How to Tell If Your Roof Has Hail Damage

Arizona's monsoon season, which runs roughly June through September, produces some of the most intense isolated hailstorms in the Southwest. NOAA's Storm Events Database records multiple Maricopa County hail events every year, including storms with hail reaching 1.5 to 2 inches in diameter — large enough to crack concrete tile, fracture clay tile, and bruise asphalt shingles.

The challenge for homeowners is that hail damage is not always obvious. A bruised shingle looks fine from the street. A cracked tile may shed water normally for a full season before it fails. Knowing what to look for — and where to look first — helps you identify damage while it is still a roofing issue, before it becomes a water intrusion issue.

What should you check first after a hail storm?

Start from the ground and work your way up. Do not climb onto a wet or freshly impacted roof.

Check soft metals first. Soft metals are the most reliable hail indicators because they dent visibly at impact energies that also damage roofing materials. Walk around the home and inspect:

• Gutters and downspouts for rounded dents in a scattered pattern
• Aluminum fascia or trim for similar dent patterns
• Window screens for small circular punctures or distortion
• HVAC equipment covers and condenser fins for dents
• Patio furniture, covers, and metal fixtures

If you find consistent denting on multiple soft-metal surfaces, hail was present and heavy enough to warrant a roof inspection. The Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety uses soft metal denting as a primary field indicator for evaluating storm intensity during post-event inspections.

Check the ground around downspouts. Granules washed off asphalt shingles accumulate in gutters and at downspout outlets. A significant volume of granules after a storm — especially if they were not there before — indicates shingle surface loss from hail impact.

What does hail damage look like on asphalt shingles?

Hail strikes on asphalt shingles create bruises — circular or irregular impact points where the granule layer has been knocked loose, exposing the dark asphalt mat beneath. Unlike normal granule loss, which is uniform and gradual, hail bruising creates a random scatter pattern across the shingle surface.

Specific indicators: - Black circular spots scattered randomly across the shingle field, roughly corresponding to hailstone size - Soft, spongy feel at impact points when pressed (the mat has been damaged beneath the granule surface) - Exposed asphalt mat with no granule coverage at impact sites - Granule loss at the corners of individual shingles from direct impact

The NRCA notes that hail damage assessment on shingles requires physical contact to distinguish true impact bruising from blistering, manufacturing defects, or mechanical damage. A roofer must get on the roof to confirm.

What does hail damage look like on concrete or clay tile?

Tile is harder than shingles and requires larger hailstones to crack, but Arizona monsoon hail regularly reaches sizes that fracture both concrete and clay tile.

Look for: - Visible cracks radiating from a central impact point on individual tiles - Chipped edges or corners where hail struck the tile's most vulnerable areas - Spalled or pocked surface on concrete tile, where hail knocked out small chunks of the surface - Displaced or broken tiles that were cracked through and shifted under subsequent rain or wind

Clay tile is more brittle than concrete tile and tends to fracture cleanly rather than spall. A cracked clay tile often looks intact from a distance until the crack opens under thermal cycling.

Hail damage on tile is especially important to identify because the visible damage is only part of the problem. A cracked tile allows water contact with the underlayment below, and in Arizona's heat, underlayment that experiences repeated wet-dry cycling degrades significantly faster. For more on how Arizona hail events affect tile roofing specifically, see our guide to hail damage on Arizona roofs.

What does hail damage look like on metal roofing?

Metal roofing shows hail impact as dents, which vary in severity by gauge and panel type. Standing seam panels in heavier gauges can show no visible denting from small hail. Lighter-gauge exposed-fastener panels may show cosmetic denting without structural failure.

Stone-coated steel tiles can show knocked-off stone aggregate at impact points, similar to granule loss on shingles. That aggregate loss exposes the underlying coating to UV degradation.

If you have metal roofing and the soft-metal check around your home shows heavy denting, have a roofer assess the panels — particularly around seams, ridges, and any penetrations where impact stress concentrates.

What does hail damage look like on foam roofing?

Foam roofing with an intact, appropriately thick silicone or acrylic topcoat handles small hail well. Larger hailstones can dent the foam surface, and the topcoat can crack at impact points.

Indicators on foam: - Shallow circular depressions in the foam surface - Cracked or flaking topcoat at impact points - Areas where the underlying foam is visible through a damaged coating

Any point where the topcoat has cracked and foam is exposed needs recoating promptly — exposed foam degrades quickly under Arizona UV.

How do you document hail damage for an insurance claim?

Good documentation protects you from lowball settlements. After a storm, before anything is cleaned up:

1. Photograph the dented soft metals on your home — gutters, vents, AC unit
2. Photograph granule accumulation at downspout outlets
3. Take ground-level photos of any visible tile or shingle damage
4. Note the date, approximate start time, and duration of the storm
5. Pull the storm record from the National Weather Service or NOAA's Storm Events Database for your zip code and date

A licensed contractor inspection with a written report and photos is the most important piece of documentation. Verify the contractor through the Arizona Registrar of Contractors before they access your roof.

For more on how to build a documented case if the insurance adjuster undervalues the damage, see why adjusters lowball roof claims and how to push back.

Should you call a roofer or your insurance company first?

Get the roofer inspection first. A contractor who inspects before a claim is filed gives you an independent assessment of what was actually damaged. That documentation is more useful going into a claim than the insurer's first look.

Arizona DIFI advises homeowners to contact the insurer promptly after a covered event — but a brief delay to gather documentation and contractor findings is reasonable and does not typically jeopardize the claim. Do not make permanent repairs before the insurer has a chance to inspect, but emergency mitigation (tarping an opening, for example) is expected and appropriate.

For a full walkthrough of the Arizona insurance claim process after a storm, see how to file a roof insurance claim in Arizona and what Arizona homeowner insurance covers for roof damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I inspect my roof for hail damage myself? You can do a ground-level check and soft-metal inspection safely. Getting on the roof to inspect tile or shingle surfaces involves fall risk, especially on wet or steep surfaces. For anything beyond ground-level observation, hire a licensed roofing contractor.

How long after a hail storm do I have to file an insurance claim in Arizona? Arizona homeowner policies typically require notice within a reasonable time after a covered event. Most policies have a one to two year window for property damage claims, but filing promptly while storm documentation is fresh produces better outcomes. Check your policy's specific notice requirements.

Does all hail damage require full roof replacement? No. Localized tile cracking or minor shingle bruising may be repairable rather than requiring full replacement. The extent of damage, the roof's age, and the underlayment condition all factor into whether repair or replacement is appropriate.

What size hail causes roof damage in Arizona? Quarter-size hail (about 1 inch diameter) and larger typically causes damage to asphalt shingles. Larger hail (1.25 inches and above) can crack concrete or clay tile. Soft metals show denting from hail as small as 0.75 inches depending on fall velocity and wind conditions.

Does my insurance cover cosmetic hail damage to tile or metal roofing? It depends on your policy. Some Arizona homeowner policies include cosmetic damage exclusions for metal or tile roofing. Review your policy endorsements carefully — a cosmetic exclusion can significantly reduce the payout on an otherwise covered hail event. See what Arizona roof insurance covers for more detail.