Hail is the single most common cause of roof insurance claims in Greater Houston — and the most commonly missed. The damage rarely looks like a hole. It looks like nothing at all from the ground, which is exactly why so many homeowners find out too late, when a stain shows up on the ceiling months after the storm.
Here’s how to tell whether the last storm left your roof with damage worth filing on.
What hail actually does to a roof
Hail hits an asphalt shingle two ways. It knocks the protective granules off the surface, exposing the asphalt underneath to the sun — which ages the shingle years in a single storm. And it bruises the mat beneath the shingle, a soft spot you often can’t see but can feel, which cracks and leaks over time.
That’s why a hail-damaged roof can look fine and still have a valid claim. The damage is in the granules and the bruising, not in obvious holes.
Signs of hail damage you can check yourself
You don’t need to get on the roof — most of these are visible from the ground or around the house:
- Granules in the gutters and downspouts. After a hailstorm, black or gray grit collecting at the bottom of downspouts is granule loss — a direct sign the shingle surface took hits.
- Dented gutters, downspouts, and flashing. Metal shows hail clearly. If your gutters and vents are dented, your shingles almost certainly took the same hits.
- Dinged AC unit, fence, or mailbox. Soft metal fins on the outdoor AC condenser dent easily. If they’re dimpled, the roof got the same hail.
- Bruised or cracked shingles. From an upstairs window or a ladder, look for dark spots where granules are gone, or cracks radiating out from an impact point.
- A damaged window screen or garage door. Collateral damage on the house is a strong hint the roof was hit too.
What NOT to do
Don’t climb on your roof after a storm — it’s dangerous, and walking on hail-struck shingles can cause more damage. Don’t wait “to see if it leaks,” either. By the time it leaks, water has already been in your decking and insulation. And don’t sign with the first door-knocker who shows up after a storm promising a free roof.
When to get a free inspection
If you’ve seen any of the signs above — or there was significant hail in your area — get a free inspection while the evidence is fresh. A free drone inspection documents every hit with photos, and if the damage is storm-related, you get the report to file and we meet your adjuster on the roof so nothing gets missed.
Most Texas policies give you a window to file after the date of loss, but sooner is always better. The clearest evidence is right after the storm.
The bottom line
Hail damage is quiet, and quiet damage costs homeowners the most — because it’s the damage that turns into a leak, a denied late claim, or a roof replaced out of pocket that insurance would have covered. A free inspection tells you exactly where you stand.
Think your roof took hail? Book a free inspection or call (832) 451-3210. We serve Katy and all of Greater Houston, and the report is yours to keep.