What a Hailstorm Really Does to Your Shingles, Inch by Inch
How hail affects roofing is rarely as dramatic as the storm that delivered it. A few minutes of ice can leave a roof that looks fine from the driveway but ages years faster, sheds granules into the gutters, and fails in a windstorm two summers later.
Miami Valley homeowners see hail almost every spring. This guide shows how hail affects roofing at every size, what the damage looks like inside a shingle, why the same storm hurts one roof and spares the next, and exactly what to do in the first 48 hours.
Hail Size Decoder
Size changes everything about how hail affects roofing. Pick a size from the National Weather Service’s hail size guide to see it drawn to scale on a shingle, and what it usually means for your roof.
Light and fast-melting
Pea-size hail rarely damages shingles on its own, but this is where hail affects roofing slowly: storm after storm can scrub granules loose a little at a time.
Sub-severe, still a factor
Below the official severe line, but not harmless. In IBHS testing, shingles hit by sub-severe hail and then weathered for a year became about ten times more susceptible to damage from a later severe storm.
The severe threshold
One inch is where the National Weather Service calls hail severe. Older or brittle shingles can bruise here. Check gutters, downspouts, and vents for dents.
Damage becomes common
Many engineers treat roughly an inch and a half as the size where asphalt shingle damage becomes common, especially on roofs past their midlife. At this size, hail affects roofing on most homes in the storm’s path. Get an inspection.
Bruises and fractures likely
Expect bruising, granule loss, and possible mat fractures on standard shingles. Soft metals will usually show clear dents, and hail affects roofing, gutters, and siding all at once. Schedule an inspection before filing a claim.
Class 4 test size
This matches the 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet in the UL 2218 Class 4 impact test. Standard shingles are very likely damaged; impact-resistant ones are built for this.
Beyond the test
Larger than any shingle impact test. Expect damage to the roof, siding, gutters, screens, and sometimes windows.
General guidance. Roof age, shingle type, wind, and temperature all change the outcome, so an inspection is the only real answer.
Inside the Shingle: 5 Ways Hail Does Damage
An asphalt shingle is a sandwich: granules on top, asphalt, a fiberglass mat, more asphalt, and a backing. Hail affects roofing at every layer, and the deeper the hit goes, the less likely you are to see it from the ground.
- 1Granule lossDark spots where the ceramic granules were knocked off, exposing asphalt to sunlight that ages it fast.
- 2Surface cracksFractures in the granule and asphalt surface, most often at edges that wind had already lifted.
- 3Exposed matHail breaks through the surface and leaves the fiberglass mat open to weather.
- 4Fractured matA soft, bruised spot that gives under thumb pressure. The break is inside, and the leak comes later.
- 5Loosened seal stripThe adhesive bond between courses breaks, setting the shingle up to blow off in the next windstorm.
Granule loss deserves special attention. IBHS researchers found that repeated small hail can knock off more granules in total than a single 2-inch hailstone, and that those weakened shingles became far more vulnerable to the next big storm. Read the coverage of that study.
The easiest clue is in your downspouts. Piles of granules after a storm are the clearest sign that hail affects roofing on your house, even when the shingles look fine from the yard. Snap a photo before the next rain washes them away.
Same Storm, Different Damage
Two houses on the same street can come out of a storm very differently. These four factors decide how hail affects roofing on yours.
Hail damage or wind damage?
Many Miami Valley storms bring both, which is why an inspector checks how hail affects roofing and how wind does, slope by slope.
The First 48 Hours After Hail
Hail affects roofing claims as much as roofs. What you do right after a storm shapes the inspection, the claim, and the fix. Follow this order:
- Right awayStay off the roof
Wet, bruised shingles are slick, and walking on them can add damage. Look from the ground and from windows.
- Same dayDocument everything
Note the date and time. Photograph hailstones next to a coin, plus dents in gutters, downspouts, vents, and the air conditioner fins.
- If it’s leakingLimit the water
Move belongings, catch drips, and call for a temporary tarp. Keep receipts for emergency measures.
- Within daysGet an inspection
Have a local roofer inspect and photograph the roof before you file, so the claim starts with facts.
- ThenCall your insurer
Read your policy for filing deadlines and how it settles older roofs, and be wary of crews knocking on doors the next morning.
Storm chasers follow hail across the country. Our storm-proof guide explains how to vet who’s on your roof, and our storm damage team handles inspections, documentation, and insurance coordination locally.
Fix a Few Shingles or Replace the Roof?
Individual shingles can be replaced, and if damage is limited to one slope, a partial replacement may work. The catch is latent damage: shingles around the obvious hits may be bruised in ways no one can see yet. Because hail affects roofing so unevenly, a full replacement is sometimes the better long-term value.
Two more things matter when hail affects roofing on an older home. Manufacturer warranties typically exclude hail, so insurance usually decides who pays. And if you’re replacing anyway, consider impact-resistant shingles; see our guide to GAF storm-rated shingles and the Timberline lineup. If insurance won’t cover it all, roof financing can close the gap.
Hail and Roofing Questions, Answered
How does hail affect roofing shingles?
Hail affects roofing shingles in layers. It knocks off protective granules, cracks the asphalt surface, and can fracture the fiberglass mat underneath. Some of that shows right away; much of it shows up months later as faster aging, blistering, or leaks.
What size hail damages a roof?
The National Weather Service calls hail severe at 1 inch. Many engineers see shingle damage become common around 1.5 inches, but older roofs can be hurt by less, and IBHS research shows repeated small hail weakens shingles over time.
Does my shingle warranty cover hail?
Usually not. Manufacturer warranties typically exclude hail, so hail damage is normally a homeowner’s insurance matter. Read both your warranty and your policy.
Can a few shingles be replaced after hail?
Sometimes. If damage is limited to one slope, a partial replacement may work, but bruised shingles around the obvious hits are hard to judge, and new shingles must seal properly to the old ones.
Are impact-resistant shingles worth it?
They’re tested to resist a 2-inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet without cracking. Some insurers discount premiums for them, and since hail affects roofing here nearly every spring, ask your agent before your next roof.
Storm Seasons Since 1960
Wilbur Thrush founded Thrush & Son® in 1960, and three generations later we’ve walked roofs after decades of Miami Valley hail. We know how hail affects roofing on the homes around here, and we’ll show you photos of what we find, whether or not it adds up to a claim.
Hail Last Night? Get Answers Before You File.
We’ll inspect every slope, photograph how hail affects roofing, gutters, and siding on your home, and tell you plainly whether it’s worth a claim.
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