What roof hail damage looks like in Fargo-Moorhead
After a summer storm rolls through Fargo-Moorhead, it is hard to tell from the ground whether the roof took a hit. Roof hail damage is often subtle: a few dark spots where granules were knocked off, a dent in a roof vent, or shingles that suddenly look older than they should. Some of it shortens the life of the roof even though nothing leaks yet.
This guide explains what hail does to asphalt and metal roofs, how hail marks differ from normal wear and granule loss, what the finding means in an inspection report, and what to do after a storm.
What hail does to a roof
The National Weather Service classifies hail as severe at 1 inch in diameter. In decades of lab testing and field inspections summarized by engineer Darrell Smith, the smallest hail that typically damages a roof in good condition was about 1 inch for lightweight three-tab shingles and 1 1/4 inches for heavier laminated (architectural) shingles.
Smaller hail still matters. In a 2025 study, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) found that repeated hits from hail under 1 inch knocked off granules and sped up the aging of asphalt shingles. Weathered shingles that had taken those small hits were about 10 times more likely to be damaged by a later severe hailstorm. InterNACHI notes the same pattern on older roofs: even marble-size hail can loosen granules.
Signs of hail damage on asphalt shingles
- Random dark spots where granules were knocked away and the black asphalt shows through.
- Soft spots, or “bruises,” that you can feel with a fingertip, like a soft spot on an apple.
- Cracks or fractures in the shingle mat, often easier to see from the underside. A fractured mat is functional damage: it weakens the shingle and shortens its life.
- Dents in soft metal on and around the roof: roof vents, flashing, gutters, downspouts and the air conditioner fins. These help confirm that hail hit the house.
Not every mark is hail. Blisters, worn paths from foot traffic, scuffs from installation and manufacturing defects can all look similar at a glance. Hail falls at random, so its marks are scattered across a slope rather than lined up along a pattern or a walking path.
Hail on metal roofs
Metal roofs handle hail well, but they show it. Small dents that do not puncture the panel, open a seam or crack the coating are usually cosmetic: the roof still sheds water. Dents that split the metal, loosen fasteners or expose bare steel to rust are a different matter.
That difference matters for insurance. The North Dakota Insurance Department has called cosmetic damage exclusions a common complaint, and the Minnesota Department of Commerce has warned that some policies now cover wind and hail only when shingles or siding are punctured or torn. Read your policy so you know what it covers before a storm, not after.
Granule loss: hail, age or manufacturing?
Granules are the sand-like coating that protects shingles from the sun. Losing some is normal:
- New roofs shed loose granules for a while after installation, so some granules in the gutters are expected.
- Aging roofs lose granules gradually, often fastest on south- and west-facing slopes that get the most sun. According to InterNACHI, insurers generally do not treat long-term, uniform granule loss as functional damage.
- Hail knocks granules off in random spots, usually with other signs of impact nearby.
- Manufacturing problems can cause heavy, early granule loss on a fairly new roof. That is worth raising with the installer and the shingle manufacturer while the warranty applies.
- Mixed shingle batches can weather at different rates, leaving a patchwork pattern that follows how the shingles were installed.
What it means in an inspection report
During a Nordic home inspection, we look at the roof covering, flashing, vents and gutters, and walk the roof when it is safe to do so. When we see impact marks that may be from hail, we note them and recommend evaluation by a qualified roofing contractor, and contacting the homeowner’s insurance company if the damage may be from a recent storm. When we see granule loss, we note whether it looks like normal wear, possible hail, a possible manufacturing issue or mixed shingle batches, and recommend a roofer’s evaluation where it matters.
A home inspection is not an insurance assessment. Only the insurance company and its adjuster decide whether a claim is covered.
If you are buying a home, ask the sellers how old the roof is, whether they have filed hail claims, and whether any insurance payment was used to repair the roof. Our Buyer’s Home Inspections cover the roof along with the rest of the house. If you are selling, a Pre-Listing Inspection can bring roof questions to light before a buyer does.
What to do after a hailstorm
- Look from the ground. Check roof vents, gutters, downspouts, siding, window screens and the air conditioner for dents. Don’t climb onto a wet or damaged roof.
- Document it. Take photos and video before any repairs, and note the date of the storm. The North Dakota Insurance Department calls this essential for a claim.
- Prevent more damage. Tarp a damaged roof or board up broken windows, and keep receipts.
- Call your insurance company promptly. Ask about your deductible and any cosmetic damage limits.
- Hire carefully. Get at least three written estimates. Be wary of out-of-state contractors who show up after a storm, ask for full payment up front, pressure you to sign, or offer to cover your deductible. In North Dakota, offering to pay a homeowner’s deductible in exchange for repair work is illegal.
Lars Knobloch also talked through roof hail damage on the KFGO Morning Show. Listen to the segment here. For a broader look at storm season, see What Summer Storms Can Reveal About Your Home in Fargo and Moorhead.
Roof hail damage: common questions
Can a roof have hail damage without leaking?
Yes. Bruised shingles and lost granules often don’t leak right away, but they wear out faster. That is why damage is worth documenting soon after a storm, even if the ceiling looks fine.
Are granules in my gutters a sign of hail?
Not always. New roofs shed loose granules, and older roofs lose them slowly with age. A sudden pile of granules after a storm, together with fresh dark spots on the shingles or dents in metal, points more toward hail.
How long do I have to file a hail claim?
Each policy sets its own deadline, so check yours. The North Dakota Insurance Department urges homeowners to file as soon as possible after a storm.
Will insurance pay for dents in a metal roof?
It depends on the policy. Many policies now limit coverage for cosmetic damage, such as dents that don’t affect how the roof sheds water. Ask your agent before storm season.
Does a home inspection replace a roofer or an insurance adjuster?
No. An inspection flags possible hail damage and recommends next steps. A roofing contractor evaluates repairs, and the insurance adjuster decides coverage.
Sources
- Smith, Darrell L. Asphalt Composition Shingle Damage: Hail or Manufacturing Defect? IIBEC Interface, February 2013.
- Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS). Sub-severe hail study, Frontiers in Materials, 2025, as reported by Insurance Journal, October 2, 2025.
- InterNACHI. Asphalt Composition Shingles, Part 34: Granule Loss.
- North Dakota Insurance Department. Godfread urges North Dakotans to check for storm damage and file insurance claims promptly, June 21, 2025.
- North Dakota Insurance Department. Beware contractor scams and fraud following recent storms, August 6, 2024.
- Echo Press. Are severe storms fueling changes in homeowner insurance policies? (North Dakota Insurance Department and Minnesota Department of Commerce comments on cosmetic damage and wind/hail limits).