A hailstorm can be extremely destructive, but the amount of damage it does to your roof varies greatly as it depends on many different factors, such as the wind, size and density of the hail, roofing material and design, etc. It’s essential to inspect your roofing once the weather settles, as any problems must be dealt with right away.

If you have a chance, try to take a look at the size of the hailstones since this will give you some idea of what kind of damage you can expect.

  • 1 inch or less.
    This type of hail can affect an asphalt shingle roof greatly, but identifying the problems by sight is rather difficult. Therefore, it’s best to call in a professional roofer who can use specialized equipment to assess the extent of the damage.
  • 1-2 inches.
    Dents from hailstones this size are easier to notice without taking a risk and climbing atop the roof, so you should be able to see whether you need to employ a repair crew.
  • Over 2 inches.
    This type of hail is sure to cause vast amounts of damage, especially to asphalt and metal roofs as well as gutters. It’s essential to have it inspected and assessed by a qualified professional, especially if you plan to contact your insurance company. In this case, you’ll need to get your claim approved first so that the scope of repairs is fixed on paper.

Types of Hail Damage

  • Missing granules on asphalt roofing.
    This issue should be noticeable because you’ll be able to see the exposed substrate, which is darker than the undamaged areas of the surface. This is the ‘mildest’ form of damage and it doesn’t require a replacement.
  • ‘Bruising’.
    This particular problem is difficult to identify unless you run your hand over the roofing to feel for dents. Depending on the severity of the issue, some parts of the system might need to be replaced. If this damage goes ‘untreated’, it might cause a leak and overall increase the speed of surface deterioration.
  • Cracks.
    Large hail can crack any type of roofing. These marks are easy to notice when inspecting your roof from the ground. The broken pieces must be replaced as soon as possible as they may cause leaking, and water damage would increase your repair costs exponentially.
  • Siding damage.
    These problems are easy to notice as they show in the form of dents or cracks (depending on the siding material). Even small hailstones can deal significant damage to this part of your roofing system. Luckily, these issues usually qualify under the ‘cosmetic damage’ paragraph of your insurance policy, so you’d be able to get the insurance company to cover the repairs.

Note that hail damage may occur only to one side of your roof due to the direction of the wind, so be sure to inspect your property from every angle. Considering the risks of climbing atop the roof with no specialized safety equipment, especially after a hailstorm, you should entrust this inspection to professional roofers.