Can Hail Damage a New Roof?

You just replaced your roof. The shingles are new, the warranty paperwork is filed away, and you expect to have years before you need to worry about your roofing system again.

Then a Missouri hailstorm rolls through.

It raises an understandable question: Can hail really damage a brand-new roof?

Yes.

A new roof is generally better prepared to withstand severe weather than an older, deteriorated roofing system, but no asphalt shingle roof is completely hail-proof. Large enough hail, strong winds, and repeated impacts can damage roofing materials regardless of how recently they were installed.

The good news is that newer roofing materials may perform better during a storm, particularly when quality shingles are properly installed. Some homeowners can also choose impact-resistant roofing products designed specifically to withstand more severe impacts.

Here’s what Missouri homeowners should know about hail damage and newer roofs.

Can a Brand-New Roof Really Have Hail Damage?

Absolutely.

The age of your roof is only one factor that determines how it responds to hail.

Imagine throwing a small pebble at a new roofing shingle. It probably won’t do much.

Now imagine a piece of ice the size of a golf ball or baseball falling from thousands of feet above the ground while strong winds drive it toward your roof.

That’s a very different type of impact.

Severe hail can damage even relatively new roofing materials.

The amount of damage depends on several factors, including:

• Hailstone size
• Hail density and hardness
• Wind speed and direction
• Roof slope
• Shingle type
• Impact resistance
• Installation quality
• Temperature during the storm
• Number of hail impacts

Two houses sitting across the street from each other can experience the same storm and come away with very different levels of roof damage.

Does a New Roof Handle Hail Better Than an Old Roof?

Generally, newer shingles may be better positioned to withstand impacts than roofing materials that have experienced years of aging and weather exposure.

As asphalt shingles age, they experience repeated exposure to:

• UV radiation
• Summer heat
• Freezing temperatures
• Wind
• Rain
• Snow and ice
• Previous hailstorms

Over time, shingles may lose granules and become less flexible.

A newer shingle hasn’t experienced years of this environmental stress.

That doesn’t make it indestructible.

A severe enough hailstorm can still create damage during the very first storm a new roof experiences.

How Big Does Hail Have to Be to Damage a New Roof?

There isn’t one specific hail size that guarantees roof damage.

Small hail may cause little or no damage to a quality roofing system, while larger hail has a much greater potential to cause problems.

But size isn’t the only thing that matters.

Wind can dramatically change the force and angle at which hail strikes a roof.

The hardness of the hailstones also matters. Two storms producing similarly sized hailstones may not create identical damage because the density, shape, wind speed, and duration of the storm can differ.

This is why you shouldn’t assume your roof is fine based solely on the reported hail size.

If your property experiences significant hail, a professional inspection can provide a much better understanding of how your specific roofing system performed.

What Does Hail Damage Look Like on New Shingles?

Hail damage isn’t always obvious.

After a severe storm, homeowners often walk outside, look up at the roof, and assume everything is fine because all of the shingles are still there.

Unfortunately, hail doesn’t need to remove a shingle to damage it.

Potential signs can include:

• Areas of concentrated granule loss
• Impact marks
• Bruising of the shingle
• Cracks or fractures
• Exposed asphalt
• Damage to ridge caps
• Dented roof vents
• Damaged flashing
• Dented gutters and downspouts

Some of these conditions can be difficult or impossible to identify accurately from the ground.

That’s one reason a professional roof inspection after a major hailstorm can be valuable even when your roof is relatively new.

Why Does Granule Loss Matter?

The granules covering asphalt shingles aren’t just there for appearance.

They help protect the underlying asphalt from sunlight and UV exposure.

A hailstone striking the roof can knock granules loose or damage the bond between the granules and the shingle.

Significant impact-related granule loss can expose more of the underlying material to the elements.

Over time, that can contribute to accelerated deterioration.

This is also one reason hail damage doesn’t always create an immediate leak.

The roof may continue keeping water out after the storm while damaged areas gradually deteriorate through additional exposure to heat, sunlight, rain, and changing temperatures.

Our article on how summer heat can expose hidden damage from spring hail explains how this process can continue long after the storm has passed.

