Last Updated: April 1, 2026
Houston just had another hailstorm. Maybe it was last night, maybe it was last week — and now you're wondering: did my roof take a hit? This is one of the most common questions we get at One Sun America after any major storm in the Houston area.
The problem is that hail damage isn't always obvious from the ground, and waiting too long to find out can cost you thousands — both in repair costs and in your ability to file an insurance claim. Here's exactly what to look for.
Most homes in Houston have asphalt shingle roofs. When hail hits asphalt, it doesn't just leave a dent — it knocks off the protective granules embedded in the shingle surface. Those granules do two critical jobs: they protect the asphalt from UV degradation, and they give the shingle its fire rating.
When a shingle loses granules, the exposed asphalt begins to dry out, crack, and fail — usually within 2 to 5 years. A roof that might have lasted another decade can be functionally compromised after one bad storm. That's why insurers and contractors alike take hail damage seriously, even when the roof isn't leaking yet.
You don't need to climb on your roof to spot the early signs. In fact, if you suspect storm damage, stay off the roof — wet shingles after a storm are extremely slippery, and a fall from a single-story roof can be fatal.
This is your first stop. Walk the perimeter of your home after a storm and look at your gutters and downspouts carefully:
Your air conditioning condenser unit sits in the open — its aluminum fins are a perfect hail impact indicator. If the fins look like someone went after them with a golf ball, your roof very likely took a similar beating. Same applies to outdoor furniture, satellite dishes, and wooden fence rails.
Hail leaves small round holes or tears in window screens. Vinyl siding will show small circular cracks or chips. These are ground-level confirmation that hail in your area was large enough to cause damage.
If you see any of the signs above, it's time for a professional inspection. Here's what a trained inspector looks for on the shingles themselves:
A hail impact leaves what looks like a dark spot on the shingle — similar to a bruise on a piece of fruit. When you press it (a contractor will do this), it feels soft or spongy because the mat underneath the asphalt has been fractured. This is functional damage, meaning the shingle's integrity is compromised even if it hasn't cracked through yet.
Each hail impact knocks granules off the shingle in a roughly circular pattern. From above, these look like lighter-colored circles against the gray or brown surface of the shingle. On a new roof, these circles are easy to identify. On an older Houston roof that's already lost some granules to UV and heat, you need a trained eye to distinguish storm damage from normal wear.
Very large hail — 2 inches or bigger, which Houston does see during supercell storms — can crack shingles outright. If the shingle surface is cracked, you have immediate water infiltration risk, especially during Houston's heavy rain seasons (spring and fall).
Metal flashings around chimneys, skylights, and roof penetrations, as well as ridge vents and pipe collars, often show hail strikes as visible dents. These areas are critical waterproofing points — any deformation here can allow water in long before the shingles fail.
Yes — and this is one of the most important things to understand about hail claims. Insurance companies cover functional damage, not just active leaks. A shingle that has lost granules over a significant area is functionally damaged even if it hasn't let water in yet. Waiting until your ceiling is stained can actually complicate your claim, because now you have interior damage too.
Texas law generally gives you one year from the date of loss to file a hail claim (some policies allow two years — check yours). Don't wait.
This is where Houston homeowners sometimes make costly mistakes. Hail-damaged roofs in Houston face a compounding problem:
Call a roofing contractor if:
At One Sun America, we inspect roofs at no charge, no pressure. We'll tell you honestly whether you have damage worth claiming, damage that needs repair, or no meaningful damage at all. We serve all of the Houston metro area, including Katy, Pearland, Sugar Land, The Woodlands, and Pasadena.
From the ground, look for dents in your gutters, downspouts, or AC unit fins — these are made of soft aluminum and dent easily. Also check window screens for punctures and look for shingle granules washing out of your downspouts after rain. If you see any of these signs, it's worth having a professional inspect the roof itself.
Most homeowner insurance policies in Texas cover hail damage, but you must file within a certain window — typically one year from the date of loss. Texas law (HB 1774) affects how claims are handled, so it's important to document damage promptly and contact your insurer as soon as possible after a storm.
Hail as small as 1 inch can cause functional damage to asphalt shingles. However, even 3/4-inch hail can knock granules off older or weathered shingles. In Houston's climate, where UV exposure already degrades shingles over time, smaller hail can cause more damage than it would on a newer roof.
Houston acaba de tener otra tormenta de granizo. Quizás fue anoche, quizás fue la semana pasada — y ahora te preguntas: ¿mi techo sufrió daños? Esta es una de las preguntas más comunes que recibimos en One Sun America después de cualquier tormenta importante en el área de Houston.
El problema es que el daño por granizo no siempre es obvio desde el suelo, y esperar demasiado para saberlo puede costarte miles de dólares — tanto en costos de reparación como en tu capacidad de presentar una reclamación al seguro.
La mayoría de los hogares en Houston tienen techos de tejas de asfalto. Cuando el granizo golpea el asfalto, no solo deja una abolladura — desprende los gránulos protectores incrustados en la superficie de la teja. Esos gránulos hacen dos trabajos críticos: protegen el asfalto de la degradación UV y le dan a la teja su clasificación contra incendios.
Las canaletas de aluminio se abollan fácilmente. Múltiples abolladuras en patrón son una señal fuerte de que la tormenta fue lo suficientemente grande como para dañar las tejas también. Busca también acumulación de gránulos granulosos — una señal clara de que las tejas fueron impactadas.
Tu condensador de aire acondicionado está al aire libre. Si las aletas parecen abolladas, tu techo muy probablemente recibió un golpe similar.
El granizo deja pequeños agujeros o desgarros en las mallas de las ventanas. El revestimiento de vinilo mostrará pequeñas grietas circulares.
Llama a un contratista de techos si viste granizo de 1 pulgada o más en tu área, si tus canaletas muestran abolladuras o acumulación de gránulos, o si tienes cualquier duda. Las inspecciones de un contratista de confianza siempre deben ser gratuitas.
En One Sun America inspeccionamos techos sin cargo. Servimos todo el área metropolitana de Houston.