Hail vs. wind damage: how to tell what hit your roof

Hail and wind both wreck roofs, but they do it differently - and the difference matters for the repair scope and for how you document the claim.

Hail damage looks like this

• Random, scattered impact marks - no pattern or direction.
• Bruised shingles: soft spots where granules are knocked loose and the mat underneath is exposed. They can look like dark circles.
• Dents in soft metals: gutters, downspouts, roof vents, AC fins, mailbox. Metal shows hail even when shingles hide it - this is the first place adjusters look.
• Cracked window screens and chipped siding on the storm-facing side.

Hail damage often doesn't leak immediately. It shortens the roof's life by years instead - which is why a free inspection after a big hailstorm is worth taking.

Wind damage looks like this

• Creased, lifted or missing shingles in a directional pattern - often on edges, ridges and the side that faced the gusts.
• Shingle 'flap' lines where wind got underneath and bent them back.
• Debris in a downwind line: shingles and limbs scattered in one direction.
• Fallen trees and fence panels - wind's signature.

Wind damage usually leaks sooner than hail damage, because it breaks the roof's seal right away.

What to do with this

Use the fingerprints to write a better description for your insurer ("granule loss and dented vents on the north slope" beats "roof looks bad"), then get a professional inspection. Free storm inspections are standard in this industry - just use the visit to vet the contractor with our red-flag checklist before letting anyone talk you into a contract.