How to Tell if a Storm Damaged Your Roof (Without Climbing On It)

Caleb Cook
Jun 27
1 min read

After a storm, the safest way to check your roof is to never get on it. Most of the warning signs can be spotted from the ground or from inside your home. Here is how to tell whether the storm did real damage.

Check from the ground first

Walk the full perimeter of your home with a pair of binoculars. Look for missing, lifted, or creased shingles, especially on the slopes that faced the wind. Scan the gutters, downspouts, vents, and your AC unit for dents, and watch for piles of shingle granules washed out by the rain.

Look for these warning signs

Hail and wind leave clues even when the roof looks fine from the street: dented soft metal, bruised or cracked shingles, bald spots where granules are gone, bent flashing, and debris or shingle pieces in the yard. For a closer look at hail specifically, read what hail damage actually looks like.

Check inside your home

Step inside and look at your ceilings and walls for fresh water stains, then check the attic for damp insulation, dark streaks, or daylight. A new leak after a storm is a clear sign the roof was compromised.

Why a professional inspection finds what you cannot

Most storm damage is simply not visible from the ground. We climb the roof, mark every impact with chalk, photograph it, and give you a written report you can use for an insurance claim. See our storm damage process.