Identifying the Signs: What Does Hail Damage on a Roof Look Like?

Thunderstorms can get ramped up quickly. You’ve watched them from your window in amazement — dark clouds rolling in, wind whipping the trees, and rain falling in sheets. But then it gets worse, and you see chunks of ice falling from the sky and bouncing off of roads, sidewalks, cars, and roofs. 

Based on what you witnessed through the window, you’re certain the hail did some damage to your roof. After the storm subsides, you climb up the ladder to survey the damage. 

But what does hail damage look like on a roof? 

Roofs can be damaged by all kinds of elements. Identifying hail damage can help you know when you need repairs and when you may need to file an insurance claim. No matter what kind of roof you have, we’ll help you learn how to recognize the signs of hail damage and know when to call in the pros for inspection and repair. 

Table of Contents

• What Are Signs of Hail Damage on a Roof?
• What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Shingle Roof?
• What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Flat Roof?
• What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Slate Roof?
• What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Metal Roof?
• What Size of Hail Will Damage a Roof?
• Oscar Roofing Inspects and Repairs Hail Damage in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Other Surrounding Areas

What Are Signs of Hail Damage on a Roof?

Signs of hail damage can vary depending on the type of roof you have on your house. Dents or missing shingles may be the result of hail on a shingled roof, while a slate roof may have broken tiles or holes after a hailstorm. To assess roof damage properly, it’s a good idea to ask a roofing inspector to take a look.

Climate changes may be responsible for a rise in hail incidences in the last few years. In 2022, hail reports increased by 15%, and wind and hail insurance claims were more frequent than other homeowners’ claims from 2017 to 2021. In 2019, more than 39% of homeowner’s claims were due to water and hail damage.

Other general signs of roof damage because of hail may include:

• Missing shingles
• Bruising
• Black spots on shingles
• Granule loss
• Dented vents

Typically, if the hail was large or the wind was fast enough, other property damage (like damage to your siding, deck, garage, gutters, landscaping, etc.) may be indicative of the type of damage your roof may sustain. Interior damage — leaks, sagging ceiling, or water damage on walls — are also clear signs that your roof may have sustained significant hail damage.

Call in the professionals at Oscar Roofing for your roofing repair or replacement. We’ll assess your damage, provide a solution, answer your questions, and complete the work with 100% customer satisfaction.

 

 

What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Shingle Roof?

Shingles are a popular and affordable roofing material that also performs well against weather elements like rain and hail. With regular inspection and maintenance, asphalt shingle roofs can last up to 20 years or more.

Asphalt shingles are constructed using a combination of materials, including asphalt granules, fiberglass, sealant, and release firm material. 

Asphalt shingles are rated according to Class (1 through 4). Class 4 shingles have the highest impact resistance. The higher-class shingles may have minerals mixed in with the material or may be constructed with reinforced fiberglass matting. These added ingredients increase impact resistance, especially against the force of hailstones.

Granules Sloughing Off

The granules on shingles are the rough, sandpaper-like part that protects the asphalt coating from weather elements like rain, wind, and hail. When hail hits the roof hard enough, granules may become loose and fall off, leaving the roof at risk for further damage down the road.

Sometimes, it’s obvious to see areas where the granules have come loose and fallen off. Other times, it may take a trained eye to see the damage. You may also be able to see the granules that have washed into the gutters or downspouts. 

Even though there may not be a hole where the granules have been removed, the area that is missing the granules decreases the integrity of the shingles enough to warrant replacement. If not replaced, water can seep through those smooth sections and cause water leaks over time.

Curled or Missing Shingles

Hail accompanied by high winds can damage shingles by cracking them, curling them up by the edge, or pulling them off altogether. Any of these types of hail damage can leave your roof with bare spots. With those spots exposed, the shingles can no longer provide a barrier of protection to your roof. 

Replacing these cracked or missing tiles is essential as soon as possible. If left untouched when the next storm arrives with more wind, rain, or hail, you may experience leaks in the roof that may make it into your home, damaging walls and ceilings.

Dents or Dimples on Shingles

When granules slough off as mentioned above, shingles can sustain damage that results in dents in the material. Often these dents will be soft to the touch, much like the bruise on an apple, and may be black in color.

Other parts of the structure of your home can also be dented, giving the idea that your shingles are damaged. Look for dings in siding, gutters, and downspouts or clogged gutters that may indicate your roofing shingles have sustained similar damage.

 

 

What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Flat Roof?

The degree of hail damage to a flat roof depends highly on the type of membrane the roof has. Flat roofs are usually made from the following membranes:

• TPO membranes: Thermoplastic polyolefin (TPO) compounds contain blends of polypropylene, uncrosslinked EPDM rubber, and polyethylene. These materials provide high-impact resistance from smaller hailstones (less than 1¾ inch in size). It can get weaker as it ages as the plastic leaks out. 
• EPDM membranes: Ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM) is a type of rubber known for its durability, flexibility, and ability to handle extreme conditions. It is also one of the most water-resistant rubber materials, which makes it a good choice for flat roofs. EPDM rubber resists hail damage better than TPO and can handle larger hailstones (up to 2½ inches). Roofs made with EPDM may still sustain hail damage, especially if the substrate under the membrane has become soft.
• BUR membranes: Built-up roof (BUR) membranes are made of asphalt and gravel poured in layers on top of reinforcement fabric. This type of membrane can be more resistant than TPO and EPDM. However, if the gravel becomes loosened from the top layer, it can open up the exposed membrane to damage from hailstones. Small hailstones can also loosen the gravel and damage the asphalt layer as well.

