August 28, 2026
If you live in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you already know how quickly a beautiful day can turn into a severe storm. Hail can damage vehicles, windows, siding, gutters and, most importantly, your roof.
The problem is that roof hail damage isn't always obvious from the ground.
A roof can look perfectly normal from your driveway while individual shingles have been damaged by hail. Over time, that damage can allow water to penetrate the roofing system and eventually lead to leaks, wood rot and more expensive repairs.
If your home in Arlington, Fort Worth or anywhere in the DFW area has recently experienced a hailstorm, here are seven signs you should look for.
One of the most common signs of hail damage is bruising on asphalt shingles.
Hail can strike a shingle with enough force to damage the underlying material. You may see dark spots, exposed areas or dents where the hail hit.
The damage isn't always dramatic. In some cases, the shingle may still look intact even though its protective surface has been compromised.
That's one reason a professional roof inspection after a significant hailstorm can be valuable.
Large hail and strong winds can damage shingles enough to break them loose.
Look around your yard after a storm. If you find pieces of roofing material, granules or shingles on the ground, that's a reason to have your roof inspected.
Missing shingles can expose the underlying roofing system to rain and other weather.
Take a look inside your gutters and downspouts.
It's normal for some roofing granules to make their way into your gutters over the life of a roof. However, a noticeable amount of granule loss after a major hailstorm can be a warning sign.
Those granules protect the shingle from UV exposure and weather.
If you've recently experienced hail and suddenly notice significantly more granules around your gutters or downspouts, consider having your roof checked.
Don't only look at the shingles.
Hail can also leave visible evidence on metal components around your roof. Check your:
Dents in these areas don't automatically prove that your roof has functional damage, but they can be an important clue that your property experienced a significant hail event.
Your roof isn't necessarily the only thing that gets hit.
After a major storm, inspect your siding, fencing, window screens, patio furniture and other exterior surfaces.
If hail was large enough to leave visible damage elsewhere around your property, it's worth having the roof inspected as well.
Sometimes the first sign of roof damage appears inside the house.
Check your ceilings and walls for:
If you discover an active leak, don't wait to address it. Water entering your home can cause damage well beyond the original roofing problem.
Sometimes the biggest clue is simply the storm itself.
If homes, vehicles and other properties throughout your neighborhood have been damaged by hail, your roof may have been affected even if you can't see anything from the ground.
A professional roofing contractor can inspect areas that aren't safely visible from the ground and document potential damage.
If you believe your roof may have been damaged, start by documenting what you can safely see.
Take photographs of visible damage around your property. Avoid climbing onto your roof yourself. Roof surfaces can be steep, slippery and dangerous, especially after severe weather.
The Texas Department of Insurance recommends photographing and documenting storm damage and making only temporary repairs necessary to prevent additional damage until the insurance company can evaluate the loss.
You can then have a qualified roofing contractor inspect the roof and explain what they find.
Not necessarily.
Every roof is different. The appropriate solution depends on the type and extent of the damage, the condition and age of the existing roof, and other factors.
Sometimes repairs are appropriate. In other situations, widespread storm damage may make replacement the better option.
The important thing is to find out what condition your roof is actually in before making a decision.
If you're concerned that your Arlington, Fort Worth or DFW-area home may have hail damage, don't guess from the driveway.
A professional inspection can help identify damage that isn't immediately obvious and give you a better understanding of your roof's condition.
Lonestar RAC provides roof inspections and storm-damage roofing services for homeowners throughout the DFW area.
If your neighborhood was recently hit by hail, contact Lonestar RAC to schedule a roof inspection and find out whether your home needs repairs or further attention.
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