How Do You Know If Hail Damaged Your Roof?

How do you know if hail damaged your roof?

Published October 13, 2026 · John Beal, Owner, John Beal Roofing

Don't climb up there. Check from the ground. Look for dents in your gutters and vents, and granules washing out of your downspouts. Spot any of that? Get the roof inspected before you call insurance.

Hail can sound like the whole roof is coming apart, then the storm passes and everything looks fine from the driveway. That's the tricky thing about hail damage. A lot of it can't be seen from the ground, and a roof that looks okay today can start causing problems months later. Here's how to check safely.

Don't climb up there

We'll say it first because it matters most. Don't get on your roof after a hailstorm. Shingles can be slick, debris can be loose, and hail damage is hard to read even when you're standing on it. You won't learn enough up there to be worth the risk. Everything you need to check as a homeowner can be checked from the ground.

Look for dents in your gutters and vents

Metal shows hail better than shingles do. Walk around the house and look at your gutters, downspouts, and any metal vents you can see on the roof. Fresh dents, dings or spatter marks are a sign the hail was big enough to do damage. Look at the siding, window screens, outdoor AC unit, mailbox and even the car, too. If those took hits, your roof did as well.

Check for granules washing out of your downspouts

Shingles are covered with granules that protect them from the sun. Hail knocks them loose. After a storm, look at the ground where your downspouts empty and inside the gutters if you can see in safely. A pile of what looks like coarse, dark sand means granules came off the roof. Some granule loss is normal on an older roof, but a fresh heap right after a hailstorm is worth paying attention to.

Spot any of that? Get it inspected before you call insurance

This order matters. Have a roofer inspect the roof and document what's there before you file a claim. A trained inspector knows what hail bruising, cracked shingles and lost granules look like up close, and can photograph it. Then you go to your insurance company knowing whether there's real damage and with the evidence to show it.

Why not just wait and see?

Hail damage often doesn't leak right away. A bruised shingle may hold for a while, then wear out faster than the rest. Insurance policies also have time limits for reporting storm damage. Waiting a year to find out can cost you.

Watch out after hailstorms

Hail brings out door-knockers from out of town. Ask where their office is, check local reviews, and never sign on the porch. And if anyone offers to cover your deductible, walk away. That's illegal in Missouri and Illinois.

Free hail inspections

We're family-run and local, here since 1947. We'll inspect your roof for free, show you what we found, and tell you straight whether it's worth a claim.

What John says in the video

Transcript: How do you know if hail damaged your roof? Don't climb up there. Check from the ground. Look for dents in your gutters and vents and granules washing out of your downspouts. Spot any of that? Get it inspected before you call insurance. Call me, 1-800-JOHN-BEAL.

Frequently asked questions

Can I see hail damage on my roof from the ground?

Often not directly, which is why you look at things you can see: dents in gutters, downspouts and metal vents, and shingle granules washing out of the downspouts.

What does hail damage look like on shingles?

Up close it can look like dark spots or bruises where granules were knocked off, or cracks and soft spots. That is why a trained inspector needs to look.

Should I call my insurance company first or a roofer?

Have the roof inspected and the damage documented first. That way you know whether there is real damage before you file a claim.

Can hail damage cause leaks later?

Yes. Hail can bruise shingles and knock off granules without causing an immediate leak, and the damaged spots wear faster from then on.

Who can inspect my roof for hail damage?

We can. Our inspection is free. Call 1-800-JOHN-BEAL, answered 24/7.