Because flat roofs don’t have a slope, they are more vulnerable to damage because each hailstone is a direct hit on the roof. Installing rigid boards below the membrane can help to make the roof more impact-resistant.

Blisters

Blisters on the membrane are one sign of damage on flat roofs. They usually look like small, round marks that are often hidden, making them hard to see.

Though blisters may look like merely cosmetic damage, they can lead to big problems if left unattended. The blistered areas are weak spots that can spread and weaken even more over time. It may even grow to become a hole or crack, which is an open door to water damage below the membrane.

Visible Dents on Flashings

Flashings are the metal pieces that form a barrier in gaps between the roof and vertical objects, like a chimney. 

When checking a flat roof for hail damage, look at the flashings. Because dents on flashings are easily noticeable, they can help you gauge hail damage on the roof better than looking for the hard-to-find blisters mentioned above. 

It’s also important to look for pieces of flashing that have been curled up from the edge. When that happens, it allows moisture to seep underneath the flashing to the membrane below.

 

 

What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Slate Roof?

Slate roof tiles are one of the most durable types of roofing materials on the market. Slate tiles are made from metamorphic rock that has been formed under extreme heat and pressure deep in the earth, resulting in a strong and dense rock. Slate tile roofs are made to last — even up to 200 years!

Slate roofing tiles can be made from different materials, like concrete, metal, asphalt, and composite materials, but natural slate tiles are stronger and more resistant to hail damage than these other types.

Even though slate tiles are known to be highly impact-resistant, they can still sustain damage from hail. Factors that can affect the strength of the tiles include:

• The size of the hailstones
• The quality of the slate
• The type and quality of installation

Clear or Ragged Puncture Holes

Because slate is made of layers of rock, some layers of the rock may be missing when damaged by hail.

More often, hail damage on slate tile roofs is easily recognizable as a hole with a sharp, clean edge of the impact side of the tile. The underside of the tile (the non-impact side) breaks apart and leaves a crater that is rugged and larger than the entry hole.

Broken or Cracked Slate Tiles

In some instances, large hailstones can cause slate tiles to crack or break, especially on the edges or corners. Usually, slate roof tiles can be replaced, especially if the contractor is experienced and knowledgeable. 

If you experience hail damage to your slate roof in the Bloomington or Indianapolis area, the experts at Oscar Roofing are ready to examine the damage and give our professional and knowledgeable opinion on repair or replacement. 

Call us today to get a free estimate.

 

 

What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Metal Roof?

Along with slate roofs, metal roofs are durable and are a popular choice for a hail-resistant roofing material.

Constructed with metal sheets that are joined together with screws or nails, metal roofs are made from a variety of metals, including:

• Aluminum
• Copper
• Zinc
• Steel
• Tin

Though generally considered impact-resistant, even metal roofs can sustain hail damage, especially if the hail is large. Thick metal panels are more durable and can resist hail damage, but over time, multiple impacts by hailstones can certainly leave their mark.

Functional vs. Cosmetic Damage

When comparing the different roofing materials mentioned above, metal roofs are a top choice for higher hail resistance.

For that reason, it’s important to clarify the type of hail damage sustained by metal roofs — whether it’s merely cosmetic or affects the functionality of the roof. This is especially something insurance assessors will differentiate in their report, which may determine whether any damages are covered.

Cosmetic damage to metal roofing usually involves dings or dents and usually isn’t covered by insurance.

For repairs due to hail damage to be covered by insurance, you’ll likely need to prove that there is functional damage. 

HAAG Global, a forensic and engineering consulting company, describes functional damage as damage that:

• Reduces water-shedding capability; or
• Reduces expected long-term service life

Further, this type of damage may include:

• Ruptured metal
• Disengaged lap elements
• Disengaged fasteners
• Disruption in the protective surfacing

 

 

What Size of Hail Will Damage a Roof?

It’s easy to imagine the type of damage large hailstones (2 inches) can cause to a roof. But even hail smaller than an inch can cause minor damage to a roof. 

So how does the size of the hailstone affect the damage it can do? Let’s take a look:

• ¾ inch: This is the smallest measurement of hail size and may not cause much damage. However, if the hail is accompanied by strong winds, it can loosen granules on asphalt shingles.
• 1 inch: This size of hail may cause limited exterior damage, but it may cause bruising and shingle underlayment.
• 1 ¼ inches: This increase in size can leave dents in roofing material and other minor damage to roofs.
• 1 ½ inches: Severe roof damage can occur with this size of hail, especially with strong winds and large amounts of hail falling for a long period of time.
• 1 ¾ inches: This size of hail is large enough to cause extreme damage which may include penetrating softer parts of the roof and metal fixtures and vents.
• 2 or more inches: Hail this size will most certainly cause significant damage to your roof. 

Oscar Roofing Inspects and Repairs Hail Damage in Bloomington, Indianapolis, and Other Surrounding Areas

If you’ve recently weathered a storm and think your roof might have hail damage, or you’ve noticed loose shingles or other damage to your roof due to aging or other weather-related elements, it’s time to call Oscar Roofing.

You don’t want to leave your roofing repair to the amateurs. 

As a family-owned business, we’ve been operating since 2003, and we are experts that specialize in roofing repairs, replacements, and installations for both residential and commercial buildings.

As an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor, you can rest assured that we’ll do your roofing job with excellence and precision.  

You’ll also want to choose Oscar Roofing because:

• Every member of our crew is fully licensed, bonded, and insured.
• We’re local and want to invest in our own community.
• We back up our work with manufacturer and labor warranties.
• We offer competitive pricing and superb customer service.

Don’t put off those noticeable and necessary roof repairs. Call us today in Bloomington or Indianapolis for a free estimate.