Is It Roof Blistering or Hail Damage?

Updated 2026-10-24 · Sources checked

They said it wasn’t hail damage to the roof

That line comes from an r/Roofing thread.

Hail on asphalt shingles leaves a random pattern of impact marks, bruising and cracks¹, while blistering is listed among the signs of age². A ruling made from a distance can still be checked. The way out is your own record of the damage and a second, documented look from a roofer you choose.

What you control today is the record: your photos and the exact words used.

How do hail damage and blistering differ?

Hail on asphalt shingles shows as a random pattern of impact marks, bruising and cracks or breaks¹. Bruising means soft spots you can feel when pressing on a shingle. Pressing on shingles means being on the roof, so leave that check to a professional¹.

Blistering and granule loss (the surface grit wearing off) are listed among the signs of an aging roof². Granule loss along the edge of shingles counts as normal weathering¹, not hail. How a blister looks up close is a question for whoever is standing at the roof: ask them to point to the exact mark, say which one they’re going with, and why.

Is a repair enough when the cause is age and not hail? How to tell whether a roof needs repair or replacement.

Why can't a look from a distance settle it?

Because hail and wear can both be on the same roof. One commenter in a roofing thread put it this way: "Can’t tell from the distance could be hail, could be blistering or a mix of the 2"

Dents on gutters or the A/C unit confirm that a hail event happened¹, but that alone does not prove the shingles are damaged. A complaint will not decide it either: in Texas, the regulator cannot determine whether damage was caused by a storm or normal wear and tear³. So the record you build is what you bring to the conversation with your insurer and with the roofer you choose.

If a claim was turned down as blistering, what are your options? What to ask for when a roof claim is denied.

What you can check from the ground

Stay on the ground. Spatter marks or impact dents on A/C units, gutters, metal flashing, downspouts or patio furniture¹ are the places to look.

• Look at those spots and note every dent or spatter mark you find.
• Photograph each one, and the roof from the ground, with the date.
• Ask your agent whether the deductible for wind and hail damage is different⁴ from the one for other damage.

Steel and metal roofs: dents and cosmetic exclusions

In Texas, a discount for a metal roof may come with an exclusion for cosmetic damage⁵. That means damage that changes how the roof looks but not how it works may go unpaid. Whether your policy has one depends on the policy, so ask your agent if it does and how the insurer decides what counts as cosmetic.

Before you file: the order that keeps your options open

Follow this order, since each step prepares the next:

1. Document from the ground: photograph or videotape the damage before any cleanup or repair⁶, and keep receipts for anything you spend on temporary fixes.
2. Prepare: read your policy to see your exact responsibilities⁶ and check the wind and hail deductible. Compare a repair estimate with your deductible⁷, because if repairs cost about the same or less, filing may not be worth it. If you doubt the damage is above the deductible, a written estimate from a roofer you chose helps you decide.
3. Make the call: you can start with your insurance company or with a roofer you choose, not one who shows up uninvited⁸. Have your photos and questions ready.
4. Let the adjuster see the damage. If you file a claim, do not have permanent repairs made until the insurer has inspected and you have agreed on the cost⁹, and ask your insurer whether the same applies where you live.

A deductible is the part of a loss you pay before the insurer does, and some are set as a percentage. On a $300,000 house with a 5 percent deductible, the first $15,000 of a claim is paid by the owner¹⁰. Your numbers will differ.

Insurers also use your claims history to decide whether to sell you a policy and how much to charge you⁷. If you only want to ask about coverage or the deductible, say that is all you are asking.

While you wait for the inspection

• If rain is coming and the roof has open spots, take reasonable steps to protect the house from further damage⁶. A tarp put on by a roofer you chose means you don't go up there yourself.
• If you file a claim, avoid throwing out damaged items until the adjuster has visited⁶; a few shingle pieces kept somewhere dry show what came off.
• If nobody can come today, keep your photos handy and look again from the ground after the next storm.

Want a second opinion with photos? Is a free storm roof inspection safe to accept.

Who should take the second look?

Pick the roofer yourself. A denial can feel final: one commenter wrote, "Denied and closed my claim without even talking to me." Ask your roofer to put in writing which marks they found, with a photo of each one, and what they based the cause on. You can send this:

Please write in your estimate which marks you found on my roof, with a photo of each, and whether you judge each one to be hail, wear or both. Please also list the price of each repair separately.

If a roofer won't put this in writing, that is an answer too: weigh it against the ones that do. Whoever says hail damage should be willing to show you a photo of every mark they count. If a roofer pushes you to sign or leave a deposit today, take that as a warning: a legitimate contractor won’t pressure you to sign a contract and hand over a deposit on the spot¹¹.

Quick questions

What does a roof blister look like? Ask whoever uses the word to point to the exact spot, and photograph it, so a second roofer sees what’s on your roof, not a description.

How much does it cost to replace shingles? It depends on what the roofer finds under the old shingles. Ask for a written estimate that lists each item, so you can compare bids line by line.

What if the insurer's estimate is too low? If you disagree with the adjuster's estimate, send the insurer supporting documentation, such as a contractor's estimate for the repairs¹². For a disagreement over the cause, ask your insurer what it accepts as proof.

What should I ask the adjuster? Ask for it in writing: what the decision about your roof is based on, which photos were used and what proof they would accept for a second inspection.

Sources

1. Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), Is It Hail Damage?

2. IBHS, Natural Weathering and Hazard Exposure

3. Texas Department of Insurance, How to get help with a homeowners or renters insurance complaint

4. Texas Department of Insurance, Insurance and your roof

5. Texas Department of Insurance, Metal roofs and home insurance: 4 key facts for homeowners

6. Triple-I, How to file a homeowners claim

7. Texas Department of Insurance, Will my premium go up if I file a claim?

8. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Avoiding predatory roofing scams

9. North Carolina Department of Insurance, Claims and Adjuster Information

10. Triple-I, Background on: Hurricane and windstorm deductibles

11. New York State Attorney General, Contractors and home maintenance

12. Texas Department of Insurance, What if my insurance isn't paying enough?

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