7 Signs Your Roof Has Storm Damage — and What to Do Next

Most storm damage doesn't announce itself with a hole in the ceiling. It hides — quietly shortening your roof's life until a small problem becomes an expensive one. Here's what to look for from the safety of the ground.

After a hail or wind event in the Triangle, the smart move isn't to climb up and look — it's to know the ground-level warning signs and then let a professional handle the roof. Here are the seven signs we see most often.

1. Granules in your gutters and downspouts

Those coarse, sand-like granules protect asphalt shingles from UV. After a hailstorm you'll often find piles of them in gutters or at the bottom of downspouts. Heavy granule loss means the shingle's protective layer is failing.

2. Dents on soft metal around the house

Hail leaves a signature. Check gutters, downspouts, metal vents, flashing, your mailbox, and especially the aluminum fins on your AC condenser. If those are dinged, your roof almost certainly took hits too.

3. Missing, lifted, or curled shingles

Wind lifts and peels shingle tabs, breaking the seal that keeps water out. From the ground, look for gaps, crooked lines, or shingles that look raised or curled compared to their neighbors.

4. Bruising or dark spots on shingles

A hail "bruise" is a soft, often dark spot where the granules were knocked away and the mat beneath was damaged. These are hard to see from below but are exactly what an adjuster looks for.

5. Debris and fallen limbs

Branches and flying debris crack shingles and puncture the surface. Any impact hard enough to leave debris on your roof is worth a professional look.

6. Water stains on ceilings or in the attic

Brown rings on a ceiling, damp insulation, or daylight through the attic boards all point to a compromised roof. Interior signs mean water is already getting in.

7. Damaged or clogged flashing and valleys

Flashing seals the roof's most vulnerable joints — around chimneys, vents, and valleys. Storms bend and loosen it, and those are the first places leaks appear.

What to do next

1. Stay off the roof. Wet, damaged roofs are dangerous — and walking on them can hide the very evidence you need.
2. Document from the ground. Wide shots and close-ups of everything above.
3. Get a free professional inspection. We'll tell you honestly whether the damage warrants a claim.
4. Don't wait. Small storm damage becomes leaks, rot, and mold. Filing promptly also keeps your claim tied to the storm.