Summer Hail and Wind in Dane County: Checking Your Roof
Summer thunderstorms in southern Wisconsin can bring hail and damaging winds with little warning. A quick, safe check afterwards can catch problems early.
Request a rooferStart at ground level
Walk around the house. Look for shingle pieces, dented gutters, damaged screens and dents on the air conditioner or vents.
Hail marks
On shingles, hail leaves round dark spots where granules have been knocked off.
Wind damage
Missing shingles are obvious; lifted or creased ones are harder to spot. Look along ridges and edges with binoculars.
Trees
Check for broken limbs resting on the roof or hanging over it. Leave removal to a tree professional.
Inside
Look at top-floor ceilings for new stains, and check the attic if it's safe.
Record it
Take dated photos and note the storm date. Your insurer may ask.
Be careful who you hire
Ask for written quotes and local references, and be wary of anyone offering to cover your deductible.
Get an inspection
See hail and wind damage.
Size of the hail matters
Pea-sized hail rarely damages a roof in good condition. Hail around the size of a quarter or larger, especially with strong wind behind it, is more likely to bruise shingles. Local weather reports often note hail size, so save them.
When damage shows up
Bruised shingles don't always leak right away. They can lose granules and crack over the following months, so a professional check soon after the storm is more useful than waiting for a stain.
Older roofs
Brittle, aging shingles break more easily in hail than new ones. If your roof is already near the end of its life, a storm may tip it over the edge.
Keep receipts
If you need emergency tarping or tree removal after a storm, keep every receipt and take photos before and after. Insurers usually want to see what was done to prevent further damage.
More roofing guides
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