Hail damage does not always show up right away. GAF's technical bulletin on hail says outward damage “may not be apparent until months or years later.” This guide covers what to do next: find the storm date, get bids on the work, and ask your insurer what your policy says. This guide states no deadline.
Can hail damage really show up months after the storm?
Yes. GAF, a shingle manufacturer, says in its technical bulletin on hail damage that “Outward damage may not be apparent until months or years later.” The bulletin adds that hidden damage to the shingle mat can “manifest and develop into cracks and tears at a later point in time” (GAF TAB-R-108).
So a roof that looked fine after the storm can still have hail damage that becomes visible later. It can also have other marks that are not from hail, which is why a written description from someone who has looked at the roof is worth asking for.
How can I tell hail damage from other marks?
IBHS, a nonprofit research group, publishes a short guide called “Is It Hail Damage?” It says spatter marks or impact indentations on other items around the building are good indicators that hail has occurred, and that you may find marks made by installation, man-made damage or natural weathering that hail did not cause (IBHS).
The guide sorts what it shows into three groups:
| Group | What IBHS lists |
|---|---|
| Marks on other items | Dents in metal flashing and in air conditioner unit fins. Spatter, which IBHS says is not damage but appears when hail knocks oxidation or dirt off metal surfaces. |
| On the shingles | Impacts in a random pattern. IBHS says a bruise can usually be felt on real hail impacts on shingles. |
| Look-alikes | General granule loss common on shingle edges, blisters, mechanical marks and a manufacturer defect. |
Otter Quotes does not assess roofs. Stay off a damaged roof, and ask a roofer to write down what they see and where.
How do I find out which storm it was?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists reported hail by county and date, and the Storm Prediction Center posts daily pages of reports. Search your county for the months before you found the damage. A report describes a place and a time, not your roof.
Our guide on how to find the date hail hit your house walks through the steps. Two limits are worth knowing. NOAA's search page says events take 3 months to appear in the database (NOAA). The Storm Prediction Center says its report list is preliminary and likely does not contain all severe weather reports for any particular event (SPC FAQ).
Is it too late to file an insurance claim?
This guide cannot say. Policies set their own notice and filing rules, and which date a claim uses is a question for your policy and your insurer. This guide states no deadline. Read your policy or ask your insurer.
Questions you can ask your insurer:
- What does my policy say about notice, and in what form should it be given?
- What does my policy say about protecting the property from further damage?
What can I do right now?
You can protect the house, write down what you found, look up the storm dates, get written bids on the work and read your policy. The list below covers those five steps. They are not in order of importance, and none of them has to wait for another. Where a source or one of our guides covers a step, the step links to it.
- Protect the house. IBHS's guide says to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage (IBHS). Stay off the roof and ask a roofer about a temporary cover.
- Write down what you found. Note what you saw, where, and the date you saw it, for your own records.
- Look up the storm dates. Use the NOAA steps in our date-of-hail guide.
- Get written bids. Give every contractor the same description of the work. Our roof bid worksheet shows how to compare them.
- Read your policy. Ask your insurer the questions above.
What should I ask a roofer who looks at the roof?
Ask for a written description of what the roofer saw, where they saw it and what work the roofer proposes. A bid that names the work, the materials and the price in writing is easier to compare with other bids and easier to keep with your records.
Questions to copy:
- What did you see, and where on the roof and the house?
- Did you see marks on metal items such as flashing, vents or gutters?
- Which marks do you think are from hail, and which are from age or installation?
- What materials and warranty does your bid name?
- Can you put your answers in writing, with the date you looked?
Our guide on how to read a roofing contractor estimate explains the lines you will see.
Where Otter Quotes fits
Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors. Every bid is on the same scope and the same measurements. You compare the bids online, next to reviews and licensing information, and sign online without a salesperson in your home. Subcontractors bid too, so you may be able to work directly with the crew that does the work. We are not a contractor, we do not sell upgrades, and we do not offer inspections. Contractors pay Otter Quotes a fee on the accepted bid.
Frequently asked questions
Is it too late to file a claim if I found hail damage months later?
This guide cannot say. Policies set their own notice and filing rules, and which date a claim uses is a question for your policy and your insurer. This guide states no deadline. Read your policy or ask your insurer what your policy says about notice.
Can hail damage show up months after a storm?
GAF's technical bulletin on hail says outward damage may not be apparent until months or years later, and that hidden damage to the shingle mat can develop into cracks and tears at a later point in time. Ask a roofer to describe in writing what they see.
How do I find which storm caused the damage?
NOAA's Storm Events Database lists reported hail by county and date, and the Storm Prediction Center posts daily report pages. Search your county for the months before you found the damage. A report describes a place and a time, not your roof.
Should I make temporary repairs now?
IBHS's guide says to make temporary repairs to prevent further damage. Stay off a damaged roof, and ask a roofer whether they can put a temporary cover on for you. Ask your insurer what your policy says about protecting the property.
Does Otter Quotes inspect my roof or decide which storm caused the damage?
No. We do not offer inspections or assessments, we do not find or confirm a date of loss, and we do not work with your insurance company. Otter Quotes creates a written scope of work for your project and sends it to multiple contractors, who compete online with bids on the same work.
Sources
- GAF, Technical Advisory Bulletin TAB-R-108, “Damage to Shingles Caused by Hail”: outward hail damage may not be apparent until months or years later, and hidden damage to the mat can develop into cracks and tears later.
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety, “Is It Hail Damage?” brochure: indicators of hail, look-alike marks, and making temporary repairs to prevent further damage.
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database: events take 3 months to appear in the database.
- NOAA Storm Prediction Center, FAQ (item 6.1): the storm reports list is preliminary and likely does not contain all severe weather reports for any particular event.