Colorado sees seven or more significant hailstorms a year, and most of the damage they leave behind is invisible from the ground. Homeowners often don't realize their roof has taken a hit until a leak shows up months later — usually during the next storm. Here are the seven signs worth checking after any hail event.
1. Dented Gutters
Gutters are aluminum and dent easily, which makes them a good early indicator. Walk the perimeter of your home and look for small, round dents along the gutter line — if hail hit hard enough to dent metal, it likely hit your shingles just as hard.
2. Bruised Shingles
Hail impact leaves a soft, dark bruise on asphalt shingles where the granules have been knocked loose from the mat underneath. From the ground these can look like nothing more than a shadow, which is exactly why they get missed without a proper inspection.
3. Granule Loss in Downspouts
Check the bottom of your downspouts and any splash blocks after a storm. A buildup of loose granules — the small colored grit that protects shingles from UV damage — is a strong sign that hail has stripped your roof's protective layer.
Most homeowners don't know they have damage until it's too late — a free inspection catches it while it's still a repair, not a replacement.
4. Cracked Flashing
Flashing around chimneys, vents, and skylights is thin metal, and hail can crack or bend it just as easily as it dents gutters. Cracked flashing is one of the fastest routes to an active leak, since it sits at every seam and penetration point on your roof.
5. Dented Roof Vents
Plastic and metal roof vents dent and crack under hail impact, and a cracked vent housing is a direct path for water into your attic. These are easy to check from the ground with binoculars if you'd rather not climb up yourself.
6. Exposed Fiberglass Mat
In more severe impacts, hail knocks away enough granules and asphalt to expose the shingle's fiberglass mat underneath — visible as a bright white or yellow patch. This level of damage accelerates aging fast and usually isn't a DIY fix.
7. Soft Spots When Walking the Roof
This one isn't a DIY check — it's the reason we send a trained roofer up, not a salesperson. Soft or spongy decking underfoot means water has already worked its way through, and it's often invisible until someone is standing directly on it.
If you can check for dented gutters and stripped granules yourself, do — but flashing, vents, and deck integrity are worth a professional eye. Our free 21-point inspection covers all seven signs and comes with a dated photo report, whether or not we find anything.
Book a Free Inspection→
