Start with soft metals
Aluminum and thin steel dent before shingles fracture, which makes them the best ground-level indicator on the property. Walk the perimeter and look at downspouts, gutter faces, the metal drip edge, furnace and plumbing vent caps, window wraps, and the AC condenser fins.
Round dents scattered on the north and west faces — the directions most Front Range storms come from — mean the storm carried enough energy to bruise shingles.
Then look for granules
Check the splash blocks and the ground under downspout outlets for a pile of shingle granules. Some granule shed is normal on a new roof; a fresh accumulation after a storm is not.
What you can't see from the ground
Hail bruising on asphalt shingles often looks like nothing at all from the driveway. The mat fractures under the granule surface, and the failure shows up months or years later as a leak. That's why insurers require a walked inspection and why we photograph every slope rather than relying on a drive-by.
- Bruises — soft spots that give under thumb pressure.
- Fractured mat visible under displaced granules.
- Damaged ridge cap, which takes the worst of any storm.
- Cracked or displaced pipe boots and torn step flashing.
When to call
If you find dented soft metals, or your address is inside a recent storm footprint, get on the inspection schedule. Our inspection is free, we photograph everything, and if there's no claimable damage we'll tell you that in writing so you have a dated record for later.