Hail Damage Roof Inspection in Houston
Hail damage is felt as much as seen. We mark test squares, count impacts per slope, and produce the measured documentation an adjuster needs. Free, and honest about what we find.
Why Hail Damage Gets Missed
Hail does not usually punch holes in a roof. It bruises it. The impact fractures the fiberglass mat under the granule surface and knocks granules loose, leaving a soft circular spot that a trained hand can feel and an untrained eye walks straight past.
That bruise will not leak this year. It will accelerate granule loss, expose the mat to UV, and take five or ten years off the roof. By the time it becomes a leak, the storm is long outside any claim window and you are paying for the replacement yourself.
A proper hail inspection is therefore a measuring exercise rather than a look around. We chalk test squares on each slope, count and record the impacts inside them, and check the soft metals around the property to confirm the storm was severe enough to do what we are documenting.
How we document hail
- Test squares chalked on each roof slope
- Impact counts recorded per square and per slope
- Bruising confirmed by hand, not by sight alone
- Granule displacement and mat exposure photographed
- Directional pattern checked against storm track
- Gutters, downspouts and drip edge examined for dents
- Vents, flashing and AC condenser fins checked
- Window screens and soft trim assessed
- Pre-existing granule loss separated from impact damage
- Measured evidence package for submission
What Hail Size Actually Does to a Roof
Size alone does not decide it. Wind speed, impact angle, roof age and material all change the outcome, which is why measurement beats assumption.
| Hail size | Typical effect on asphalt shingle | Claim relevance |
|---|---|---|
| Pea (0.25 in) | Rarely damages sound shingle on its own | Usually not claimable without high wind behind it |
| Marble (0.5 in) | Can mark aged or brittle shingle | Sometimes claimable on older roofs, needs measurement |
| Penny to nickel (0.75 to 0.88 in) | Granule loss and light bruising on most asphalt | Commonly claimable, and commonly missed from the ground |
| Quarter (1 in) | Clear bruising, soft spots, mat fracture | Widely accepted threshold for functional damage |
| Golf ball (1.75 in) | Deep bruising, punctures on aged roofs, dented metals | Almost always claimable with obvious collateral damage |
| Tennis ball and above | Punctures, split shingles, structural damage possible | Severe, usually visible without a ladder |
Signs Your Roof Took Hail
Dented gutters or downspouts
Soft aluminum dents before shingle bruises. Dented gutters are a strong indicator of roof impacts.
Granules at the downspout outlet
A pile of granules at the base after a storm means the shingle surface was knocked loose.
Dented AC condenser fins
The fins on your outdoor unit are the most sensitive hail gauge on your property.
Split or torn window screens
Screens tear at the same impact energy that bruises shingle, and they are visible at eye level.
Dark spots on the roof
Where granules were knocked away, the exposed mat reads darker than the surrounding surface.
Neighbors getting new roofs
Hail falls in swaths. If your street was in it, your roof was in it too.
The Hail Inspection Process
Confirm the event
We check the storm date and hail reports for your address so the documentation ties to a specific event.
On the callMark test squares
A chalked square on each slope, with impacts inside it counted and photographed for density.
60 to 90 minutesCheck collateral
Gutters, vents, screens and AC fins are examined to corroborate severity independently of the roof.
IncludedDeliver the evidence
A measured, date stamped package you can submit, plus a straight answer on whether it is worth filing.
Same dayThink your roof took hail?
Call and tell us the storm date. We will confirm whether hail was reported at your address and book a measured inspection.
(713) 489-8064Hail Damage Roof Inspection Questions
You mostly cannot, and going up there yourself is not advisable. Check the things at ground level instead: dented gutters, dented AC condenser fins, torn window screens, and granules collecting at downspout outlets. Any of those justify a free inspection.
Policies vary, and many require prompt reporting rather than setting a fixed number of days. Some carriers apply a one or two year contractual limit from the date of loss. Because the deadline runs from the storm date rather than the date you noticed, waiting is what usually causes the problem.
Weather related claims are generally treated differently from at-fault claims, but rate impacts vary by carrier and by your claims history. This is exactly why we tell you honestly when damage is not claimable, so you do not file for nothing.
It is a marked area, usually ten feet by ten feet, in which we count hail impacts. It converts a subjective impression into a density figure per slope. Adjusters work from measured impact counts, so documentation without them carries much less weight.
Yes, differently. Metal dents and can have its finish fractured, which leads to corrosion later. Tile cracks, sometimes hairline cracks that only show under close inspection. Both are assessable and both are frequently missed.
Free Across Houston and Greater Houston
Harris County plus Fort Bend, Montgomery, Brazoria, Galveston, Waller, Liberty and Chambers. If you are unsure whether your address qualifies, call and we will confirm in under a minute.
Other Inspections We Provide
Book Your Free Hail Damage Roof Inspection
One phone call, one certified inspector, one written photo report, and no cost to you. Anywhere in the Greater Houston area.