A bad spring storm rolled through Jefferson County last week. By the next morning my phone was busy with calls about missing shingles and dented gutters. Most of those homeowners had real damage. A few didn't. The hard part is that the two often look the same from the ground.
Hail is the one I get asked about the most. A hailstone big enough to bruise asphalt shingles will knock granules loose in a circular pattern roughly the size of a dime or quarter. The shingle itself feels softer where it hit. You usually can't see this from a ladder, and you definitely can't see it from the yard. It needs hands and eyes on the surface, ideally within a few weeks of the event before the spots weather over.
Wind damage is more straightforward. Look for shingles that have lifted, creased, or gone missing entirely. Pay attention to ridge caps and the edges around chimneys and skylights — that's where wind tends to get under and pry. If a shingle is creased but still in place, it's done. The seal is broken and water will eventually find its way past it.
Gutters and downspouts get overlooked. Dents in the metal usually mean hail came down hard enough to do roof damage too. A gutter full of granules a week after a storm is a red flag. The granules belong on the shingles, not in the downspout.
Inside the attic, I look for fresh water staining on the underside of the decking, around nails, and along the rafters where they meet the walls. New stains tend to look darker and sharper than old ones. If you have a flashlight and an attic hatch, it's worth twenty minutes of your time after a heavy storm.
One thing I tell every client who calls after a storm: don't sign anything with a roofer who knocked on your door before you have an independent set of eyes on the damage. A storm-chaser contractor and an honest insurance adjuster don't always see the same roof. A separate inspection report gives you something to work from that isn't tied to either side.
If your home took a hit in the last few weeks and you aren't sure what you're dealing with, schedule a roof inspection. Better to know now than to find out next winter when water starts showing up on a ceiling.