5 Signs of Storm Damage Most Homeowners Miss (And Why They Matter)
New Jersey weather is no joke. Between summer thunderstorms, winter nor'easters, and the occasional hurricane, our roofs take a beating. But here's the thing—some of the most serious storm damage isn't obvious from the ground.
We've been in the roofing business for 24 years, and we've seen homeowners discover significant storm damage months or even years after a storm, only to find out their insurance claim window has closed. That's heartbreaking, and it's completely preventable.
After every major storm, we get calls from homeowners who didn't realize they had damage until their ceiling started leaking. By then, a problem that insurance would have covered has turned into an out-of-pocket expense.
So let's talk about the five signs of storm damage that most homeowners miss—and what to do if you find them.
Sign #1: Missing Granules (The Silent Shingle Killer)
This is the #1 most overlooked sign of hail damage, and it's critical.
What Are Granules?
Those tiny, sand-like particles that cover your asphalt shingles? Those are granules. They're not just for looks—they protect your shingles from UV rays, regulate temperature, and provide fire resistance.
When hail hits your roof, it doesn't always punch holes or crack shingles in an obvious way. Instead, it often knocks these granules loose. The shingle might look fine from a distance, but it's been compromised.
How to Check for Missing Granules
The easiest place to spot granule loss is in your gutters and downspouts. After a major storm—especially if there was hail—take a look in your gutters.
If you see what looks like coarse black sand or gravel collecting in your gutters or washing out your downspouts, those are shingle granules. A small amount is normal over time, but if you see significant accumulation after a storm, that's a red flag.
You can also look at your shingles from ground level with binoculars. Areas with granule loss will look darker or shinier than the surrounding shingles because you're seeing the asphalt layer underneath.
Why This Matters
Once granules are gone, your shingles deteriorate rapidly. UV rays break down the asphalt, the shingles become brittle, and they'll start cracking and curling within a year or two.
What could have been a full roof replacement covered by insurance becomes a situation where your roof fails prematurely, and you're paying for it yourself.
Sign #2: Lifted or Creased Shingles (Hidden Wind Damage)
High winds are incredibly destructive to roofs, but the damage isn't always obvious.
What Wind Does to Your Roof
You know how wind can lift and tear off shingles completely? That's obvious damage. But wind also does something more subtle—it can lift shingles without tearing them off, breaking the seal underneath.
Every asphalt shingle has a strip of adhesive on the back that bonds it to the shingle below. This creates a wind-resistant seal. But if wind lifts the shingle hard enough, that seal breaks. The shingle might settle back down and look fine, but it's no longer properly attached.
How to Identify Lifted Shingles
From the ground, look for shingles that appear slightly raised at the edges or tabs. They might look wavy or uneven compared to the shingles around them.
If you can safely access your roof (and please, be careful—we'd rather you call us than risk injury), you can gently lift the edge of a shingle. It should resist and feel sealed down. If it lifts easily, the seal is broken.
Creased shingles are another sign. These look like someone folded the shingle and then laid it back flat. You'll see a line or crease across the shingle where it bent. This happens when extreme wind literally folds shingles over on themselves.
Why This Matters
Lifted shingles will leak during the next rain. Water will get under them, soaking your underlayment and eventually reaching your roof deck and attic.
Even worse, lifted shingles are vulnerable to future wind events. In the next storm, these already-compromised shingles are the first to blow off completely.
Sign #3: Dented Metal (The Hail Damage Indicator)
This is a trick we use to confirm hail damage even when the roof damage isn't obvious.
The Metal Test
Here's the reality: hail that's large enough to damage your roof will also damage metal surfaces. But while roof damage can be subtle and hard to see, dented metal is obvious.
After a hailstorm, check these areas:
Gutters (especially the horizontal runs)
Downspouts
Metal roof vents
Chimney caps
Air conditioning units
Metal siding or trim
Your car (obviously)
If you find dents in these metal surfaces, your roof has almost certainly been damaged too—even if you can't see it clearly.
Understanding Hail Impact
Hail damage on shingles looks like dark spots or bruises. The impact compresses the shingle, fracturing the fiberglass mat underneath and knocking off granules. From ground level, these spots are nearly impossible to see.
But that dent in your gutter? That's proof that hail struck your property with enough force to damage roofing materials.
Why This Matters
Many homeowners don't file insurance claims because they don't see obvious roof damage. They assume if the roof looks okay from the ground, everything must be fine.
But if your gutters are dented, your roof is damaged. Period. Those hail impacts have shortened your roof's lifespan significantly, and you should file a claim.
Insurance companies know this too. When adjusters come out, one of the first things they check is your gutters and AC unit. They're looking for confirmation of hail impact.
Sign #4: Water Stains Inside Your Home (Damage You Can't Ignore)
This one seems obvious, but homeowners often misunderstand what new water stains mean.
What New Stains Tell You
If you have water staining on your ceiling or walls that appeared during or shortly after a storm, water is getting into your home. That means your roof's protective barrier has been breached somewhere.
Sometimes homeowners see a small stain and think, "Well, it was a really bad storm. I'm sure it's a one-time thing." Then the next rain comes, and the stain gets bigger. By the third rain, water is actively dripping.
