How To Check Your Roof For Hail Damage
If you heard hail hammering your roof between 1 and 3 in the afternoon on a summer day, you already know how fast a Calgary storm can move. The sky goes dark, the hail comes down hard for 15 or 20 minutes and then it’s done, leaving you wondering whether that was loud or destructive. Sometimes it’s both. Sometimes it’s just loud. The only way to know is to check.
This post walks through how to spot real hail damage, what it means for your roof and what to do if you find it.
Why Calgary Roofs Get Hit Hard
Calgary sits at the northern end of Hailstorm Alley, a corridor of south and central Alberta that produces some of the most damaging hailstorms in the world. The storms that cause roof damage here tend to build over the foothills in the late morning and roll northeast across the city through the early afternoon, which is why NE Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere and parts of Rocky View County take repeated direct hits year after year.
The south side of the city sees its share of storms too, but the track of most major cells tends to carry the worst of the hail northeast before it reaches communities like Shawnessy or Evergreen. That’s not a guarantee of anything. A storm that parks directly over the SW or SE can still do serious damage, and we’ve repaired plenty of roofs in south Calgary over the years. The difference is frequency, not immunity.
The August 2024 storm became the second-costliest natural disaster in Canadian history at $2.8 billion in damage. NE Calgary and the communities north and east of the city absorbed the bulk of it. If your neighbourhood was in the path, your roof may still have damage you haven’t noticed yet.
What Hail Damage Actually Looks Like
You don’t need to get on the roof to do a first assessment. Start from the ground and work your way in.
Check your downspouts and gutters first. After a significant storm, asphalt shingles shed granules and those granules collect in gutters and wash out of downspouts. A handful of dark granules after a storm is normal wear. A pile of them is not.
From the ground, look at your metal roof vents, flashing and any exposed metal along the ridge or valleys. Soft metal dents easily and hail leaves round, distinct marks. If your vents are dimpled, your shingles took the same impact.
Inside the attic, look for water stains on the decking or insulation, particularly near the edges and around any penetrations. Hail can crack or displace shingles in ways that aren’t visible from street level but show up as moisture within a few rain events.
If you can safely access the roof, press the surface of a few shingles in different areas. Hail bruises asphalt shingles by breaking down the mat beneath the surface. A healthy shingle feels firm. A bruised one has a slight give when you press it, like pressing a soft spot on fruit. Large hail can leave visible circular cracks. Smaller hail, even under an inch, can cause functional damage to older shingles that won’t show clearly but will shorten the remaining life of the roof significantly.
Repair, Reroof or Replace?
The answer depends on how much of the roof is affected and how old the shingles are. Hail damage concentrated in one area, say around a skylight or a section facing the storm’s path, often means targeted repairs. Widespread bruising or granule loss across the whole field of the roof is usually a replacement conversation because patching shingles of different ages creates inconsistent performance and appearance over time.
Reroofing, which means installing new shingles over the existing layer, is a cost-effective option but only works once and only when the existing deck is in good enough condition to support another layer. A full replacement strips everything back to the deck and gives your roofer a clear view of any underlying damage. Both are legitimate approaches depending on what the inspection finds
What to Ask Your Roofer
After a major hail event in Calgary, storm-chasing contractors show up fast. Some are legitimate. Some are not. Before you sign anything, ask any contractor whether they hold a valid City of Calgary business licence (you can verify this by calling 311) and whether they’ll provide a written assessment before any work begins. A roofer who pressures you to sign on the spot or offers to waive your insurance deductible is worth walking away from.
Albany Roofing is Calgary-based and has been on local roofs after every significant storm season for over 25 years. Gjon and the crew will tell you honestly what the roof needs, whether that’s a repair or a full replacement.
Does Insurance Cover Hail Damage?
Most Alberta home insurance policies include coverage for sudden and accidental damage from hail, but the specific terms vary by policy and provider. Contact your insurer before hiring a contractor to understand your coverage and the claims process.
Get a Free Roof Inspection
If your home has been impacted by a storm, call Gjon and the team at Albany Roofing to request a free estimate. We’ll come out, look at what the storm left behind and give you a straight answer on what your roof actually needs.