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Roofing · Hail damage you can’t see

Bruising you can feel but barely see

Hail damage on architectural shingle often reads as a soft spot rather than a hole. That’s why owners look at a hail-damaged roof and see nothing wrong.

Quick answerHail damage on architectural shingle often reads as a soft spot rather than a hole. The mat is fractured under the granules, so the surface looks almost normal. That is why homeowners look at a hail-damaged roof and see nothing wrong. An adjuster will chalk a test square on each slope and count the strikes inside it.

A bruise doesn’t leak on day one. It sheds granules, the asphalt underneath weathers, and the shingle cracks later. By the time water gets in, the storm may be a distant memory.

Close-up of hailstones
Hailstones. The damage they leave on architectural shingle is often easier to feel than to see. Photo by Andres Siimon on Unsplash.

This is most common in homes built roughly 1980 to 2000. The polybutylene and aluminum-wiring window, 150 amp panels, R-22 systems and first-cycle architectural shingle.

1What a bruise is

  • A fractured mat. The impact cracks the reinforcing mat inside the shingle while the surface stays mostly intact.
  • Loose granules. Granules around the strike are crushed or knocked loose, exposing asphalt to sun.
  • A soft feel. Pressed with a thumb, a bruise can feel spongy compared to the shingle around it.
  • Delayed failure. The damaged spot ages faster and cracks over the following seasons.

2How it gets checked

  1. Look at softer metals firstFrom the ground, check gutters, downspouts, vents and AC fins for dents. They show hail size and direction.
  2. Check the guttersA surge of granules right after a storm points to fresh impact.
  3. Get a roof inspectionAn inspector marks and counts strikes in a test square on each slope, then photographs them.
  4. Keep the storm dateNote the date and keep photos. Your policy’s filing window runs from the date of loss.
Don’t press-test it yourself

Feeling for bruises means walking the roof. Leave it to someone with fall protection, and don’t let anyone damage shingles to “show” you hail.

3What happens next

Do it yourself

  • Photograph dented metals and gutters with dates
  • Save a sample of granules from the downspout
  • Read your policy’s deductible and filing deadline

Hire a pro

  • A slope-by-slope inspection with photos and strike counts
  • A written estimate to compare against your deductible
  • Being present when the adjuster inspects

Bruised shingles can’t be repaired. They are replaced, and if enough of a slope is damaged, the slope or roof is replaced. Whether that is paid by insurance depends on your policy and the inspection.

4What drives the cost

The cost depends on how many slopes meet the damage threshold, roof size and pitch, whether matching shingle is available, and decking condition. Compare the estimate to your deductible before filing.

Roofing cost

Hail came through and the roof looks fine?

Talk to a roofer who will document strikes slope by slope before you decide on a claim.

877-360-4657

5Questions

If I can’t see damage, is there any?

There may be. Bruising is easy to miss from the ground. Dented gutters and vents are a good clue that the roof was hit too.

What is a test square?

A marked area on each slope where the adjuster counts strikes. The count helps decide whether the slope is replaced.

Someone knocked offering a free inspection. Should I agree?

Be careful. See storm chaser knocking after a hail event before you sign anything.

Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.

877-360-4657