This is general guidance, not a damage assessment for any address.
Signs of hail damage you can check safely from the ground
Do not climb onto your roof. Falls from roofs are a common cause of serious injury. Stay on the ground and look for soft targets around the house.
- Dents in gutters, downspouts, metal vents, AC fins or window screens
- Loose asphalt granules collecting at the base of downspouts
- Fresh dents or chips on cars, fences, siding, mailboxes or outdoor furniture
- Broken or cracked skylight covers you can see without climbing
Soft targets help because they show whether hail of a meaningful size fell in your yard. They still do not prove what happened on the roof surface. If you see several of these signs after a storm with hail of 1 inch or larger nearby, that is a reason to schedule a licensed inspector—not to get on a ladder yourself.
While you are on the ground, take dated photos of anything that looks new: gutters, screens, cars, fences and siding. Note the storm date from our address search or your own weather records. Photos and a storm date help an inspector and, if you file a claim, your insurer. Do not wait for perfect weather to take ground photos; wait for a licensed person for anything that requires getting on the roof.
What a roof inspector looks for
A licensed roof inspector or qualified roofer examines the roof up close. In general terms, they look for:
- Bruised, cracked or fractured shingles (soft spots or circular marks that do not always look like holes)
- Missing granules that expose the asphalt mat underneath
- Dents or cracks in metal or plastic flashing around chimneys, walls and edges
- Damaged vents, turbine caps, pipe boots and skylight flashings
Different roof materials show different patterns. Asphalt shingles bruise; metal panels dent; tile can crack. An inspector documents what they find with photos. That documentation is for you and, if you choose to file, your insurer. This site does not inspect roofs or decide insurance claims.
When to get an inspection
Consider a professional inspection soon after a storm when hail of 1 inch or larger was reported nearby—especially if you also see ground-level soft-target marks. You do not need a leak first. Some hail marks show up as bruises that only become leaks later, when weather cycles open them up. An early inspection creates a record of what was visible after the storm.
Act before your claim deadline. Many homeowners policies give you about a year to report storm damage, but your policy decides the real deadline. Check your policy. If you are unsure whether a nearby report applies to your house, widen the search radius on ouraddress check and compare dates with what neighbors or local news described.
For typical windows and filing steps in each state we cover, see ourhail claim guides:Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska.
Avoid storm-chasing contractors
After a large hail day, door-to-door roofers often show up quickly. Some are local and licensed. Others are temporary crews who leave town once the work dries up. A few practical checks:
- Confirm licensing and any state roofing registration before you hire
- Get written estimates, and take time to compare
- Do not sign anything that hands control of your insurance claim to a contractor
- Be wary of pressure to “file today” or to sign blank authorizations
Several of our states have laws about contractors waiving or paying your insurance deductible. The details differ by state, so we do not restate them here. Read the claim guide for your state:
- Texas hail claim guide
- Colorado hail claim guide
- Oklahoma hail claim guide
- Kansas hail claim guide
- Nebraska hail claim guide
FAQ
What size hail can damage a roof?
Hail under 1 inch is usually unlikely to damage a roof. Hail 1 inch or larger can damage some roofs, especially older ones. Hail 1.75 inches (golf ball size) or larger is when a professional roof inspection is often recommended. Roof age, material and wind also matter. This is general guidance, not a damage assessment.
Should I climb on my roof after a hail storm?
No. Do not climb onto your roof. Look for signs from the ground—dented gutters, vents, window screens, granules at downspouts, and damage to cars, fences, siding or outdoor furniture—and leave the roof itself to a licensed inspector.
When should I get a hail damage roof inspection?
Soon after a storm with hail of 1 inch or larger reported nearby, and before your typical claim deadline. Many policies give you about a year to report storm damage. Check your policy. State hail claim guides
How do I know if hail was reported near my address?
Enter your address or ZIP code on Hailstorm Report to see NOAA hail reports within a few miles, with dates, sizes and distances. A report is where someone observed hail, not proof of what fell at your address. Check an address
How do I avoid storm-chasing contractors?
Check licensing and registration, get written estimates, and do not sign anything that hands over your insurance claim. Several of our states have laws about contractors waiving deductibles—read the claim guide for your state for those details. Claim guides by state
Hailstorm Report shows where hail was reported in NOAA records. That is not proof of damage at any address, and this page is not a roof inspection or insurance advice. When in doubt, talk to a licensed inspector and check your policy.