What is Hail?
A quick lesson about hail before we get into how to spot the damage it causes.

Hail is a form of precipitation that occurs when raindrops that are formed in clouds get carried much higher by air currents. Once these raindrops begin to gain altitude, they begin to quickly cool to below freezing temperatures and freeze. That then frozen raindrop begins to fall and if the air currents are strong enough, it starts the cycle again until the hail stone becomes too big for the updraft to carry. Once the large hailstone begins to fall from the cloud, it brings strong cold downdrafts with it, which can also cause damaging winds.

Hail Size and Damage Potential
A quick idea of what size hail it takes to cause damage

< 0.5″: Typically not much damage, maybe some plant damage

0.75″ – 1.0″: These sizes you can typically expect some sort of minor roof or siding damage, this size hail can cause issues later down the line and reduce the lifespan of your roof without immediate symptoms.

1.25″ – 1.5″: Here is where you start to see some major roof damage, causing defined shingle dents and dents or cracks in metal roofing and siding.

1.5″ – 1.75″: More severe roof damage, full roofs typically affected with multiple shingles or metal panels severely damaged.

1.75″ – 2.5″: Serious paint damage, cars significantly damaged and will require body work, garage doors and other exterior metal features damaged.

2.5″+: Windows broken and severe property damage, unsheltered animals may be at risk for serious injury. (see what this is like in the video ?)

Check your siding and exterior on all sides of your home for dents or cracks, usually a tell-tale sign your home had a significant hail event.

Look closely at all your gutters and downspouts for dents or warping. These are signs of definite hail damage.

If your air conditioner has an exposed coil condenser, you will usually see signs of hail damage here. Look for dents in the condenser coil.

If you’re noticing granules in your gutters or downspouts. It’s a sign you have shingle damage that may have been caused by hail.

Hail damage to shingles can either be very easy to spot, or extremely difficult. It really takes a trained roofer to spot hail damage to shingles in most situations. Usually you’ll notice surface granules knocked off the shingle in a circular patter like the images below, but in some instances, the damage can be very hard to see. Even when the smallest amount of granules are knocked off, it compromises the integrity of the shingle and a water leak can begin to develop, that’s why it’s imperative to file an insurance claim if this is noticed. Usually insurance only begins to cover hail damage when 8 or more hail damage spots are noticed within 1 square (10ft x 10ft) on at least 3 sides of your roof. We don’t suggest climbing your roof to identify these spots. Call us and our inspectors will climb your roof, mark the shingle damage clearly with chalk and take detailed pictures to submit to your insurance adjuster.

This is the easiest type of hail damage to spot. Dents in metal roofing or on vents can be easily found simply by looking at the metal, feeling it, or using loose chalk. Hail damage to metal roofs is not only an eye-sore, it can bend and warp the metal roof and cause other long term issues.

If you notice any of these items, it’s imperative to schedule a free hail damage inspection with one of our hail experts. We’ll help you through the process of filing a claim properly to ensure it gets paid and you have little to no out-of-pocket expenses. Simply call us at the number below or fill out our quick form and a roof consultant will get back to you within normal business hours.