Does home insurance cover roof hail damage?
Short answer. Yes, hail is a covered peril on standard homeowners policies, and roof hail damage that breaks or bruises shingles is generally covered. What decides the check is whether your policy excludes cosmetic damage, how large your wind and hail deductible is, whether the roof is valued at replacement cost or actual cash value, and whether the damage can be tied to a specific recent storm.
What counts as hail damage on shingles
- Bruises: soft spots that give under thumb pressure where the mat cracked underneath.
- Fractures and punctures through the shingle.
- Granule displacement in round marks that expose the black asphalt.
- Broken seals or torn edges from larger stones.
Hail around 1 inch and larger commonly damages asphalt shingles; smaller hail can still damage older, brittle roofs.
Four policy details that decide your check
- Cosmetic damage exclusion: some policies exclude dents and marks that do not affect function. This matters most for metal roofs.
- Wind and hail deductible: often a percentage of the dwelling limit.
- Valuation: replacement cost pays depreciation back after the work; actual cash value and payment schedules do not.
- Date of loss: the damage must come from a storm during your policy period.
The evidence adjusters trust
Hail leaves marks on soft metals: dented gutters, downspouts, roof vents and air conditioner fins, and spatter marks on painted surfaces. Those show hail size and direction and support the roof findings. Check the hail history for your address on northgeorgiahailmap.com before you report.
What is not hail damage
Blistering, general granule loss from age, cracking across the whole roof, and scuffs from foot traffic. An adjuster will separate these from true hits.
More: hail size and roof damage, cosmetic exclusions and test squares.