Most hail damage isn’t visible from the ground — the reliable signs are on the roof itself: dark bruised spots where granules are knocked off, cracked or dented shingles, and dinged metal on vents, flashing, and gutters. The fastest way to know for sure is a close-up inspection, but there are ground-level clues that tell you it’s worth getting one.
Signs on the roof
- Bruises: soft, dark circles where the protective granules are knocked away, exposing the asphalt mat
- Granule loss: bald patches on shingles; you may find granules piled in gutters or at downspout outlets
- Cracks and splits radiating from an impact point
- Dented soft metals: dings in vents, valleys, flashing, and gutter aprons — often the clearest evidence
Ground-level clues you can check yourself
- Dents in gutters, downspouts, or the garage door
- Dinged window screens, wraps, or AC condenser fins
- Granules washed out at the bottom of downspouts
- Damaged or split fence boards, deck boards, or outdoor furniture
- Neighbors getting roofs replaced — hail travels in swaths, so if your street got hit, you likely did too
Why guessing is risky
Hail damage is deceptive. A roof can look fine from the driveway while the shingle mat is bruised and its lifespan cut in half — damage that leads to leaks a year or two later, long after the claim window has closed. On the flip side, what looks like damage is sometimes just blistering, foot traffic, or manufacturing flaws. Knowing the difference is exactly what an experienced inspector does.
A word of caution: if a crew knocks on your door offering a “free inspection” and comes down claiming major damage on every roof on the block, be skeptical. A legitimate inspection sometimes finds no claimable damage — and an honest contractor will tell you that.
Common questions
Can I inspect my own roof?
You can check ground-level clues safely, but climbing a roof after a storm is dangerous and easy to get wrong. Let a professional walk it — most reputable contractors inspect for free.
How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?
Hail around 1 inch (quarter-size) and up can bruise asphalt shingles. Smaller hail driven by high wind can also do damage, especially to older or brittle roofs.
How soon should I check after a storm?
Within a few weeks. Colorado claim windows are usually about a year, but fresh damage is easier to tie to a specific storm date and document for your insurer.
Serving Boulder, Weld, Larimer, Jefferson, and Douglas Counties. Josh Brooks Construction and Renovation Inc. (License CON-24-0152, in business since 2014, 30 years in construction) will inspect your roof up close and tell you straight whether you have claimable hail damage. Call 720-828-7997 or text 720-453-5095 for a free inspection.
