1. [Home](/) 2. [Guides](/guides/) 3. [Storm and hail damage: what to do](/guides/storm-damage-guide/) 4. How to spot hail damage on a roof # How to spot hail damage on a roof Most hail damage can be spotted, or at least suspected, without ever climbing a ladder. Here is what to look for from the yard and the attic, and when to bring in a roofer. ## Key takeaways - Stay off the roof. Damaged shingles and wet surfaces make falls far more likely. - Dented gutters, vents and downspouts are the easiest signs of hail to see. - A sudden pile of granules at the downspouts after a storm is a strong clue. - Check the attic for daylight, damp decking or wet insulation. - A roofer can confirm bruised or cracked shingles that you can't see from below. ## Stay off the roof and look from the ground The urge to climb up and look is understandable. Don't do it. Shingles are slick when wet, and granules knocked loose by hail roll underfoot like ball bearings. Storm damage can also hide soft spots in the decking. Walking a roof safely takes the right shoes, a harness and experience, and that is a roofer's job. You can learn a lot without leaving the ground. Walk all the way around the house in good light, ideally the day after the storm when everything has dried. A pair of binoculars helps. Take photos as you go, so you have a record of what you saw and when. ## Signs of hail on gutters, vents and siding Soft metal shows hail better than shingles do, so start there. - **Gutters and downspouts:** Look for small round dents along the front edge and on the downspouts. Check the splash blocks, too. - **Roof vents and flashing:** Box vents, pipe boots and chimney flashing often show dings you can see from the yard. - **Granules at the downspouts:** Shingle granules look like coarse dark sand. A new pile at the bottom of a downspout after a storm is a strong sign the shingles took a beating. - **Siding and trim:** Look for cracked or chipped vinyl siding, dented aluminum trim and torn window screens. - **Everything else outside:** Check the fins on your air conditioner, the mailbox, the deck rails and your car. These help show the size and direction of the hail. If several of these show damage, there is a good chance the roof does too, even if the shingles look fine from below. Dented or split gutters may need their own attention. A roofer can look at [gutter repair or replacement](/services/gutters/) at the same visit. ## What hail does to shingles On an asphalt shingle roof, hail usually leaves a bruise rather than a hole. Up close, a hit looks like a dark spot where granules have been knocked away. Sometimes the shingle feels soft when pressed, the way a bruised apple does. Harder hits can crack the fiberglass mat inside the shingle, even when the surface looks mostly intact. Hail damage tends to be random and scattered, and it is usually heavier on the side of the roof facing the storm. Some other problems look similar but are not hail: - blistering from heat and age - granule loss from normal wear - marks left by foot traffic Telling them apart is part of what a roofer looks for on an inspection. Many Dayton-area homes have older roofs, and older shingles are more brittle. They tend to crack rather than just bruise. Small breaks may not leak right away, but water that gets in and freezes over the winter can widen them. A roof that seems fine in July can start leaking by March. ## Checking the attic and ceilings If you can get into the attic safely, take a flashlight up on a dry day after the storm. Stay on the joists or on a solid walkway, never on the insulation between the joists. Look for: - pinpoints of daylight through the roof deck - dark or damp spots on the underside of the decking - wet or matted insulation - water trails along rafters or around vent pipes In the rooms below, watch for new stains on ceilings and upper walls, especially near chimneys, skylights and exterior walls. Photograph anything you find. ## When to have a roofer inspect Call for an inspection if any of these apply: - you see dents on metal - granules have piled up at the downspouts - neighbors are getting roofs looked at after the same storm - you notice any sign of water inside A roofer can walk the roof and mark hits. They can also tell you whether the damage calls for [roof repair](/services/roof-repair/) or something larger. If you plan to file an insurance claim, the photos from that inspection are useful. For the bigger picture after a storm, see the [storm and hail damage guide](/guides/storm-damage-guide/). ## Frequently asked questions What does hail damage look like on shingles? It usually looks like scattered dark spots where granules have been knocked off, sometimes with a soft or cracked spot underneath. The hits tend to be random rather than in lines or patterns. A roofer can confirm it up close. Is granule loss always a sign of hail? No. New shingles shed some loose granules, and older roofs lose them gradually with age. A sudden pile at the downspouts right after a storm, along with dents on metal, points much more strongly to hail. Can I check for hail damage with binoculars? Binoculars help you spot missing shingles, dented vents and damaged flashing from the yard. Bruises on the shingles themselves are often too subtle to see from the ground, so a roofer's inspection is still worth it. 3 min read. ### Want us to handle it? Entrust Roofing works in Miamisburg, West Carrollton, Moraine, Springboro, Germantown, Centerville, Kettering, Dayton. [Get a quote](/contact/)[Call (937) 299-9993](tel:+19372999993) ### More in this guide - [Storm and hail damage: what to do](/guides/storm-damage-guide/) - [How roof insurance claims usually work](/guides/storm-damage-guide/roof-insurance-claims/) - [How to avoid storm-chaser roofers](/guides/storm-damage-guide/storm-chaser-roofers/) ### Related services - [Roof Repair](/services/roof-repair/) - [Storm Damage Insurance Claims](/services/storm-damage/) ### Service areas - [Miamisburg](/areas/miamisburg/) - [West Carrollton](/areas/west-carrollton/) - [Moraine](/areas/moraine/) - [Springboro](/areas/springboro/) - [Germantown](/areas/germantown/) - [Centerville](/areas/centerville/) - [Kettering](/areas/kettering/) - [Dayton](/areas/dayton/) ### Other guides - [Replacing a roof in the Dayton area](/guides/roof-replacement-guide/) - [Gutters, leaks and keeping water out](/guides/gutters-and-leaks-guide/) ## Call (937) 299-9993 or send a quote request, and we'll set up a time to look at your roof. [Get a quote](/contact/) [Call (937) 299-9993](tel:+19372999993) --- **Entrust Roofing** · 790 Enterprise Ct., Miamisburg, OH 45342 · (937) 299-9993 · admin@entrustroofing.com [Get a quote](/contact/) · [Services](/services/) · [Guides](/guides/) · [FAQ](/faq/)