Homeowner guide · Updated Oct 22, 2026
How to check for hail damage from the groundA 10-minute walk-around. No ladder.
Hail dents soft metal before you can see anything on the shingles. Here’s what to look at, what it means, and what to do next.
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Stay off the roof
Hail leaves marks on soft metal first. You can see those from the ground.
You don’t need a ladder to get a good first read after a storm. Aluminum and thin steel dent easily, so if hail was big enough to matter, it usually shows on the metal around your house. Clean metal doesn’t prove the shingles are fine, and dented metal doesn’t prove they’re damaged, but it tells you whether a closer look is worth it.
Safety first: stay on the ground, don’t climb onto a wet or steep roof, and stay away from downed lines.
Found dents?
Let us look at the roof.
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10-minute walk-around
Five places to look.
Start on the side of the house that faced the storm. Take photos with a coin or tape measure next to anything you find.
1. Gutters & downspouts
Look for round dents, especially on downspouts at eye level. Run a hand along the gutter lip if you can reach it safely.
2. Window screens & wraps
Small tears or stretched spots in screens, and dings in the aluminum trim around windows.
3. A/C condenser
Hail can bend the thin fins on the outdoor unit. Look for flattened patches on the side facing the storm.
4. Roof vents & flashing
From the street, zoom in with your phone on metal vents and caps. Dents there often line up with hits on the shingles.
5. Granules & debris
Shingle granules piling up at downspout exits, or pieces of shingle in the yard, can mean the roof took hits.
If you find something
Write down the storm date. Then get the roof checked.
- Match it to a storm. Use our 2026 storm dates page to see when NOAA logged hail near you.
- Check your policy’s deadline. Many policies require you to report hail within a year. How claim deadlines work.
- Get a real roof inspection. Bruised shingles are hard to see from the ground and often don’t leak right away.
- Then decide on a claim. Our “Should I file?” checklist walks through it.
Hiring a roofer after a storm
Know your rights.
- Get it in writing. Colorado requires a written roofing contract. C.R.S. 6-22-103
- No deductible deals. It’s illegal for a roofer to pay, waive or rebate your deductible, or promise to. C.R.S. 6-22-105
- 72 hours after a denial. If your insurer denies all or part of the claim in writing, you can cancel an insurance-paid roofing contract within 72 hours. C.R.S. 6-22-104
- Ask for references and a local address. And honor “No Soliciting” signs yourself: a good contractor will.
Ground check FAQ
Questions about spotting hail damage.
Call or text (720) 948-5726, Mon–Sat 9–7.
Related pages:
How can I tell if hail damaged my roof without getting on it?
Check the soft metal around the house: gutters, downspouts, window screens and trim, the A/C unit, and roof vents you can see from the street. Dents or tears there mean hail was big enough to check the shingles. Then get a roof inspection; bruised shingles are hard to see from the ground.
What size hail damages a roof?
There’s no single cutoff. It depends on the roof’s age and material, wind, and the angle of the hail. That’s why soft-metal dents and an inspection matter more than the size you saw.
My roof isn’t leaking. Should I still check?
Yes. Hail damage often doesn’t leak right away, and many policies require you to report hail within a year of the storm. Checking early keeps your options open.
Can a roofer pay or waive my deductible?
No. Colorado law (C.R.S. 6-22-105) bars roofing contractors from paying, waiving or rebating your insurance deductible, or promising to.
Can I cancel a roofing contract after I sign it?
Colorado’s roofing contractor law (C.R.S. 6-22-104) lets you cancel a roofing contract that’s being paid from insurance within 72 hours after your insurer sends written notice that it denied all or part of the claim. The same law requires a written contract (C.R.S. 6-22-103). Ask the contractor to show you the cancellation section before you sign.
Sources: NOAA Storm Prediction Center storm reports · C.R.S. 6-22-103 · C.R.S. 6-22-104 · C.R.S. 6-22-105. Written by Jeff Kish, founder of Homey Roofing and Restoration (in roofing since 2009). Reviewed by Allie Whitworth, Homey sales & operations and licensed Colorado REALTOR® with RE/MAX Professionals. Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026. General information, not legal or insurance advice. Your own policy controls: read your declarations page and policy form, and ask your agent or a Colorado attorney about your situation.