Back to BlogRandom pattern — Hail damage is scattered randomly across the roof, not in a pattern Black marks or bruises — Where the hailstone struck, the granules are displaced and the asphalt mat is exposed Soft spots — Press on the suspected damage; if the underlying mat feels soft or spongy, it's been compromised Circular or irregular shapes — Hail hits are generally round but can be irregularly shaped depending on the stone Missing granules in impact pattern — The granule loss radiates from a central point Dents — Round dents on gutters, downspouts, metal flashings, or metal roofing No rust pattern — Fresh dents won't have rust; old damage will show oxidation Dented AC units, mailboxes, or car damage — Collateral damage confirms hail hit your property Damaged window screens — Tears and dents in screens are telltale hail indicators Marks on decks and fences — Hail leaves marks on painted wood surfaces Uniform granule loss — Distributed evenly, not in random impact spots Curling — Edges turn up over time from heat cycling Cracking — Long cracks that follow the shingle's shape Algae stains — Dark streaks caused by algae growth (cosmetic, not damage) Blistering — Bubbles in the shingle surface from trapped moisture Wind damage — after a hailstorm — Insurance typically covers this under the same event Pre-existing damage — worsened by hail — The hail claim may still be valid if the storm made it worse Manufacturing defects — exposed by hail — This gets complicated and may involve both the manufacturer and insurance **Confirmed hail event** — Weather data must show hail in your area on the claimed date **Consistent damage pattern** — All roof slopes facing the storm should show damage **Collateral damage** — Matching damage on soft metals, screens, and other surfaces **Age-appropriate condition** — They'll consider the roof's age when evaluating damage You can see visible damage from the ground Neighbors are getting roof replacements from the same storm A professional roofer confirms hail damage You have damage to gutters, screens, or other surfaces Your roof has no visible damage and a professional confirms it's fine The only issue is cosmetic on an old roof You recently had the same roof inspected and it was clean
Insurance Claims
May 18, 20256 min readHail Damage vs. Normal Wear: How to Tell the Difference
Brandon Fletcher
S&B Roofing & Exteriors
Is It Hail Damage or Just an Old Roof?
After every hailstorm in DFW, homeowners wonder: "Was my roof damaged?" The answer matters because insurance covers hail damage but not normal aging. Here's how to tell the difference.
Signs of Legitimate Hail Damage
On asphalt shingles:
On metal surfaces:
On other surfaces:
Signs of Normal Wear and Tear
Aging shingles show:
The Gray Areas
Some damage is hard to categorize:
How Insurance Adjusters Assess Damage
Adjusters look for:
When to File a Claim
File a claim if:
Don't file a claim if:
Filing unnecessary claims can increase your premiums or trigger non-renewal. Get a professional opinion first.
Think your roof has hail damage? We offer free inspections with honest assessments. We'll tell you if it's hail damage, normal wear, or something else entirely.
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