The first instinct after a hailstorm is to walk outside and look up. That walk is useful — but it almost never tells you the truth. Architectural shingles are designed to absorb hail energy across the granule layer. The damage shows up as small dimples, mat fractures, and bruising — none of which are visible from a driveway angle, even with binoculars.
What you can look for, on the ground:
1. Granule loss in the gutters. Open the closest downspout strainer and look for the black sand-like particles. A storm that drops more than a teaspoon of granules in a single downspout is a storm that hit the roof harder than the homeowner usually thinks.
2. Dented gutters or downspouts. Hail hits the gutter edge first. If the aluminum is dimpled in three or more places along a single run, the impact density on the roof above is high.
3. Spatter marks on siding and HVAC fins. Hail leaves wet pock marks on the painted south-facing siding for about 12-24 hours after the storm. The pattern tells us the wind angle and roughly how much of the roof took the brunt.
4. Dings on metal roof flashings, vent caps, and chimney caps. These are unpainted galvanized or aluminum surfaces. Dents on them are unambiguous proof of impact size.
5. Shingles or shingle pieces on the ground. This one is obvious but easy to miss in tall grass. Walk the perimeter slowly. Even one full tab on the lawn is a sign of wind damage worth documenting.
If you spot two or more of these, the next step is not to climb the roof yourself — it is to call us. We inspect the roof properly, document every elevation, and tell you honestly whether there is a claim worth filing. If there is not, you keep the photographs and our notes.
