After a hailstorm, the first question every Colorado homeowner asks is: “Is my roof actually damaged or am I fine?” Here’s how to tell — without getting on the roof — and exactly when to call a professional.
⚠️ Do NOT go on your roof after a storm. Wet roofs are dangerously slippery and hail can weaken areas that look fine from above. Josh Brooks Construction provides free inspections — let us go up instead. Call 720-828-7997.
5 Signs From the Ground You Have Roof Damage
1. Dented gutters or downspouts
The clearest ground-level sign. Walk around your home and look at every gutter section. Circular dents mean hail — and if your gutters are dented, your roof almost certainly has damage too. Dent size tells you hail size.
The clearest ground-level sign. Walk around your home and look at every gutter section. Circular dents mean hail — and if your gutters are dented, your roof almost certainly has damage too. Dent size tells you hail size.
2. Damaged window screens
Window screens are a perfect “hail trap.” Small round holes in the screen material tell the precise size and density of the hail event. Damaged screens are strong evidence for your insurance claim.
Window screens are a perfect “hail trap.” Small round holes in the screen material tell the precise size and density of the hail event. Damaged screens are strong evidence for your insurance claim.
3. Cracked or dented siding
Walk around your home and look for round cracks or dents in vinyl siding. Fiber cement (James Hardie) may show paint chipping or small chips. These patterns mean qualifying damage.
Walk around your home and look for round cracks or dents in vinyl siding. Fiber cement (James Hardie) may show paint chipping or small chips. These patterns mean qualifying damage.
4. Granules in your gutters or downspout discharge
After a hail event, check where your downspouts discharge. A large pile of gray-black granules (looks like coarse sand) means hail knocked granules off your shingles. This is a clear sign of damage.
After a hail event, check where your downspouts discharge. A large pile of gray-black granules (looks like coarse sand) means hail knocked granules off your shingles. This is a clear sign of damage.
5. Dented AC condenser fins
Your outdoor AC unit has thin aluminum fins that dent easily from hail. Look for crushed or bent fins on the top and sides of the unit. AC damage is almost always covered under hail claims.
Your outdoor AC unit has thin aluminum fins that dent easily from hail. Look for crushed or bent fins on the top and sides of the unit. AC damage is almost always covered under hail claims.
What Hail Damage Looks Like on a Roof
On asphalt shingles, hail damage appears as:
- Bruising — soft spots where the mat underneath the granules is damaged. Press gently and the spot feels soft vs. firm healthy shingle
- Granule loss — bare black or gray asphalt showing through where granules were knocked off
- Random circular impact patterns — evenly distributed across the entire roof surface, not clustered in one area
- Cracking — actual splits in the shingle from larger impacts
Normal wear shows as granule loss concentrated at edges and ridges, cracking that follows shingle seams, and weathering that’s uneven across slopes. Hail damage is random and hits all surfaces equally.
When to Call Immediately vs. Wait
| Situation | What to Do |
|---|---|
| Hail 1″ or larger (quarter size+) | Call for inspection within 48 hours |
| Dented gutters visible from ground | Call for inspection — you have damage |
| Granules in gutters/downspouts | Call — shingle damage confirmed |
| Active roof leak after storm | Call immediately — emergency tarping available |
| Small hail (pea size), no visible damage | Monitor — schedule inspection in 1-2 weeks |
| Neighbor filing a claim | Get inspection — storms affect entire neighborhoods |
Not Sure If You Have Damage? We’ll Tell You Honestly.
Free inspection. If there’s no qualifying damage we’ll tell you. If there is, we’ll document everything and guide you through the claim.