How big does hail need to be to damage a roof?

Generally 1 inch+ is the threshold for asphalt shingle damage on most roofs. Larger hail (2+ inches) almost always damages roofs in the impact zone. Smaller hail (under 1") rarely causes shingle damage but can still dent soft metals.

If I don't see any signs from the ground, is my roof definitely fine?

Probably, but not certain. About 30% of hail-damaged roofs have no ground-level signs — the damage is concentrated mid-slope or under conditions that hide it from the perimeter view. If you know a significant hail event hit your area and you have any concern, schedule a free inspection.

Can hail damage cause leaks immediately?

Sometimes, if the impact cracks a flashing or punctures a shingle through the underlayment. More often, hail damage doesn't leak immediately — but the compromised shingle layer fails earlier than the manufacturer's warranty (10-15 years instead of 25-30). So even a 'no leak yet' damaged roof is on borrowed time.

How long do I have to file a claim after finding damage?

Most Missouri policies require filing within 12 months of the damage date. The clock starts at the date of the storm, not the date you discover the damage. The longer you wait, the harder it is to convince an adjuster the damage is from that specific event.

What does a free inspection from Surgepoint look like?

We match you with a vetted Missouri-licensed roofer in your ZIP. Their name, license number, and BBB rating land in your inbox before they arrive. They inspect for 45-90 minutes, photograph everything, and give you a written report. Free. No commitment to hire. No AOB. We never touch your insurance claim.

Hail damage · Self-check

How to tell if your roof has hail damage (without climbing on it)

Most hail damage doesn't show from the ground — but you can usually find enough ground-level signs to know whether to schedule a professional inspection. Here are the 5 checks any homeowner can do safely from the driveway, the gutter test that beats them all, and what only a real inspection will catch.

The short answer

Don't climb on your roof to check for hail damage. The ground-level signs are usually enough to know whether to schedule an inspection.
Check soft metals first: mailbox, A/C condenser fins, gutters, downspouts, vent caps. Dents on these mean the storm produced ground-level impact.
The gutter test: granules in the gutters and downspouts are the clearest sign of shingle granule loss above.
If you find 2+ signs from the list below, schedule a free inspection from a Missouri-licensed roofer. Don't climb the roof yourself.

5 ground-level signs of hail damage

**1. Dented soft metals.** The simplest evidence. Walk around your house and look at: A/C condenser fins (the metal grille on the outside unit), mailbox, downspout outlets, screen door panels, vinyl siding, parked-car hoods. If you can see hail dents on any of these, the storm was hard enough to dent your roof's exposed metals (vents, ridge caps, flashings) too.

**2. Granules in the gutters and downspouts.** Look for piles of small black/grey granules at the bottom of downspouts or in gutter sections. Asphalt shingles shed granules during normal weathering, but a sudden dump after a storm — far more than you'd see normally — indicates significant impact damage above. The amount matters: a few granules is normal; a half-cup at one downspout is significant.

**3. Visible bruises on shingle edges.** Use binoculars from the ground. Walk around the perimeter of the house and look at the shingle edges (especially on lower slopes). Hail bruises on shingles look like small dark circles where the granules have been knocked off. Visible from the ground if the damage is severe.

**4. Damaged vent caps and ridge caps.** Plumbing vent caps, attic vent caps, and ridge caps protrude from the roof and take direct hits. If you can see one or more vents that look bent, dented, or askew compared to how they used to look — that's confirmed hail impact.

**5. Window screens and skylights.** Damaged window screens (small punctures or bent frames) or cracked skylights confirm the hail size was significant. Both are easier to see from the ground than the roof itself.

Why you shouldn't climb on the roof yourself

Roof falls are the second-leading cause of homeowner injury after ladder falls. Wet shingles after a storm, granule loss making shingles slipperier than usual, and the unfamiliar terrain of a steep slope all multiply the risk.

Even if you do safely get on the roof, you probably won't be able to identify hail damage with the level of detail an insurance adjuster will require. The bruises are subtle — circular patterns of granule loss with the shingle mat exposed underneath. Without training, you'll either miss damage that's there or 'find' damage that isn't.

Free professional inspections are widely available (legitimate Missouri-licensed roofers offer them as a customer-acquisition tool). Use them. Don't risk a fall to save a phone call.

What only a professional inspection will catch

**Mid-slope bruising.** The middle of the roof is hardest to see from the ground but often gets the heaviest damage. A professional walks the slopes systematically and chalks every bruise.

**Bruise density patterns.** 5 bruises per 100 sq ft vs 25 per 100 sq ft is the difference between repair and replacement. Only on-roof inspection produces accurate density counts.

**Compromised flashings and underlayment.** Hail can crack the sealants around chimneys, skylights, and wall flashings. These cause leaks but aren't visible until the next heavy rain.

**Pre-existing conditions vs new damage.** Adjusters often try to attribute storm damage to pre-existing wear. A professional inspector documents the pattern and timing in a way that holds up against carrier pushback.

What to do if you find evidence

**Document what you found.** Photos and date-stamped notes of every ground-level sign. The day of the storm if known (NOAA archives the data). Your homeowner's insurance policy declaration page.

**Schedule a free professional inspection.** A Missouri-licensed roofer can assess properly in 60–90 minutes and give you a written report. Surgepoint matches you with one — name, license number, and BBB rating sent before they arrive.

**Don't sign anything from a door-knocker.** If a roofer shows up uninvited offering a 'free inspection,' they're a storm chaser until proven otherwise. Get the inspection from someone you found, not someone who found you.

**File the insurance claim within 12 months.** Most Missouri policies require claims within a year of the damage date. The longer you wait, the more skeptical adjusters get.

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Frequently asked

How big does hail need to be to damage a roof?: Generally 1 inch+ is the threshold for asphalt shingle damage on most roofs. Larger hail (2+ inches) almost always damages roofs in the impact zone. Smaller hail (under 1") rarely causes shingle damage but can still dent soft metals.
If I don't see any signs from the ground, is my roof definitely fine?: Probably, but not certain. About 30% of hail-damaged roofs have no ground-level signs — the damage is concentrated mid-slope or under conditions that hide it from the perimeter view. If you know a significant hail event hit your area and you have any concern, schedule a free inspection.
Can hail damage cause leaks immediately?: Sometimes, if the impact cracks a flashing or punctures a shingle through the underlayment. More often, hail damage doesn't leak immediately — but the compromised shingle layer fails earlier than the manufacturer's warranty (10-15 years instead of 25-30). So even a 'no leak yet' damaged roof is on borrowed time.
How long do I have to file a claim after finding damage?: Most Missouri policies require filing within 12 months of the damage date. The clock starts at the date of the storm, not the date you discover the damage. The longer you wait, the harder it is to convince an adjuster the damage is from that specific event.
What does a free inspection from Surgepoint look like?: We match you with a vetted Missouri-licensed roofer in your ZIP. Their name, license number, and BBB rating land in your inbox before they arrive. They inspect for 45-90 minutes, photograph everything, and give you a written report. Free. No commitment to hire. No AOB. We never touch your insurance claim.

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