What hail damage actually looks like
Real hail damage on asphalt shingles produces 'bruises' — round, dark spots roughly the size of a quarter where the impact crushed the granules into the asphalt mat below. The bruise is darker than the surrounding shingle because the asphalt is now exposed where the granules used to be. Bruises are functional damage; the shingle's UV protection is compromised at that spot, and within 1-3 years it will fail there.
Cosmetic vs. functional damage
Insurance companies distinguish between cosmetic damage (changes the look but doesn't shorten lifespan) and functional damage (will lead to failure). Real hail bruises are functional. What's NOT functional damage:
- Granule loss in random isolated patches that look 'speckled' rather than impact-shaped (this is normal wear)
- Streaking patterns where granules wash off in lines (UV/age damage, not hail)
- Cracks running with the wood grain of the shingle (manufacturing defect)
- Algae or moss spots (biological)
Where to look
Hail doesn't hit every slope equally. The slopes facing the storm get most of the impact. In Hail Alley (TX/OK/CO/KS), most damaging storms come from the southwest, so south- and west-facing slopes take the most hits. Inspect those first. Then check:
- Soft metal first — gutters, downspouts, AC condenser fins, mailbox, vent caps
- Soft metal will dent before shingles bruise — if you see dimples in the gutter, you have hail damage somewhere
- South and west-facing slopes (storm-facing in most regions)
- Open, unprotected slopes (without tree cover)
- Ridge cap shingles — often hit hardest because they're the highest point
The chalk circle method
This is what professional adjusters use. After identifying a suspected hail bruise, they'll lightly mark a chalk circle around it and count the bruises in a 10x10-foot square (called a 'test square'). The standard threshold for a claim is 8+ bruises in a 10x10 area on at least one slope. If you find that density on any slope, you have a claimable case. If you can't safely access the roof, hire a roofer to do it; many will do it free in exchange for the right to bid on the replacement.
Soft metal — your free hail detector
Soft metal items around your house are the easiest hail-damage indicator. Walk to your AC condenser unit and look at the aluminum cooling fins on the sides. Are there round dimples? Look at the gutters from underneath — dimpled? The downspouts? If soft metal items are dimpled, hail definitely impacted your roof too, even if you can't see the shingle damage from the ground.
What to do if you find damage
Here's the sequence:
- Document with photos: dated and timestamped, multiple angles, both close-up and wider context
- Pull a free RoofTap report so you have measurements ready when the adjuster shows up
- Check the NOAA Storm Events Database (or RoofTap's storm tracker) to confirm a hail event in your area within the last 12 months
- Call your insurance carrier and file a claim — be specific about the date if you know it
- Get a contractor to do a full inspection and provide a written estimate
- Be present when the adjuster arrives. Have your photos and contractor estimate ready