The 5-Minute Ground Check (Before You Call Anyone)
Walk the perimeter of your house after any storm with hail 3/4" or larger. Look at these five things — if any of them show damage, your roof needs a professional inspection.
- Gutters and downspouts — dents, dings, or bent seams from direct hail impact.
- AC condenser fins — bent aluminum fins are a near-perfect proxy for roof hits.
- Painted metal (mailbox, grill, patio furniture) — paint chips or round dents.
- Window screens — small tears or bent frames.
- Deck stain or wood siding — round bruises where the finish is compressed.
Hail Damage on Asphalt Shingles
Asphalt is the most common roof in Louisville and the easiest to damage. A real hail bruise on asphalt has three tells: it's round (not linear), it's soft when you press it (the mat underneath has fractured), and the granules are knocked away exposing the black asphalt below.
Straight-line marks, arrow-shaped scuffs, or damage only along one edge is almost always foot traffic, blistering, or manufacturing defects — not hail. Adjusters know the difference, so don't pay a contractor who claims otherwise.
The industry standard for a full replacement in Kentucky is 8+ hail hits in a 10' x 10' test square on at least two slopes.
Hail Damage on Metal Roofs
Modern 24 or 26-gauge steel almost never punctures from hail. What you'll see is dents — usually cosmetic on the flat of the panel, more serious at the rib or seam.
Cosmetic dents don't affect the roof's watertightness, but they do reduce curb appeal and can be claim-eligible depending on your policy's cosmetic damage endorsement. Structural dents crack the paint film, split the seam sealant, or deform the panel enough to hold standing water — those need repair or replacement.
Hail Damage on Tile and Slate Roofs
Tile and slate can crack under hail 1.5" or larger. Damage often looks like hairline fractures through the tile, chipped corners, or splits down the center. Don't walk a tile roof — cracked tiles fail under weight and turn a repair into a replacement fast.
When to Call a Roofer vs. Wait It Out
Some damage waits; some doesn't. Here's when to pick up the phone within 48 hours:
- Hailstones were golf-ball-sized (1.75") or larger.
- You can see missing shingles, exposed underlayment, or lifted flashing.
- Any water spots on ceilings or attic decking.
- Your neighbors are getting new roofs — the storm hit your block.
- You're within 6 months of a storm date and haven't documented anything.