Hail damage to a roof, no matter how big or small, can have serious consequences for the structure of your home or business if it is left unchecked. Even the smallest impact to your roof from hail can cause hairline cracks in shingles, which can worsen and lead to leaks as time goes by. But how can you spot hail damage to your roof after a storm? Depending on the material of your roof and the size of the hail, damage to a roof can be either incredibly easy to spot or it can require a trained eye.

To determine if your roof has hail damage, here’s what you need to know.

Hail Size vs. Roofing Material

Both the size of the hail and the material of your roof play a significant role in whether your roof will sustain any damage from hail. For example, impact from a hail stone that is 1” in diameter is usually enough to damage a roof made from 3-Tab organic asphalt shingles. However, it would typically take hail stones that are 1¼’’ in diameter to damage a roof made from 3-Tab fiberglass asphalt shingles.

But to be on the safe side, a good rule of thumb is to be mindful of hail stones that are 1” in diameter when inspecting your roof for hail damage.

Impacted Outdoor Items

Before getting on the roof of your home or business, check for any hail damage to items or materials surrounding the structure. If you’ve noticed any dents, dings, or scratches to the A/C unit, siding, windowsills, or window casings, then chances are your roof may have hail damage as well. From the ground, you may also be able to spot hail damage such as dented gutters, downspouts, or gutter screens. Damage to painted surfaces surrounding your home — such as chipped paint on a deck or wood surface — can be a telltale sign that hail has damaged your roof as well.

Damaged Roof

After you’ve inspected the items and areas surrounding your home or business, it’s time to get on your roof and look for damage left behind by hail stones. Once on your roof, look for any impacted vents or dented surfaces. If your roof has a chimney cover, run a piece of chalk sideways over its surface. Afterward, if you see any dark spots or odd shapes form where the chalk was used, you’re likely looking at impact points from hail.

Finally, you’re going to want to take a closer look at the actual material of your roof. Hail damage to a roof can look different depending on the material, so here’s what you need to look out for on different roofing materials:

• Asphalt shingles – Loose or knocked-off surface granules
• Wood shingles – Splits or chips
• Clay and slate – Cracks or gouges
• Metal – Dents, dings, or concave surfaces. Damages to a metal roof are easier to spot by running a piece of chalk over the area.

How Arry’s Roofing Can Help

If you’re worried your roof may have hail damage and you want professional help you can trust, then reach out to Arry’s Roofing. Since 1990, our family-owned and -operated business has provided award-winning commercial and residential roofing services. Among our many services is our free hail damage inspection and assessment done by our roofing specialists. Our experts will determine the severity of the roof’s hail damage and will use that information to create a complete report with recommended options to repair or replace your roof.

Our other roofing services we offer include:

• Hail, wind storm, and hurricane damage repair
• Asphalt shingle, tile, and metal roof installations
• Flat/low-slope roofing installation
• Roof replacement
• Maintain and Sustain program, which includes roof cleaning, leak detection, and ongoing maintenance services

Schedule Our Services

To schedule a thorough roof inspection and determine whether you need to repair or replace your roof after hail damage, contact Arry’s Roofing today.