What Does Hail Damage Look Like on a Roof?
Hail damage on asphalt shingles usually shows up as dark, bruised spots where granules have been knocked loose, exposing the black asphalt mat underneath. On metal roofing, look for dented panels or dimpling near seams. Soffit, fascia, and gutters often show small dents or cracks too, even when the roof itself looks fine from the ground.
North Dakota sits in one of the most hail-prone regions in the country. According to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center, the Northern Plains — including the Bakken region — regularly logs 20 or more hail events per year, with many storms producing hail over an inch in diameter. That's enough to crack shingle mats and dent metal panels on a single afternoon.
How Soon Should You Get a Roof Inspection After a Storm?
We recommend scheduling a professional roof inspection within 7 to 10 days of any hailstorm, even if you don't see obvious damage from the ground. Granule loss and cracked mats aren't always visible from the driveway, and delaying an inspection can let moisture work into the deck before a claim is even filed.
"Homeowners often wait until they see a leak, but by then the damage has been sitting under the shingles for weeks," says our lead crew supervisor at B&C Northern Construction. "A same-week inspection after a hailstorm is the cheapest insurance you can buy."
The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) estimates hail causes over $10 billion in roof and property damage claims across the U.S. each year, and a large share of that comes from storms in the Northern Plains and Rockies corridor.
Can You Repair Hail Damage, or Do You Need a Full Roof Replacement?
Minor, isolated hail bruising on a newer asphalt roof can often be handled with general roof repair — replacing individual shingles or sections without touching the whole roof. Widespread granule loss, cracked mats across multiple slopes, or damage to a roof already past 12-15 years old usually points toward full replacement instead.
| Damage Level | Typical Fix | Rough Lifespan Impact |
|---|---|---|
| A few dented shingles, no exposed mat | Spot repair | Minimal, if caught early |
| Granule loss across multiple slopes | Full slope or section repair | Moderate — accelerates aging |
| Cracked mats, exposed decking, multiple leaks | Complete roof replacement | Roof needs full reset |
| Metal panel denting near seams | Panel replacement or full re-cover | Depends on seam integrity |
If a storm hits hard enough to knock siding or knock loose soffit panels along with the roof, our storm and hail damage restoration crew handles the whole exterior in one visit rather than piecing it out over multiple appointments.
What Should Homeowners in Williston, Watford City, and Tioga Do Right Now?
If a storm has already rolled through your area this summer, don't wait for a slow leak to tell you there's a problem. Walk your yard for hail-dented downspouts or damaged siding, check your vehicles for dents (a good early indicator of hail size), and call for an inspection before you file an insurance claim — not after.
Here's a quick checklist:
- Photograph any visible dents on siding, vehicles, or outdoor furniture right after the storm
- Don't climb onto the roof yourself — granule loss makes shingles slippery and brittle
- Schedule an inspection within 7-10 days, even if nothing looks obviously wrong
- Keep any inspection report on file for your insurance adjuster
If you need someone on the roof same-day, our emergency roof repair team covers Williston, Watford City, Tioga, Ray, Dickinson, Minot, and the surrounding Bakken communities. We've been documenting hail patterns and repair outcomes across western North Dakota for years, and most storm-related roof problems are far cheaper to fix in the first two weeks than after a winter of freeze-thaw cycles gets into a cracked shingle mat.
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center hail climatology data; Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) hail loss estimates.