Could the roof be damaged from hail storm?

Lynn C.
by Lynn C.
My area had a hail storm with hail about the size of nickels (going by local weather caster). I wasn't home and this is what my neighbor related to me. My question is I have a 30 year asphalt shingle roof that was put on in 2002. Could my roof be damaged from the hail, and should I contact my insurance company to inspect? Thanks
  11 answers
  • Yes, even a new roof can get hail damage. If it is damaged, you will see a lot of little holes that look like the roofing nails have pushed up into the shingles. We had a claim and then our insurance company dropped us. Also, be careful of travelling roofers that chase storms- they will offer to handle all the insurance paperwork, but will be in another city or state if you have any issues with their work
  • Delores Snellen Delores Snellen on Jun 02, 2016
    contact your insurance they will have someone check it out
  • Johnchip Johnchip on Jun 02, 2016
    You do not say if you looked at your roof or found water damage inside. Did any neighbor report damage? Chances are you have no damage other than15 years of 'wear and tear'. I agree with Craig, be careful of looking for insurance claiming, as they will drop you. But to have them inspect is not a problem. Just don't file. Look more towards the warranty you have on the product if there needs to be work done. Then for sure deal only with a business who is invested in your local community. But, 15 years of a 30 year roof it's half done, and in fat few things live out the full 'expected' time frame. Chances are any damage you may have for recent hail would be compounded by previous years of regular wear on the roof anyway. You can't always look to others to pay for your own actual problems, especially in home maintenance.
  • William William on Jun 02, 2016
    Before calling you insurance company. If the roof was installed in 2002 and its a 30 year roof and you feel there is some damage, call the company that installed it to assess the roof. They will be able to tell you if there is any damage, if your warranty covers any damage, or whether you should call your insurance company. Get everything in writing from them to present to the insurance adjuster if they advise you to get in touch with you insurer.
  • Pat Holden Pat Holden on Jun 02, 2016
    Yes, absolutely. We had a hail storm here in Virginia. Our new roof was inspected by a local roofer and we got an entirely new roof. He had to reroof all most every house in my sub division. Call your insurance company for sure. Get it inspected. Check with your neighbors to see who inspected and replaced their roof due to the storm. Things will move along faster.
  • Edie Goodspeed Edie Goodspeed on Jun 02, 2016
    We had our roof replaced because of storm damage. Just had to pay our deductible. Some insurance company pro rate because of age, but it's worth the call to find out.
  • Nancy Michaels Buchan Nancy Michaels Buchan on Jun 02, 2016
    YES! We had damage we didn't even know about. A company came around the neighborhood, and I thought it was a scam, but figured, "what the heck!" They went on the roof, took pictures, contacted our insurance and we got a whole new roof.
  • Charles Prock Charles Prock on Jun 02, 2016
    Nickle sized hail probably didn't do that much damage to your roof....When having your roof inspected there are 2 ways of looking at it...if you have a subcontractor look at it, he has a vested interest in recommending that you need a new roof...if the insurance company inspects it, they have a vested interest in recommending that you don't need a new roof....Look at the overhang of the roof where it extends past the facia...if the edges are broken in several places I would go ahead and have someone recommend a roofer that has done work in your subdivision and then have that person look at it.
  • Marilyn Zaruba Marilyn Zaruba on Jun 03, 2016
    We had hail come through the size of golf balls and had a roofing contractor out and he said it had another ten years use in the roof. We have since had several more hailstorms in the past year so I need to get the roofer out again. My husband, a retired general contractor, checked our roof out with binoculars and said the vent stacks weren't showing any dings so he doesn't think there is a problem. Thing is EVERY house around us except one has had a new roof in the past two years. Be very careful of roaming contractors who follow the storms. Make sure whoever you get has great ratings with the BBB and that they have been in business for a while. Get references and go look at some of their work. I once looked at a roof that the homeowner was so proud of and it looked very cheap to me. My next door neighbors just got a new roof with the upgraded 4 tab shadowed shingles, ridge vents, new gutters and new stain on their big fence for exactly what the insurance company gave them. They didn't even have to pay the deductible.
  • Sue Kiene Sue Kiene on Jun 03, 2016
    Yes you need to call your insurance company and have your roof inspected by a reputable roofer.
  • Lynn C. Lynn C. on Jun 05, 2016
    Thanks so much for taking the time to answer me. I had the company that originally put on the roof do an inspection. Besides the wear from being 15 years old, no damage was seen. Now we have a tropical storm coming through in next couple of days! Hopefully there's no hail associated with it. :)