What Hail Damage Actually Looks Like on an Asphalt Shingle Roof
After a Calgary hail storm, the first thing most homeowners do is look up at the roof — and see nothing wrong. That's normal. Unless the hail was severe, asphalt shingle damage rarely shows from the ground.
Bruises, not holes
Hail usually doesn't punch through a shingle. It bruises it — a soft, dark dent where the impact crushed the granule layer into the mat underneath. The granules protecting that spot loosen and wash into your gutters over the following weeks, leaving the asphalt exposed to UV.
Check the soft metals first
Roof vents, flashing, and eavestroughs dent long before shingles do. If your vents or downspouts show fresh dings after a storm, there's a good chance the shingles took hits too — it's one of the first things an adjuster looks for.
Why small damage becomes big water damage
A bruised shingle still sheds water — for a while. Exposed asphalt dries out, cracks through freeze-thaw cycles, and eventually opens a path for water. By then the storm is two winters back and the insurance window may have closed.
What to do if you suspect damage
- Photograph hail on the ground and any dented metals, with dates.
- Stay off the roof — bruising is easy to miss and steep shingles are slippery.
- Book a free inspection before filing — if it isn't claim-worthy, you'll want to know first.