Roof missing or damaged shingles hail damage — hail damage

Use only checks that match the exact appliance or system and its official guide.

1. Check 1

   Stay indoors until hail, lightning, and damaging wind have passed; then move contents away from a drip and note whether water reaches a light, outlet, wiring, or a ceiling that is sagging or swelling.

   Expected result: There is no active water, there is a small drip or stain, water is near electrical equipment, or the ceiling is sagging, bulging, or shedding material.

   Next step: Keep clear of electrical and unstable areas and contact appropriate emergency, electrical, structural, or roofing help from a safe location. For a safe small drip, contain it only where stable and continue with non-contact observations.

   Stop if: Do not stand beneath a bulging ceiling, touch wet electrical equipment, or go outside during a storm to protect or inspect the roof.

   Why this matters

   Why: A dry interior allows documentation, while an active leak needs prompt weather protection. Water near electricity or an unstable ceiling is an immediate safety and property concern, not a shingle-identification exercise.

2. Check 2

   From a safe attic access opening, use a flashlight to look without stepping onto insulation or unstable framing for daylight, wet insulation, dark water tracks, stained decking, mold, or structural movement; do not remove insulation or approach a damaged area.

   Expected result: Daylight or fresh water tracks appear, insulation or decking is wet, the attic is dry with only an old stain, or the access and framing are unsafe.

   Next step: Photograph evidence from the access point and arrange a qualified roofing inspection. Request prompt temporary protection if water is entering; do not seal, patch, or walk the roof from above.

   Stop if: Stop for unstable framing, a sagging ceiling, exposed wiring, excessive heat, mold, rot, or insulation that hides safe footing.

   Why this matters

   Why: Daylight and fresh wet evidence support an opening or weathering failure, but the attic view cannot identify whether hail, wind, flashing, or another roof detail caused it. A dry view does not rule out an intermittent leak or water that traveled. Unsafe access ends the inspection.

3. Check 3

   From the ground or another secure non-roof position, photograph the roofline and nearby surfaces for missing, cracked, curled, or displaced shingles, bent or detached flashing, granule piles, dents in gutters or vents, stripped vegetation, and fallen branches; do not use a ladder for a closer view.

   Expected result: A shingle or flashing is visibly missing or displaced, random dents or granule deposits appear after hail, branches or debris struck the roof, or no visible damage is present.

   Next step: Save dated photos and provide the pattern to a qualified roofer. Keep off the roof and do not sweep, pry, nail, or caulk the visible area; have a professional remove heavy debris and assess the covering.

   Stop if: Do not approach fallen power lines, climb over debris, touch loose roof materials, or inspect from a wet, icy, steep, or visibly unstable surface.

   Why this matters

   Why: A missing or displaced shingle is an exposed weathering defect that needs prompt professional attention. Dents and granule deposits support hail exposure but cannot establish the full extent of hidden damage. No ground-level defect does not clear the roof because impact and flashing damage can be subtle.

4. Check 4

   Using only safe photos and views, classify the reported defect as a missing shingle, a cracked or fractured surface, a depression with granule loss, a lifted edge or seal, or damage limited to flashing and accessories; do not diagnose the roof by comparing one shingle to a sample from another area.

   Expected result: The covering has a clear opening, random impact marks, a lifted edge, widespread granule loss, or damage only on metal accessories while shingles look unchanged.

   Next step: Tell the roofer exactly what is visible and ask for an assessment of nearby courses, flashing, underlayment, and deck. Do not order replacement shingles or assume a whole-roof replacement from a single mark.

   Stop if: Do not pull off intact shingles, scrape granules, lift sealed edges, or use a tool to test whether a shingle is loose.

   Why this matters

   Why: A clear opening or lifted edge raises the risk of water entry. Random impact marks and granule loss make hail damage plausible, but widespread wear, manufacturing age, wind, and foot traffic can look different and require professional discrimination. Accessory dents confirm exposure, not the repair scope.

5. Check 5

   If a roof opening, active leak, or widespread storm damage is documented, contact a qualified roofer for temporary weather protection and a repair assessment; do not place or fasten a tarp, patch, or sealant yourself.

   Expected result: Water is entering, the opening is exposed but dry, only cosmetic-looking marks are visible, or the roof cannot be safely reached by a professional without additional site safety work.

   Next step: Provide photos, the storm timing, interior observations, and access limitations to the roofer. Keep the area protected from falling material and do not use an improvised roof covering as a permanent repair.

   Stop if: Do not climb, nail, staple, tape, or weigh down a cover on the roof, and do not work during wind, lightning, rain, or unstable conditions.

   Why this matters

   Why: An active opening has a time-sensitive water risk even when the interior is currently dry. A dry but exposed defect should be assessed before another storm. Cosmetic-looking impact can conceal loss of weathering, while access constraints change the safe work plan.

6. Check 6

   Keep dated photos of roof, gutter, siding, attic, and interior evidence and record the storm date, hail or wind observations, leak timing, prior roof repairs, and any professional findings; do not disturb the damage before documentation unless a safety emergency requires it.

   Expected result: Damage is confirmed in one area, damage is widespread, no leak is found but hail marks are present, or the inspection is inconclusive because the roof was inaccessible.

   Next step: Ask the roofer for the observed damage, recommended repair scope, and any need for reinspection after the next rain. Keep records with the roof documents and contact the insurer only according to the policy and local process if a claim is relevant.

   Stop if: Do not delay urgent water, structural, electrical, or falling-object protection while gathering documentation.

   Why this matters

   Why: A localized defect may need a targeted repair, while widespread or inaccessible damage requires a system-level assessment. Hail marks without a leak can still warrant timely follow-up because some impact damage is latent; an inconclusive inspection is not proof that the roof is sound.