When a storm blows through Indianapolis and you hear that unmistakable drum of hail on your roof, your stomach drops. You’re thinking: “Is my roof ruined?” The truth is sometimes it’s hail, sometimes it’s just regular wear and tear from years of sun, wind and winter. Knowing the difference matters because it affects safety, whether insurance may cover repairs, and how quickly you should act. Below we walk you through straightforward, practical steps to tell hail damage apart from normal aging, with tips you can use right away.
Why this matters
Hail can create sudden, localized damage that shortens the life of shingles or punches holes in metal flashings and that kind of damage may be covered by insurance. Normal wear is gradual and expected; it still needs repairs eventually, but it’s not an event claim. Accurate identification helps you avoid paying for a replacement you don’t need or, worse, letting real storm damage go unrepaired.
The quick cheat-sheet: hail vs. wear
- Hail damage usually looks like random impact marks, bruises, or dents that appeared suddenly after a storm. You might see small, round bruises on asphalt shingles or dents in metal vents and gutters.
- Normal wear is gradual, even across large areas. Think cracked or curled shingles, uniform granule loss, fading from UV exposure things that develop over seasons, not hours.
Use this cheat-sheet while you read the rest of the guide we’ll expand how to check, what to document, and when to call us.
What hail damage usually looks like
Hail doesn’t “age” a roof it hits one time and leaves impact evidence. On asphalt shingles that evidence often shows as:
- Bruises depressed or darkened spots where the hail dislodged granules and crushed the fiberglass mat beneath.
- Missing granules in circular spots, sometimes with a small fracture at the impact point.
- Sharp splits or jagged breaks in a shingle that weren’t there before the storm.
- Dents in metal components (vents, flashing, gutters) those harder metals commonly show dents even before shingles break
If you’re seeing a pattern of randomly scattered dents and pock-marks rather than a smooth, even thinning of the shingle surface, that’s a red flag for hail.
What normal wear and tear looks like
Normal wear comes from sun, temperature swings, rain and time. You’ll see signs like:
- Curling or cupping shingles along their edges.
- Widespread granule loss (your gutters filling with brownish grit after heavy rains).
- Fading or chalky appearance from UV exposure.
- Cracked, brittle shingles that crumble at the edges because the asphalt has dried out.
These signs tend to be uniform, they follow the whole roof’s age, not random isolated spots. If the roof is 15–20 years old and showing these symptoms across many shingles, it’s likely normal aging.
Ground-level checks anyone can do
Before you think about ladders, do these safe checks from the yard:
- Look at your car and gutters. Dents in your vehicle, dents in gutters or downspouts, or dings on metal light fixtures are a good sign hail was big enough to damage the roof too. If everything around the house has dents, the roof likely took hits.
- Check for granule buildup in gutters. A heavy, sudden presence of granular sand-like grit after a storm often means shingles were struck hard enough to shed granules. That can be hail-related or advanced age combine this with other clues to decide.
- Scan metal flashings, vents and AC units. Hail leaves dents on metal long before it shatters shingles. Spotting dented flashing or vent caps is a strong signal of hail impact.
If you see nothing from ground level but still suspect problems (especially if water stains appear inside), call a professional many internal leaks start after seemingly “minor” damage.
A safer, smarter inspection. What our techs look for
We don’t recommend homeowners climb on the roof after a storm. Instead, we do what we call a two-part inspection:
- Exterior, ground-level and ladder-assisted check (safe, methodical): We scan the roof surface, metal components, gutters, siding and vehicles for collateral damage patterns that indicate hail.
- Interior/attic check: We look for water stains, damp insulation, or daylight showing through from the roof deck signs that damage has compromised the roof’s weather barrier. Some hail damage won’t leak immediately but weakens shingles and underlayment, so we always inspect the attic.
Our trained crews count and document hail impacts in test areas (this is standard when insurance inspections occur) and photograph everything it’s the most reliable way to tell hail from age.
Hail vs. manufacturing defects vs. age
Not all roof problems are hail or age. Sometimes a bad run of shingles or poor installation is the cause. Hail tends to make random, circular impact marks. Manufacturing defects or installation issues often follow lines, seams, or repeating patterns across the roof. When we inspect, we look for pattern consistency to separate these possibilities.
What to document right after a suspected hailstorm
If a storm just passed, do this in order documentation makes or breaks insurance claims and speeds repairs:
- Take photos and video from the ground showing your roof, gutters, siding, cars and yard. Capture the whole home and close-ups of dents or bruises.
- Collect evidence of the storm meteorologist reports, local NOAA or news posts that confirm hail occurred near your address (we can help with storm mapping).
- Don’t clear debris (unless it’s a safety hazard). Leave hail stones, broken shingles, and granules for the inspector to see.
- Call us we’ll come out, document, and provide a professional inspection report you can share with your insurance company.
Insurance claims: practical tips that actually help
Insurance adjusters look for verification. Showing collateral damage (dented gutters, car dents, broken screens) plus a professional roof inspection report makes your claim stronger. Be honest and organized: provide dates, photos and our inspection report. If the roof is very old, insurers sometimes reduce payouts for depreciation but if hail created new, localized damage, you should still be protected. We’ll walk with you through the claim steps so nothing important gets missed.
When to repair vs. replace
- Repair: If damage is isolated to a few shingles, flashings, or vents and underlayment is intact, a focused repair often makes sense.
- Replace: If hail damage is widespread across multiple roof planes, or the underlying deck/underlayment is compromised, replacement is usually the safer long-term option. Roof age, warranty status, and extent of damage all influence this decision we’ll give our honest, local advice based on inspection findings.
Why professional documentation matters
Homeowners often miss subtle signs. A pro inspection gives you:
- A written report with photos.
- A count of hits in standard test areas (what adjusters expect).
- Advice on immediate fixes to prevent leaks.
- Guidance through insurance processes.
We at Stay Dry Roofing use storm-mapping tech and seasoned inspectors to quickly separate true storm damage from normal aging saving you money and stress.
Easy preventative care to extend your roof’s life
Whether your roof shows hail damage or normal wear, routine care slows aging and reduces future problems:
- Keep gutters clean so water drains away.
- Trim overhanging branches to avoid physical damage and moss growth.
- Schedule a professional inspection every 1–2 years, and after any major storm.
- Fix small leaks fast a small leak today is a big drywall and insulation headache tomorrow.
These simple steps aren’t glamorous, but they work.
Final checklist. What you should do now
- If a storm just hit, take ground photos and call us before you touch anything.
- If you see dents in gutters or on cars: get a professional roof inspection often those dents predict roof damage.
- If you’re seeing uniform granular loss and your roof is old: schedule maintenance or a full evaluation for replacement.
- Don’t trust door-to-door “too good to be true” storm chasers. Call a local, licensed company with documentation and references. We’ll provide a clear report and walk you through next steps.
We’re here for Indianapolis
We know Indiana weather hail, heavy rains, and sudden temperature swings are part of living here. If you’re in Indianapolis or the surrounding communities and you suspect storm damage, call Stay Dry Roofing. We provide safe, documented inspections, fair recommendations, and help with insurance when needed. We’ll always tell you whether a repair, patch, or replacement best protects your home and your wallet.
Need help now? Call Stay Dry Roofing for a professional roof inspection and documented report. We’ll help you sort hail from age and get you back under a roof that’s doing its job: keeping your family dry.