Granules in the gutters and downspouts
Piles of dark grit at the downspout outlet mean the shingle surface is being knocked loose, which is often the first measurable sign of hail bruising.
Storm, hail and wind roof damage
After a Colorado hail or wind storm, the first useful step is a documented inspection, not a repair quote. Photograph what you can see from the ground, keep your own record of the storm date, and have the roof inspected before you file so the claim reflects what actually happened.
What should you do first after a hail storm?
- Stay off the roof. Wet or hail-scoured surfaces are slick, and walking on bruised shingles adds damage.
- Note the storm date and time, and keep any local news or weather report you can find.
- Photograph the ground-level evidence: dented gutters, downspout grit, damaged screens, shredded plants, and any interior stain.
- Get a documented roof inspection. Ours is free and comes back in writing with photographs.
- Then decide about filing. A claim supported by a written scope is far harder to under-pay than a phone call.
If water is coming in right now, call (303) 738-1032 and say so. Active leaks get temporary protection ahead of the inspection queue.
How to spot roof storm damage
Bruised or soft spots underfoot
Hail impact can fracture the mat under an asphalt shingle without breaking the surface. It feels soft, like a bruise on fruit, and it fails later.
Dented metal, vents and flashing
Because soft metal shows impacts clearly, gutters, vent caps and valley metal are the easiest way to confirm hail size and direction.
Lifted, creased or missing shingles
Wind damage usually shows at ridges, rakes and hips, where a lifted tab breaks the seal strip even if the shingle stays in place.
Interior stains and daylight in the attic
A ceiling stain or damp decking in the attic means water is already getting past the roof, and that clock does not stop while a claim is processed.
Cracked tile or split shake
Tile and shake break rather than bruise, so damage is visible from the ground with binoculars, usually on the storm-facing slope.
Repair or replace?
Isolated wind damage on a young roof is usually a repair: reset and reseal the affected area and move on. Widespread hail bruising is different, because the damage is spread across every slope even where the surface still looks intact, and patching it leaves the failure in place.
The deciding factors are the age of the roof, how many impacts per test square the inspection finds, whether the deck and flashing are still sound, and whether matching material is still made. We will show you the count and the photographs rather than asking you to take our word for it.
Materials that hold up better next time
If you are replacing a roof anyway, the storm is an argument for a more impact-resistant system rather than the same product again.
Asphalt shingles
Architectural asphalt shingles are the most common Colorado roof: affordable, quick to install, and available in impact-resistant classes that hold up to Front Range hail.
Typical life: 20 to 30 years, longer with Class 4 impact-rated shingles
Metal roofing
Standing seam and metal panel roofs shed snow, resist hail bruising, and last decades longer than shingles, which makes them a strong fit for Colorado's freeze-thaw cycles.
Typical life: 40 to 70 years
Concrete tile roofs
Concrete tile gives you tile durability and hail performance at a lower cost than clay, in profiles that copy shake, slate, or barrel tile.
Typical life: 40 to 75 years
Start with a free consultation
Tell us what the roof is doing and we will tell you honestly whether it needs a repair, a replacement, or nothing at all yet.