Durham Homeowners: Check Your Roof for Hail Damage Before Leaks Start

## What Hail Actually Does to Asphalt Shingles

Most Durham homes have asphalt shingles, and hail hits them in a few predictable ways. A hailstone strikes the shingle and knocks loose the small mineral granules that protect it from sun and rain. Once those granules are gone, that spot ages much faster than the rest of the roof. A harder hit can crack the shingle or leave a soft, bruised area underneath. Metal flashing, vents, and ridge caps dent more easily than shingles, so they often show damage first. Hail size matters, but so do wind speed and roof age. Even small hail driven by strong wind can wear down an older roof, while a newer roof may survive a short storm with little harm.

## Signs You Can Spot From the Ground

Start your check from the ground, where it is safe. Stand back from the house and scan the roof with binoculars, looking at one slope at a time. Look for dark spots where granules are missing, patches that look shiny or freshly scuffed, and shingles with cracked or missing corners. Check the ridge cap along the top of the roof, since hail often strikes there first. Look at metal parts too: dented vent covers, bent flashing around the chimney, and dimpled gutters are strong clues that hail hit hard enough to damage shingles as well. Compare slopes that face different directions, because wind-driven hail usually damages one side more than the others.

## Check Your Gutters, Downspouts, and Yard

Your gutters and yard often tell the story before the roof does. After a storm, look in the gutters and at the bottom of the downspouts for a heavy layer of shingle granules that looks like coarse sand. A few granules are normal on an older roof, but a thick pile after one storm means the hail stripped a lot of protection away. Check the ground for broken shingle pieces, dented screens, damaged window trim, and pockmarks on wood siding or outdoor furniture. Dents on your car, mailbox, or air conditioning unit are also useful clues about hail size. If your neighbors have visible roof damage or are already calling roofers, your roof likely took a hit too, even if it looks fine from the street.

## Inside the House: Early Leak Clues

Hail damage does not always leak right away, so check inside the house in the days and weeks after a storm. Look in the attic during daylight and watch for small beams of light coming through the roof deck, which can point to a cracked or missing shingle. Feel the insulation and wood around vents, chimneys, and skylights for dampness, and watch for a musty smell that was not there before. On your ceilings, watch for yellow or brown stains, peeling paint, bubbling drywall, or plaster that feels soft to the touch. These signs often show up first in upstairs rooms and closets. A stain that grows after each rain, even a light one, means water is getting in somewhere.

## When to Call for a Roof Inspection

Call a roofer when you see missing granules, cracked or dented shingles, damaged flashing, granule buildup in the gutters, or any sign of water inside the house. Call too if the hail was larger than an inch, if the storm lasted a long time, or if your roof is more than fifteen years old and took a direct hit. A professional can safely walk the roof, press on bruised shingles to find soft spots, check the flashing and seals, and tell you whether you need a small repair or a larger fix. Ask for photos of what they find and a clear written quote before any work starts. Many Durham roofers offer a free estimate, so you can learn the condition of your roof and the cost of repair without committing to anything. For help after a storm, contactRoof Repair Durham NC to arrange an inspection before the next rain.