Hail hit your house and you think you’re in the clear? Maybe not.
I’m Adam, a local general contractor here in DFW. I get on a lot of roofs in Colleyville, Grapevine, and Keller after a storm. The same five myths come up again and again. Here’s what’s really true.
Myth 1: No leaks means no hail damage.
Hail can damage your shingles long before any water gets inside. A dry ceiling doesn’t mean a healthy roof. By the time a leak shows up, the damage has usually been there a while.
Myth 2: Hail has to be as big as a golf ball to hurt a roof.
Smaller hail can do real damage too, especially on an older roof. Size is only part of the story. Wind and the age of your shingles matter too.
Myth 3: If you can’t see it from the ground, it’s not there.
Most hail damage is hard to spot from your yard. It’s small marks on shingles, and you have to be up close to see them. Binoculars from the driveway won’t tell you much.
Myth 4: Only the shingles get hit.
Hail also leaves marks on things like roof vents, gutters, and metal flashing. These marks can show that hail hit your house, even when the damage on the shingles is hard to see. When I inspect a roof, I look at all of it and take photos of what I identify.
Myth 5: A denied claim means there’s no damage.
A denial doesn’t always mean your roof is fine. Sometimes the roof just needed a closer look. If you’ve been denied, read my post My Hail Damage Claim Was Denied. Now What? for the first steps to take. You can also start with the denied claim section on my homepage.
What to do now
If a storm hit your area, get your roof checked while the damage is fresh. Take your own photos too, and keep the dates. If you want to avoid the most common slip-ups, my post Hail Hit Your House? Avoid These 5 Mistakes is a good next read.