Free tool
Does your roof have hail damage?
Five questions, about a minute, no contact details. It uses what you can actually see from the ground to work out whether your roof is worth having inspected — and it will tell you when the answer is probably no.
How big was the hail?
Compare to a coin if you remember. If you did not see it, pick the closest guess — this is the single biggest factor.
Why the soft metals matter more than the shingles
The most useful thing a homeowner can do after a storm has nothing to do with the roof. Aluminium and other soft metals deform at lower impact energy than an asphalt shingle needs to bruise, so they record the storm before the roof visibly does. The fins on an air conditioning condenser are the most sensitive surface on most properties, and they sit at ground level where anyone can examine them.
That is why a competent inspection starts on the ground and why an adjuster will look at your gutters and vents before deciding how seriously to take the roof. It is also why “your neighbour got a new roof” is not evidence about yours. Hail falls in narrow swaths and stone size varies street to street.
What this tool will not do
It will not tell you that you have roof damage, because nothing observable from the ground can. It narrows the question from “should I worry about this” to “is this worth an hour of somebody’s time”, and for a good number of people the honest answer is no. We would rather it told you that than generate a phone call neither of us needs.
Common questions
- What size hail damages a roof?
- One inch — quarter size — is the usual threshold for damaging asphalt shingles, and it is the size most adjusters treat as significant. Smaller stones can still damage an older, more brittle roof, and large hail does not guarantee damage on a newer one. Size is the strongest single indicator, not a verdict.
- How can I check for hail damage without getting on the roof?
- Look at the soft metals. Gutters, downspouts, roof vents and especially the aluminium fins on your air conditioning condenser dent before shingles show any visible damage, which makes them the most reliable ground-level evidence available. Then check whether granules — the sandy grit off the shingle surface — are piling up where your downspouts discharge.
- Does dented gutters mean my roof is damaged?
- It means the storm hit hard enough to mark metal, which is a genuine indicator worth acting on. It does not confirm shingle damage, and the reverse happens too: roofs are sometimes bruised while the soft metals come through clean. Ground evidence narrows the question rather than settling it.
- How long do I have to file a hail claim in Colorado?
- Colorado policies generally require a claim within 12 to 24 months of the date of loss, and your policy states the exact figure. This is one of the few genuine deadlines in the process and it is worth checking directly rather than taking anyone else’s word for it. Most other urgency you will hear about hail claims is manufactured.
- Should I file a claim if I find damage?
- Not automatically. Weigh the likely repair cost against your deductible, and consider that a claim can affect your premium. A roof with two years of life left and damage worth slightly more than the deductible is often not worth filing on. Get the damage documented first, then decide with a number in front of you.