If My New Roof Isn’t Leaking, Does That Mean It’s Fine?

No.

A leak is one possible sign of roof damage, but it shouldn’t be the standard used to determine whether a roof survived a hailstorm.

Many types of storm damage don’t immediately allow water into the home.

A roof can have damaged shingles while continuing to shed water normally for some time.

As the roofing system experiences additional heat, rain, wind, and temperature changes, weakened areas may become more problematic.

Waiting for water to appear on your ceiling means you’re waiting until moisture has already made its way through multiple layers of your roofing system.

After significant hail, it’s better to determine whether damage exists before a leak develops.

Check More Than Just the Shingles

One of the easiest ways to identify whether a property experienced significant hail is to look beyond the roof itself.

Hail can affect many exterior components, including:

• Gutters
• Downspouts
• Roof vents
• Flashing
• Siding
• Window screens
• Fascia
• Garage doors
• Outdoor HVAC equipment

Damage to softer metals can sometimes provide clues about the severity and direction of hail impacts.

If you’re inspecting your property from the ground after a storm, look for dents or other obvious changes to these components.

Our guide to storm damage involving roofs, gutters, and siding explains why it’s important to evaluate the home’s entire exterior after severe weather.

What Are Impact-Resistant Shingles?

Homeowners concerned about hail may want to consider impact-resistant roofing materials.

Impact-resistant shingles are designed and tested to withstand higher levels of impact than standard roofing products.

You’ll often hear these products referred to as Class 3 or Class 4 shingles.

Class 4 is the highest impact-resistance classification under the commonly used UL 2218 testing standard.

During testing, steel balls of different sizes are dropped onto roofing materials to evaluate their resistance to cracking and other impact-related damage.

A Class 4 rating indicates that the product successfully met the requirements of the highest classification in that test.

That does not mean a Class 4 roof is hail-proof.

Real hailstorms can produce conditions that laboratory testing cannot perfectly replicate. Extremely large hail or severe wind-driven impacts can still damage an impact-resistant roof.

The advantage is improved resistance, not immunity.

Are Class 4 Shingles Worth Considering in Missouri?

For many Missouri homeowners, they certainly deserve consideration.

Missouri regularly experiences severe thunderstorms, hail, high winds, intense summer heat, freezing temperatures, and other conditions that put roofing systems to the test.

If you’re already replacing your roof, upgrading to an impact-resistant shingle may provide additional protection against future storms.

Some insurance companies may also offer discounts or other benefits for qualifying impact-resistant roofing products.

Those programs vary by insurance company and policy, so homeowners should contact their insurance carrier directly to determine whether any discount is available.

When comparing roofing materials, don’t look only at the upfront cost.

Consider:

• Impact resistance
• Expected service life
• Manufacturer warranty
• Wind resistance
• Appearance
• Installation requirements
• Potential insurance benefits
• Local weather conditions

The best roofing material is one that fits both your home and the environment where you live.

Does the Contractor Matter If the Shingles Are New?

Very much.

High-quality shingles can only perform as intended when the entire roofing system is installed correctly.

A roof isn’t simply a layer of shingles.

It includes components such as:

• Roof decking
• Underlayment
• Ice and water protection where required
• Starter shingles
• Flashing
• Ventilation
• Ridge caps
• Fasteners
• Exhaust vents
• Intake ventilation

Installation mistakes can create vulnerabilities even when premium materials are used.

That’s why choosing the right roofing contractor is just as important as choosing the shingles themselves.

Advanced Restorations is an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred Contractor. You can learn more about what makes a roofing contractor certified and why certification matters.

Does a Manufacturer Warranty Cover Hail Damage?

This is an important distinction.

A roofing manufacturer’s warranty and homeowners insurance serve different purposes.

Manufacturer warranties generally address qualifying issues involving roofing products or installation depending on the specific warranty.

Damage caused by external weather events such as hail is generally handled differently from a product defect.

Don’t assume that because you have a new roof with a strong manufacturer warranty, hail damage will automatically be covered by that warranty.

Review your specific warranty documents to understand what is and isn’t included.

For storm-related damage, you should also review your homeowners insurance policy and contact your insurance company with questions about coverage.

