You spot hail damage by looking for circular dents in your shingles, fresh scratches on your metal gutters, or small piles of shingle granules in your downspouts. Most hail hits leave a dull, bruised appearance where the protective coating has been knocked away. If you see these signs after a storm rolls through Wyoming, you have a problem.

Should I climb up on the roof to check it?

Stay on the ground, please. You don't need a ladder to see what a storm did to your home, and climbing a wet roof is a good way to turn a potential insurance claim into a trip to the emergency room.

Grab a pair of binoculars instead. Walk the perimeter of your house in Wyoming. Look at your gutters and downspouts first. If you see deep, fresh dents in the metal, the hail was large enough to do the same to your shingles. If your gutters are bruised, your roof likely is too. The dread of thinking about your roof integrity keeps you up at night, but a simple walk around the yard usually tells the story.

What do hail hits look like on asphalt shingles?

Hail hits look like small, dark, circular spots where the shingle surface is bruised or missing its protective mineral granules. You are looking for a break in the pattern of the roof. Asphalt shingles are meant to shed water across a smooth, consistent surface. When hail strikes, it leaves a crater.

These craters expose the asphalt mat underneath. In our West Michigan climate, this is bad news. Once that mat is exposed, the sun hits it directly, and the freeze-thaw cycles we get every winter will cause that spot to crack and peel. A tiny bruise in July becomes a hole in your ceiling by February. It doesn't look like much, but it creates a path for water to get where it doesn't belong.

Do I need to worry about the siding or windows?

Check your soft metal surfaces, as they act as a map for the rest of the house. If you have aluminum siding or metal trim around your windows, look for dimples or shiny spots where the paint has been chipped away.

If the hail was heavy enough to pockmark your window screens or dent your siding, it had enough energy to damage your shingles. We see this often in neighborhoods from Grandville to Comstock Park. A storm might miss your roof but catch the north side of your house. If the siding is beat up, the roof is almost certainly following suit.

What happens if I ignore the damage?

Ignoring hail damage usually leads to water stains on your bedroom ceiling once the next big snow melt hits. Shingles are the only thing standing between your insulation and a Michigan downpour. When you lose the protective granules, you lose the weatherproofing of the shingle.

Water sits in those craters. It freezes, expands, and pushes the edges of the shingle up. You lose the seal that keeps the wind from catching the edges. It is a slow process, but it turns a minor repair into a full-scale roof replacement if you wait too long to address the initial bruising.

Frequently asked questions

Does my homeowner's insurance cover hail damage? Most standard policies include coverage for storm damage, but you should check your specific declaration page or talk to your agent. They will let you know what your deductible is and if your policy covers replacement or just repairs.

Can hail damage be repaired, or does the roof need a full replacement? It depends on the extent of the bruising and the age of your roof. If the damage is localized to one slope, a patch might work, but if the entire roof is impacted, you may need a full replacement to restore its integrity.

Is there a time limit for filing a claim after a storm? Most insurance companies have a window of time for filing claims after a weather event. Call your provider as soon as you suspect damage so you don't miss that deadline.

When to call a roofer

If you see dents in your gutters, granules in your downspouts, or anything that looks like a bruise on your shingles, give us a call at Grandville Roofing & Exteriors. We can come out, take a look, and give you an honest answer about what is actually happening on your roof. You deserve to know if your house is buttoned up tight before the next storm rolls in.