What Do I Check on My Roof After a Hail Storm? A Step-by-Step Homeowner Guide

Step 1: Conduct a Ground-Level Safety Inspection (Do NOT Climb the Roof)

Severe summer hail storms along the Wasatch Front can cause devastating, invisible damage to asphalt shingles and commercial membrane roofs. Hailstones as small as 0.75 inches falling at high terminal velocity can bruise shingle asphalt and fracture underlying fiberglass mats.

Never climb onto a wet or potentially compromised roof deck after a storm. You can gather crucial evidence safely from the ground:

• 1. Inspect Soft Metals & Collateral Items: Soft metal surfaces show hail impact marks first. Check your aluminum gutters, downspouts, metal window frames, outdoor AC condenser fins, mailboxes, and metal patio furniture for round dents or pockmarks.
• 2. Examine Downspout Runoff: Look at the splash blocks beneath your gutter downspouts. Excessive piles of black asphalt granules indicate that hail strikes have dislodged the protective mineral coating from your shingles.
• 3. Look for Missing or Fractured Shingles: Scan your rooflines from the lawn for lifted shingle tabs, torn edges, or pieces of shingle laying in your yard.
• 4. Check Interior Ceilings & Attics: Inspect top-floor ceilings and attic insulation for fresh water spots, damp drywall, or dripping near chimneys and vent pipes.

Step 2: What Professional Roofers Look For (Roof-Level Diagnostics)

When certified inspectors from RHIVE Construction evaluate a roof after a hail storm, we look for technical indicators that insurance adjusters require for claim approval:

• Shingle Bruising: Dark, soft circular depressions where hail dislodged granules and exposed the underlying asphalt black tar layer.
• Substrate Fractures: Micro-cracks on the underside of the shingle mat caused by heavy impact, which allow water to seep through during freeze-thaw cycles.
• Dented Pipe Jacks & Vents: Cracks or deep indentations in neoprene pipe boots, turtle vents, ridge vents, and metal chimney flashing.
• Membrane Punctures on Flat Roofs: On commercial TPO or PVC flat roofs, hail can fracture brittle membrane top-ply layers or puncture underlying insulation boards.

Step 3: Why Prompt Action Matters for Your Insurance Claim

Most homeowners insurance policies in Utah require policyholders to report storm damage within a specific window (typically 6 to 12 months from the storm event). Delaying an inspection allows normal weathering to obscure hail marks, giving insurance adjusters grounds to claim the damage is due to "age and neglect".

At RHIVE Construction, CEO Michael Robinson personally meets your insurance adjuster on-site:

• We review historical NOAA satellite weather swaths for your exact address.
• We mark every hail strike circle directly on your roof slopes.
• We ensure local code requirements—such as 28-gauge steel drip metal and 6-foot WeatherLock® Ice & Water Shield—are included in your approved claim scope.

RHIVE Hail & Storm Damage Inspection Hubs

Did hail hit your neighborhood recently? Contact RHIVE Construction today at 435-41-ROOFS for a free, no-obligation aerial satellite and hands-on storm evaluation.

• Salt Lake County: Salt Lake City, South Jordan, Sandy, Draper, West Jordan, West Valley City, Herriman, Taylorsville, Midvale, Millcreek, Holladay, Kearns, Magna, Sugar House.
• Northern Utah: Bountiful, Layton, Clearfield, North Salt Lake, Ogden.
• Mountain & Desert Regions: Park City, Tooele.