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover Hail Damage to a New Roof?

Potentially, if hail is a covered peril under your policy and the damage meets the policy’s requirements.

A newer roof may also be treated differently from an older roofing system when the insurance company calculates the loss.

For example, your policy may provide Replacement Cost Value coverage rather than settling the roof exclusively on an Actual Cash Value basis.

However, every insurance policy is different.

You should review:

• Your wind and hail deductible
• Replacement Cost Value provisions
• Actual Cash Value provisions
• Cosmetic damage exclusions
• Roof endorsements
• Other limitations or exclusions

If terms like RCV and ACV are unfamiliar, our guide to Actual Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost in Missouri roof claims explains the difference.

You should also understand your wind and hail deductible before you need to file a claim.

Your insurance carrier ultimately determines whether damage is covered under your policy.

What If the Roof Was Just Replaced Through an Insurance Claim?

Here’s where things can get frustrating.

Suppose hail damaged your old roof, your insurance claim was approved, and your new roof was installed.

Then another hailstorm hits six months later.

Or six weeks later.

Your newly installed roof isn’t automatically protected from the second storm simply because it was recently replaced.

If the new storm causes new damage, it represents a new weather event.

Have the roof inspected again and notify your insurance carrier if damage is discovered.

We’ve created a separate guide explaining what happens if new hail hits a roof that already has an open insurance claim for homeowners dealing with overlapping storms or an unfinished claim.

Document the Condition of Your New Roof

One advantage of having a new roof is that you have an opportunity to establish exactly what it looked like before future storms occur.

Keep your:

• Roofing contract
• Final invoice
• Warranty documentation
• Shingle product information
• Installation photographs
• Final inspection documents
• Date of installation

It can also be helpful to have clear photographs of the completed roof.

If another storm occurs later, you’ll have documentation showing the condition and age of the roofing system beforehand.

After a storm, additional photographs and professional inspection records can establish its condition afterward.

Good documentation can be extremely helpful when communicating with your insurance company.

Read our guide on how to document roof damage for an insurance claim in Missouri for more information.

Check Whether Hail Actually Hit Your Property

Severe storms can vary dramatically even across the same neighborhood.

One side of town may experience large hail while another receives only heavy rain.

If you’re unsure whether significant weather affected your address, Advanced Restorations offers a free Extreme Weather Report.

The report can help identify hail, wind, and other severe weather events that may have affected your property.

If a significant event occurred, you can then decide whether a professional roof inspection makes sense.

Should You Have a New Roof Inspected After Hail?

If your property experiences a significant hailstorm, yes.

Don’t assume that a roof is undamaged simply because it’s only a few months or years old.

You also shouldn’t assume damage exists just because hail fell in your neighborhood.

An inspection answers the question.

A professional roofing contractor can evaluate the shingles, ridge caps, vents, flashing, gutters, and other exterior components for evidence of storm impacts.

If no significant damage is found, you gain peace of mind.

If damage is discovered, you’ll know about it before additional weather has an opportunity to make the problem worse.

A New Roof Is Strong, Not Invincible

Replacing your roof is one of the biggest investments you can make in protecting your home.

A properly installed new roofing system can provide years of reliable protection against Missouri weather.

But “new” doesn’t mean “hail-proof.”

Severe storms can damage roofs of virtually any age.

The best approach is to choose quality roofing materials, work with a qualified contractor, understand your insurance coverage, keep your roofing documents, and have the system evaluated after significant hail events.

That way, if Mother Nature puts your new roof to the test, you’ll know exactly what condition it’s in.

Schedule a Free Roof Inspection After a Hailstorm

Did hail recently hit your neighborhood?

Even if your roof is relatively new, the Pink Shirt Roofers™ at Advanced Restorations can help you determine how it handled the storm.

We’ll inspect your roofing system for visible signs of hail and wind damage, document what we find, and help you understand the condition of your roof.

If no significant damage is found, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing your new roof did its job.

If damage is present, you’ll have documentation you can use when determining your next steps.

Call 417-962-8844 today to schedule your FREE roof inspection with Advanced Restorations.