Common Stain Locations
Pay special attention to:
Ceilings near the roofline
Corners of rooms on the top floor
Areas around chimneys and skylights
Walls on exterior-facing sides
Attic spaces (check with a flashlight)
Water stains can be brown, yellow, or even gray/black if there's mold developing. They might be small spots or large patches. Size doesn't matter—any new water stain after a storm is a problem.
The Hidden Damage
Here's what many people don't realize: by the time you see a water stain on your ceiling, water has been traveling through your roof structure for a while.
Water rarely drops straight down. It travels along rafters, runs across the roof deck, soaks into insulation, and finally drips down to where you can see it. The actual roof damage might be 10 feet away from where you see the stain.
That's why you need a professional to locate the source. The leak location and the stain location are often in completely different spots.
Why This Matters
Water damage inside your home means you have an active leak. Every rain makes it worse. The longer water infiltrates, the more damage it causes—to your roof deck, your insulation, your drywall, and potentially your home's framing.
Plus, wet environments breed mold, which is a health hazard and expensive to remediate.
If you see new water stains after a storm, call a roofer immediately. This isn't something to monitor or wait on.
Sign #5: Shingle "Bruising" (Subtle Hail Damage)
This is the most commonly missed sign of hail damage, and it's the reason you should have your roof professionally inspected after any significant hailstorm.
What Shingle Bruising Looks Like
Hail bruises look like dark spots or circles on your shingles. They're areas where the impact compressed the shingle, damaging the fiberglass mat underneath without necessarily tearing through the top surface.
From the ground, they're nearly invisible. Even from on top of the roof, you might not notice them unless you're specifically looking. They blend in with the natural color variation of shingles.
But when you run your hand over a bruised shingle, you can feel it—the spot will be soft or slightly indented compared to the surrounding area.
The Progressive Problem
Here's why bruising is so insidious: the shingle looks mostly fine right after the storm. But the fiberglass mat underneath has been fractured. Over the next 6-12 months, those damaged areas start to fail.
The shingle might crack along the bruise line. It might start losing granules rapidly in that spot. Eventually, it fails completely—but by then, it's been too long to file an insurance claim.
Professional Inspection is Key
This is why we always recommend professional inspection after hailstorms. We know what to look for, where to look, and how to document the damage for insurance purposes.
We've had homeowners tell us they climbed on their roof, didn't see any damage, and figured they were fine. Six months later, they call us because their roof is suddenly failing in multiple places.
When we inspect, we find widespread hail bruising that was there all along—they just didn't know how to identify it.
Why This Matters
Hail bruising might not cause immediate leaks, but it significantly shortens your roof's lifespan. A roof that should have lasted 25 years might only last 15 because of unrepaired hail damage.
Most insurance policies give you 1-2 years to file a claim after storm damage. If you wait too long and your roof starts failing, you're paying for the replacement yourself.
What to Do If You Find Storm Damage
If you identify any of these signs after a storm, here's your action plan:
1. Document Everything Immediately
Take photos and videos of all damage you find—even if it seems minor. Photograph:
Damaged shingles
Dented gutters or metal
Water stains inside
Granules in gutters
Any fallen debris
Include close-ups and wide shots. This documentation is crucial for insurance claims.
2. Call Your Insurance Company
Don't wait. Most homeowner's policies require you to report damage "promptly" and file claims within 1-2 years. Starting the clock sooner rather than later protects you.
3. Get a Professional Inspection
Have a reputable roofing contractor inspect your roof. At Advisor Exteriors, we provide detailed inspection reports with photos and documentation that you can submit to your insurance company.
Be wary of storm chasers—contractors who show up at your door unsolicited after storms. Many are legitimate, but some are out-of-state companies looking to make quick money with subpar work.
4. Don't Rush Repairs Before Insurance Inspection
If you have an active leak that needs immediate attention, do the minimum necessary temporary repair. But don't authorize major work until after your insurance adjuster has inspected the damage.
Why? Because once repairs are made, the adjuster can't see the original damage, and they might deny your claim.
5. Work With Your Adjuster
When the insurance adjuster comes out, have your roofing contractor there too if possible. Adjusters sometimes miss damage that experienced roofers can point out.
Be factual and honest. Don't exaggerate damage, but don't minimize it either.
Prevention: Protect Yourself Before the Next Storm
You can't prevent storm damage, but you can be prepared:
Keep your roof well-maintained. Roofs in good condition withstand storms better.
Know your insurance policy. What's your deductible? What's covered? What's the claim filing deadline?
Have a trusted roofing contractor's number saved. When a storm hits, everyone calls for inspections. Calling early gets you on the schedule faster.
Take "before" photos of your roof annually. This helps establish what damage is new versus pre-existing.
The Bottom Line on Storm Damage
Storm damage doesn't always announce itself with massive holes or piles of missing shingles. Often, it's subtle—lifted seals, granule loss, small bruises that lead to big problems down the road.
After any significant storm with high winds or hail, have your roof professionally inspected. The 30 minutes it takes could save you thousands of dollars and protect your insurance claim rights.
We've seen too many homeowners who waited, only to discover damage after their claim window closed. Don't let that be you.
At Advisor Exteriors, we provide free storm damage assessments throughout New Jersey. We'll inspect your roof, document any damage we find, and help you understand your next steps—whether that's filing an insurance claim or simply monitoring the situation.
Because after 24 years in this business, we know one thing for sure: catching storm damage early protects your home, your wallet, and your peace of mind.