What hail damage actually looks like (not what you see on TV)
Real hail damage on an asphalt shingle roof is subtle. It's not a shingle torn off — that's usually wind. It's a round, dark, slightly depressed spot about the size of a dime to a quarter where the protective granules have been knocked loose and the black asphalt mat underneath is exposed. Adjusters call this a "bruise" or "hit," and a legitimate functional hit will feel slightly soft if you press on it, like a bruised apple.
Most homeowners can't see this from the ground. What you can do is check the easy indicators first — because if those show damage, your roof almost certainly does too.
The 6 ground-level signs (do this first)
You don't have to get on the roof to know whether a hail inspection is worth calling. After any storm with 1"+ hail, walk your property and check these six things.
1. Downspout outlets
Look at the ground where your downspouts dump water. If you see a pile of little dark sand-like granules — that's your shingle's protective coating, and it means granules were knocked loose. A small amount is normal shed from an old roof. A visible pile after a specific storm is a red flag.
2. Gutters
Look along the top lip of your gutters and inside the gutter. Fresh, shiny dents in the aluminum tell you hailstones hit at enough speed to deform metal — which means they hit your shingles just as hard. Oxidized gutter dents are old; shiny unoxidized dents are new.
3. Window screens
Metal screens on windows and doors get punctured or dented by hail. If you see new screen damage on your storm-facing side, your roof's north- and west-facing slopes likely have matching hits.
4. Soft metal around the yard
Check your AC condenser (the fins bend easily and tell you exactly how hard the hail came down), mailbox, metal patio furniture, grill lid, and any outdoor lights. Fresh, clean dings are the tell.
5. Cars
If your car was outside and has new hail dents on the hood or roof, your actual roof got hit at least as hard. Cars are excellent hail barometers.
6. Decking and fence tops
Look at the top of your wood fence and deck boards. Hail leaves little round, lighter-colored dimples in weathered wood where it chipped surface fibers.
From the roof: what a real inspection looks for
If the ground checks are positive, a roofer should get on the roof and do a formal inspection. Here's exactly what we look for on Katy inspections.
Chalk test on asphalt shingles
We mark a 10 ft by 10 ft test square on each slope (one per exposure: north, south, east, west) and count legitimate hail hits inside it. Insurance adjusters use 8 hits per square as the threshold for "slope failure," meaning that slope qualifies for replacement. Most Texas carriers replace the full roof if two or more slopes meet the threshold.
Soft spots and bruising
We press gently on suspected hits. A real functional hit gives slightly — the mat has been fractured and the shingle's water-shedding ability is compromised. A cosmetic scuff or a factory blemish feels solid.
Granule loss patterns
We look at valleys where rain concentrates. Excessive granule loss there usually means the slopes above have been hit, and you'll often see corresponding bruising when you look closely.
Soft metal collateral
Flashings, ridge vents, turtle vents, chimney caps, pipe boots, and the gutters themselves all take hits that document the storm's severity. A slope with 20 fresh dings on the ridge vent but "no shingle damage" per the adjuster is worth a second opinion.
Splatter marks
Fresh hailstorms leave dirt splatter marks — little rings of washed debris — around each impact point. These fade after a few weeks, which is why time matters.
Functional vs. cosmetic: the distinction that controls your claim
This is the single most important concept in hail claims.
Functional damage means the shingle's ability to shed water has been compromised. Granule loss that exposes the mat, fractured mat, cracked seals, or broken shingles are all functional — and covered by standard Texas homeowners policies.
Cosmetic damage means the shingle looks worse but still sheds water fine. Scuff marks, minor granule rearrangement, surface blemishes — these are cosmetic. Many Texas policies since 2018 include a cosmetic damage exclusion (ask your agent). Metal roofs and tile roofs are where this gets argued most: a dented metal panel still works, so carriers often classify it as cosmetic and deny it.
Adjusters look for functional damage. A legitimate functional hit shows mat exposure, a clean round bruise, and usually a granule pile below. If a roofer tells you "there's some hail damage up there" without pointing to functional indicators, push back and ask specifically what they're seeing.
What to do the week after a hail storm
- Photograph everything immediately. Date-stamped phone photos of gutters, AC unit, window screens, yard debris, and the storm forecast itself build your claim file.
- Get a local roofer's inspection before calling insurance. This is important. If there's no damage, you don't want a denied claim on your record. If there is damage, you want to know the scope before the adjuster shows up.
- Do not sign anything from door-knockers. After every major Katy hail storm, out-of-state storm chasers flood neighborhoods with "we'll handle your claim" contracts. Texas Assignment of Benefits (AOB) contracts give away your rights. Don't sign them.
- File the claim with real documentation. Once you know there's real damage, file promptly. Most policies require notice "as soon as reasonably possible." See our insurance claim guide for the full process.
- Request a reinspection if denied. Texas adjusters are under time pressure. Initial denials get overturned regularly when a licensed roofer meets the reinspector on the roof and walks through the functional indicators together.
Katy-specific hail reality
Katy and the western Houston metro sit inside the Texas hail belt per NOAA's long-term climatology. Peak hail season runs mid-March through late May, with a secondary spike in September. We see legitimate hail claims annually in Cinco Ranch, Cross Creek Ranch, Firethorne, Cane Island, and throughout unincorporated Harris and Fort Bend. Neighborhoods hit by a single severe cell can have 30-40% of roofs qualify for replacement; neighborhoods 2 miles away can be untouched. Damage is very localized.
If your neighbor two houses down is getting their roof replaced, that does not automatically mean you have damage — or that you don't. Each roof gets inspected on its own merits.
FAQ
Can I see hail damage from the ground?
You usually cannot see shingle bruising from the ground. What you can see is the collateral evidence — granule piles at downspouts, dented gutters, punctured screens, dinged AC fins. If the collateral signs are there, the roof almost certainly has hits too, and you should get a professional inspection.
How long after a hail storm can I file a claim in Texas?
Most Texas policies require "prompt notice," which is usually interpreted as within 30 days. Legally, you have a statutory window of 1-2 years to file a first-party claim under Texas Insurance Code, but waiting weakens your case because adjusters can argue the damage is from a different event. File within 14-30 days when possible.
What size hail damages a roof?
Hail 1" (quarter-sized) or larger typically starts to cause functional damage to standard asphalt shingles. 1.25" (half-dollar) and up will almost always cause damage. Impact-rated Class 4 shingles (IKO Nordic, CertainTeed NorthGate) can often absorb 1.5-2" hail without functional damage.
Will filing a hail claim raise my insurance rates?
In Texas, a single weather-related claim typically does not raise your individual rate, but it can affect your policy at renewal if it's a repeat claim or if your carrier non-renews hail-heavy territories. Multiple claims within a short period carry more risk. Texas law prevents some surcharge practices — the TDI consumer resources explain this in detail.
Do I need a roofer before calling my insurance company?
Yes, we strongly recommend it. A local roofer inspection costs nothing (most are free) and tells you whether a claim is worth filing. Filing a claim that gets denied can show up in your insurance history. Filing a claim with documented functional damage gets paid. Know before you file.
Had hail in your neighborhood? Jerry's Roofing provides free, honest hail inspections across Katy, Cypress, Cinco Ranch, Richmond, Fulshear, Sugar Land, and Brookshire. If there's no damage, we'll tell you. If there is, we'll document it clearly and help you through the claim. Call (409) 351-1529 or request an inspection.