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What hail and wind damage really look like on a Middle Tennessee roof, what you can safely check from the ground, and the warning signs of a storm chaser before you sign anything.
By Don Hane, Navy Combat Veteran
After a hard storm rolls through Murfreesboro, most people walk outside, look up, see shingles still on the roof, and figure they’re fine. Sometimes they are. But hail and wind damage is often hard to see from the yard, and it can take a few months to turn into a leak. Our storm damage repair page explains what we do after a storm. If you want a second set of eyes, you can schedule a free roof inspection and we’ll send you dated photos of whatever we find, damage or not.
Here’s how to tell what you’re looking at, what’s safe to check yourself, and how to avoid the folks who show up at your door the next morning.
Our biggest storm season runs from March through May, when cold fronts slam into warm, humid air coming up from the Gulf. That’s when most of our hail falls. We also get strong straight-line winds in summer storms, like the May 2020 derecho that knocked down trees all over Nashville, and wind and ice in winter. If you’ve lived in Rutherford, Williamson or Wilson County for a few years, your roof has probably been through more than one of these.
Hail doesn’t usually punch holes in architectural shingles. What it does is bruise them.
Hail damage matters even when there’s no leak yet. Once the granules are gone, the sun breaks down the asphalt in that spot, and the shingle can crack and leak a year or two later.
What isn’t hail damage: blisters from heat, normal granule loss on an older roof, and cracking from age. These look a little alike, which is why a trained eye and a close-up photo help.
Hail leaves easier marks on softer metal, so check these first:
If you see dents on the metal around the house, there’s a good chance the roof took hits too.
Wind works differently. It gets under the edge of a shingle and lifts it.
Limbs are the other wind problem. A branch that scraped across the roof can knock off granules or crack shingles even if it didn’t come through.
Here’s a good example of why the ground view isn’t enough. A homeowner in Antioch, an Air Force veteran, called us out about her gutters. They were overflowing in the middle. She has an older 3-tab shingle roof, and when we pulled up, walked the property and set up our ladders, we didn’t see any damage at all.
Once we climbed up to look at the gutters, it was a different story. There were creased shingles on many parts of her roof. We couldn’t tell from the ground, but up close they were as clear as day. She filed a claim with her insurance carrier. Her whole roof was replaced, and she paid only her normal deductible.
We also fixed what she called us for in the first place. We reset her gutters to the proper alignment and grade so the water drains to the right downspouts.
That’s why we inspect the roof up close whenever we’re up there, even when we came out for something else. You never know what you’re going to find, and our inspections are free.
I know it’s tempting. Please don’t. Storm-damaged roofs can have loose shingles, wet surfaces and weak spots, and a fall from a roof can change your life in a second. Walk the yard, take photos from the ground, and let someone with the right gear do the climbing.
Whatever you decide to do next, good records help:
If water is coming in, call for emergency roofing help so we can get it covered. We’re open 24 hours, every day.
After a big hail storm, out-of-town crews show up within days. Some are honest. A lot aren’t, and they’re gone by the time the shingles start failing. Watch for these signs:
Before you sign with anyone, look up their license on the state’s online license search, check their BBB rating, and read our guide on what to look for in a Murfreesboro roofing company.
The flip side of that Antioch story is one we hear all too often around Middle Tennessee. Unscrupulous storm chasers and uninsured, fly-by-night crews tell homeowners to file a claim when there’s no real damage, and that’s not good for any homeowner, because most insurance companies look unfavorably on it. Only let local, reputable, verified roofing contractors on your roof.
We come out, inspect the roof, and give you dated photos and a written estimate. If there’s damage, you can share those photos and that estimate with your insurance company. You file the claim and you talk with your insurance company. We don’t get involved in the claim itself, and we never pay or waive deductibles. If there’s no damage, we’ll tell you that too, with photos to back it up.
Our insurance claim assistance page explains how our documentation fits in, and our post on filing a roof insurance claim in Tennessee walks through the steps on your side.
If you end up replacing the roof, it’s worth asking whether impact-resistant shingles make sense for your house. We cover that in our post on Class 4 impact-resistant shingles.
Our own crews do the work, and we serve all 9 counties, with storm pages for Murfreesboro and Smyrna and more.
How do I know if my roof has hail damage?
Look for dents on gutters, vents and your AC unit from the ground. On the roof, hail leaves dark bruises where granules were knocked off, often with a soft spot underneath. A free inspection with close-up photos is the surest way to know.
Can small hail damage a roof?
Hail under about an inch usually doesn’t hurt a newer architectural shingle, but it can damage older, brittle shingles, vents and gutters. Size, wind and the age of the roof all matter.
How soon after a storm should I get my roof checked?
Within a few weeks is best, while the damage is fresh and easy to document. Many insurance policies also have a time limit for reporting damage, so check yours.
Will a roofer pay my deductible?
A roofer should never offer to pay, cover or waive your deductible. If one does, that’s a red flag. We never do it.
Do you deal with my insurance company for me?
No. We inspect, document and give you a written estimate you can share. You file the claim and talk with your insurance company.
Big storm come through? Book a free inspection. We’re Veteran-owned, A-rated with the BBB, and open 24 hours, every day.
Protect the Home. Earn the Trust.
