How to Tell If Your Roof Has Hail Damage
Tucson monsoon storms don’t always announce how serious they were. A storm can roll through in the evening, drop hail for twenty minutes, and leave you wondering the next morning whether your roof took a hit or came through clean. The answer isn’t always obvious from the ground; and waiting to find out isn’t a strategy.
Not every hailstorm causes damage. Small hail — the kind that looks more like sleet — often bounces off without leaving a mark. Larger hail is a different story. Size, wind speed, and the age and condition of your roof all factor into how much damage actually occurs. What follows is what to look for based on your roof type, and what to do once you know.
Flat and Coated Roofs
On white elastomeric roofs, hail damage shows up in a few specific ways. The most telling sign is small circular impressions scattered across the surface; they look like faint snail-shell patterns pressed into the coating. These aren’t always visible from a distance, which is why a proper inspection requires someone actually walking the roof.
Age matters significantly here. A coating that’s three or more years old has already begun to harden and lose elasticity. When hail hits a fresh, flexible coating it may absorb the impact without cracking. When it hits an aged, brittle coating, it cracks. The older the coating, the more likely a hailstorm causes real damage rather than just cosmetic marks.
Beyond the field of the roof, check the parapet walls; specifically the area where the roof paper rolls up and terminates. This is one of the most common spots for hail to punch through. Scuppers and skylight lenses are also worth inspecting. Cracked acrylic skylights are a frequent casualty of hail events and are often overlooked until they start leaking.
Depending on severity, repairs range from patching cracked areas with polyester fabric and fresh coating to a full recoat of the entire surface. In serious cases, replacement is necessary; but get more than one opinion before going that route. Some contractors push for replacement when repair is the honest answer, especially when insurance might be involved.
Shingle Roofs
Hail damage on asphalt shingles can be subtle at first and expensive later. When hail strikes a shingle, it loosens the granules — the small, sandpaper-like particles that protect the asphalt layer beneath from UV exposure and weather. Once those granules are displaced, the underlying material degrades faster. You may not see a leak immediately, but the clock starts ticking.
Beyond granule loss, look for shingles with cracked or bruised surfaces, lifted edges, or outright tears. Wind often compounds the problem; high gusts get under shingles that hail has already loosened or lifted, and can strip them off entirely. This is especially common on older shingle roofs where the adhesive tar strip on the underside has dried out and lost its grip.
One thing worth knowing if you have three-tab shingles: that style is largely discontinued, which makes matching replacements for a partial repair nearly impossible. A full replacement may be the only practical option, and that’s a conversation worth having with your roofer and your insurance company.
What To Do After a Hailstorm
If you suspect your roof took damage, don’t wait for a leak to confirm it. By the time water is coming through your ceiling, the damage has already progressed beyond the surface.
Get a professional inspection from someone who will walk the roof and document what they find with photos; not someone who gives you a verdict from the driveway. A good contractor tells you what’s there, shows you the evidence, and gives you an honest assessment of whether you need a repair or a full replacement. If the damage is significant, your homeowner’s insurance may cover some or all of the cost; that’s worth a call to your provider.
DSR Roofing inspects tile, shingle, flat, and coated roofs throughout the Tucson area. If your roof went through a hailstorm and you’re not sure what you’re dealing with, get a quote and find out exactly where things stand before the next storm rolls in.
