Hail rarely leaves a hole. What it leaves is bruising: soft spots in the shingle mat where the granules have been knocked loose. Over the next few years those spots bake in the sun and start to crack. By the time the leak shows up, the claim window has often closed.
1. Dents on the soft metals
Look at your gutters, downspouts, window wraps and the metal vents on the roof. If they are dented, the shingles took the same hits.
2. Granules at the downspouts
A little grit is normal on a new roof. A pile of it at the bottom of every downspout after a storm is not.
3. Spatter on the siding and deck
Hail knocks the oxidation off painted surfaces and leaves bright spatter marks. Check the side of the house the storm came from.
4. Damaged screens and cars
If window screens are torn or your neighbor's car is dented, get the roof looked at. It sits higher and takes more.
5. The neighbors are getting new roofs
Storms do not pick one house. If three roofs on your street are being replaced, yours was almost certainly hit.
If any of these apply, call for a free inspection before you call your insurer. A documented report makes the claim far easier, and if there is no real damage we will tell you so.
