How Hail Damages Shingles
When hailstones hit asphalt shingles, they knock the protective granule coating loose. Those granules are what protect the asphalt mat underneath from UV exposure and weathering. Once granules are gone from an area, that spot degrades faster than the rest of the roof — eventually the mat cracks and moisture gets in.
The hit itself also bruises the mat. Even where granules remain in place, the impact can fracture the fiberglass or organic mat beneath the surface. That bruising weakens the shingle at the impact point and creates a long-term failure point.
Signs of Hail Damage
- Circular granule loss: Roughly circular areas where granules have been knocked away, exposing the dark asphalt mat underneath. These correspond to impact points.
- Granule accumulation in gutters: A large amount of granules washed into gutters after a storm is a sign of impact-related granule loss across the roof field.
- Dents on soft metals: Aluminum gutters, downspout caps, vent caps, and AC fins dent visibly from hailstones that are large enough to damage shingles. Dent patterns on soft metals confirm the size and density of hailstones.
- Bruising: When you press on the shingle at an impact point, a hail bruise feels soft — like a bruise on an apple. This indicates mat damage beneath the surface.
Hail Size Guide
Not all hail causes insurable damage. Indiana claims typically require:
- Under 1 inch (pea to marble size): Usually cosmetic only on newer shingles. Older or pre-damaged roofs may show more impact.
- 1 inch (quarter size): Generally considered the threshold for functional damage on standard 3-tab shingles.
- 1.5 inches (half-dollar) and larger: Typically causes functional damage to most shingle types. At this size, soft metals show clear dents and impact counts per square foot are high.
Should You File a Claim?
That depends on what we actually find. If there's real, documented hail damage — granule loss patterns, soft metal denting consistent with the hail event, confirmed bruising — and the damage meets your policy's threshold, a claim is worth considering. If the damage is cosmetic only, or if the roof was already at end of life before the storm, we'll tell you that honestly.
We don't steer homeowners toward claims that won't hold up. A denied claim or an inspection report that doesn't match reality doesn't help anyone.
Our Free Hail Damage Inspection
We get on the roof and check the entire field — not just the areas visible from a ladder. We look at every slope, the ridge, the valleys, penetrations, gutters, and soft metals. We take photos and note impact counts per square foot where relevant. You receive a written report of our findings.
Call (317) 883-7537 to schedule a free inspection, or use the form. We typically respond within 24 hours of a storm event.