How Do You Check for Hail Damage on a Roof in North Carolina?

Hail is common in North Carolina, mostly in spring and early summer. The State Climate Office of North Carolina reports that May is the state's peak hail month, with more than 2,500 confirmed hail reports in May since 1955, roughly twice the April total. Hail has been reported from Cedar Island on the coast to near Asheville in the mountains, and higher-elevation areas are more prone to it because they sit closer to the cloud base and freezing level.

Most hail in the state is small, but large stones do fall. The State Climate Office describes a 2016 stretch of storms that produced hail up to 2.5 inches across, about the size of a tennis ball, and notes that the largest reported hail in the state is 4.5 inches, most recently from a storm near Dysartsville in McDowell County on May 24, 2000. Between late April and mid-May 2016 alone, the National Weather Service issued 179 hail reports in North Carolina.

The National Weather Service treats a thunderstorm as severe when it produces hail of 1 inch in diameter or larger, about the size of a quarter, or wind gusts of 58 mph or more. Severe thunderstorms are a regular part of a Piedmont summer, so hail and wind damage often come together. Our article on roof leaks after a thunderstorm covers the wind and rain side.

The easiest signs to see are on soft metal and painted surfaces around the house, not on the roof itself. If hail was large enough to damage roofing, it usually left marks you can see without a ladder.

Walk the property and look for:

• Fresh dents in gutters, downspouts and aluminum fascia.
• Dents or chipped paint on roof vents, chimney caps and air conditioning condenser fins.
• Torn window screens and dented window frames on the side facing the storm.
• Spatter marks, where hail knocked dirt and oxidation off surfaces, on siding, fences and decks.
• Granules collected at downspout outlets or washed onto driveways.
• Shredded leaves and broken branches under trees.
• Dents on cars and outdoor furniture left outside during the storm.

The direction the dents face tells you which roof slopes took the most impact. Photograph each item with a coin or ruler for scale and note the date. These photos help the roofer and the adjuster connect the damage to a specific storm, and NOAA's Storm Events Database lets you look up hail reports near your address for that date.

On asphalt shingles, hail damage shows up as soft dark spots where granules were knocked off, exposed mat, and cracks or punctures in the shingle. The damage tends to be random rather than in lines or patterns, which helps separate it from wear, blistering or foot traffic.

A roofer inspecting an asphalt roof will look for:

• Bruises. Spots that feel soft, like a bruise on fruit, where the impact fractured the mat underneath.
• Granule loss. Dark circles where the protective granules are gone, leaving asphalt exposed to the sun.
• Cracks and punctures. Breaks in the shingle, especially on older, brittle roofs.
• Damaged seal strips. Hail can loosen shingle tabs, making them easier for the next wind to lift.
• Damage to soft metal on the roof. Dented vents, flashing and drip edge confirm hail size.

Some damage is not obvious right away. Granule loss speeds up aging, and bruised shingles can crack over the following months. That is one reason to have the roof looked at after a significant hail storm even if nothing is leaking. Damage on an older roof may also be harder to separate from normal wear, which the adjuster will weigh. Ask the roofer to mark and photograph each hit so the adjuster can see the same spots.

Large hail can dent a metal roof, but dents do not always mean the roof can no longer keep water out. The questions for any metal roof after hail are whether the coating is cracked or chipped, whether seams or fasteners were disturbed, and whether dents are deep enough to hold water or affect drainage.

Thickness, panel shape and the backing under the metal all affect how a metal roof takes hail. Ask your agent how your homeowners policy treats dents that change a roof's appearance but do not let water in, because policy language on cosmetic damage varies by insurer.

Impact ratings give a way to compare products. Under UL 2218, roofing is tested by dropping steel balls of increasing size, from 1.25 up to 2 inches in diameter, and Class 4 is the highest class. The Delta Building Products listing tested by Intertek carries a UL 2218 Class 4 impact rating for the Interlock aluminum shingle system, which Metal Roof NC installs in North Carolina as an authorized Interlock dealer. A rating describes lab performance; it does not mean hail of any size will leave no mark. See aluminum shingles for profile details.

File by reporting the damage to your agent or insurer promptly, with your photos and a roofer's written findings, after checking whether the damage is likely to exceed your deductible. The North Carolina Department of Insurance explains that wind and hail losses may carry a percentage deductible based on your dwelling coverage, so a 1% deductible on $200,000 of coverage means you pay the first $2,000 of each wind or hail claim.

The Department's general claim advice applies to hail too:

• Document the damage with a written list and clear photos before any temporary repairs.
• Limit further damage, such as covering a punctured area, and keep receipts.
• Hold off on permanent repairs until the insurer inspects and you agree on costs.
• Ask the adjuster what documents they need.

Timing matters. Policy terms in North Carolina's standard fire policy call for a sworn proof of loss within 60 days of a loss unless the insurer extends it in writing, and a lawsuit on the policy must start within three years. Hail damage that goes unreported for a long time can also get mixed with later storms. Our article on roof insurance claims in NC covers adjuster visits, disputes and appraisal.

Repair works when hail damage is limited to a few spots on a roof that is otherwise in good shape and matching material is available. Replacement makes more sense when damage is spread across several slopes, when the shingles are older and brittle, or when matching shingles are no longer made.

If the adjuster and your roofer disagree about the scope, ask for both reports in writing and compare them slope by slope. A licensed public adjuster or the appraisal clause in your policy are options if the disagreement is about the amount of the loss. Be wary of door-to-door crews who arrive right after a hail storm offering to handle everything; North Carolina's 2024 law gives homeowners a five-business-day window to cancel off-premises roofing contracts after a claim denial, and our guide to storm-chaser roofers explains what else to watch for.

If you are replacing anyway, think about the next storm. Ask your agent whether your insurer offers any credit for impact-rated roofing before you choose a product. Our pages on metal shingles, roof replacement and the Greensboro, Charlotte and Raleigh service areas explain options for Piedmont homes.