Hail Damage and Your Roof Claim in the East Valley

Hail damage has to be confirmed on the roof, not guessed at from the driveway. On shingles, roofing engineers say hail has to puncture or fracture the shingle to count as damage. On tile, hail breaks usually spread out from one impact point. If hail hit your area, stay off the roof, write down the storm date, take photos from the ground, and book an inspection. Our team will document what we find. Your insurer or agent answers the coverage questions.

How big does hail have to be to damage a roof?

The National Weather Service defines large hail as hail greater than 1 inch across. It also says small hail driven by strong thunderstorm winds can cause damage.

Engineers writing for the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA) list rough hail sizes at which damage starts on new roofing:

Treat these as starting points, not rules, and have the roof itself checked.

Does hail really hit the East Valley?

Yes, though it varies a lot by city. NOAA's Storm Events Database lists these hail reports from 2016 to July 2026:

• Mesa: 1.5 inch hail near Brown and Gilbert Roads on Oct 16, 2022.
• Chandler: two reports of 1 inch hail, on Dec 9, 2019 and Sep 26, 2025.
• Queen Creek: 1 inch hail on Jul 10, 2021 and Oct 15, 2022.
• Apache Junction: 2.0 inch hail near the US-60 and Idaho Road area on Oct 13, 2025.
• Gilbert: no hail reports name Gilbert. That doesn't mean Gilbert never gets hail. It means none were reported under that name.

Hail isn't only a monsoon problem. The Weather Service sets monsoon season as Jun 15 to Sep 30. Yet 42 of the 98 Maricopa County hail reports from 2016 to July 2026 came in October and November. Those 42 reports came from just 12 storm days, so one fall storm can produce a lot of reports. Still, it's a good reason to check your roof after a fall storm too.

You can look up storms near you in the NOAA Storm Events Database.

What does hail damage look like on shingles?

The NRCA article, written by an engineer at Haag Engineering, lays out what counts:

• Punctures or fractures. Asphalt shingles must be punctured or fractured by hail to be considered functionally damaged.
• Bruises. Hail can crush the mat under the granules and leave soft spots. Engineers call these "bruises" because they feel like a bruise on an apple.
• Granule loss alone is not hail damage. The NRCA article says granule loss is an ongoing process that starts when the shingle is made, and it's normal weathering.
• Worn shingles. Shingles that have lost enough granules to show the asphalt underneath, but have no fractures, are typically near the end of their life.

Look for spatter marks, too. These are spots where hail knocked dirt or oxidation off metal vents and other surfaces. The NRCA article says they typically linger for about a year, so they can help show when a storm hit.

What does hail damage look like on tile?

Tile damage reads differently from shingle damage.

• Radiating fractures. The NRCA article says hail fractures in tile usually spread out from one impact point.
• Straight-line cracks. Linear fractures are typically caused by foot traffic, not hail.
• Exposed layers. Damage counts when the fracture exposes the underlayment or fasteners.

The Tile Roofing Industry Alliance (TRIA) says broken tiles usually come from large hail or flying debris such as tree limbs. A broken tile doesn't by itself prove wind lifted the tiles. TRIA also notes that underlayment that hasn't been exposed to the weather will likely keep shedding water, even under older tile. And it says new or reused tiles should not be put back over damaged underlayment.

One more thing to know: TRIA says repaired tiles usually won't match the old ones exactly, because tile changes color as it ages. Ask your insurer or agent how your policy handles that. We can't tell you.

Do you work on foam roofs after hail?

Yes, we do foam roofing. If you have a flat or low-slope foam roof, we inspect it after hail the same way: up close, with photos of what we find.

How do you document hail damage for my claim?

You file the claim with your insurer. We handle the roof side:

• We inspect the roof and photograph the damage we find.
• We explain your roof's condition in plain words, including what looks like hail and what looks like age.
• With your permission, we meet the adjuster at your home for the inspection.
• At your request, we send our photos and inspection reports to your insurance company.
• If we find damage or work that wasn't in the first estimate, we prepare a supplement, which is an updated estimate.

On storm jobs paid by insurance, Arizona law (A.R.S. 32-1158.02) says the contractor's estimate has to show the damage found and where it is, the square footage, any areas left out and why, and whether the contractor went up on the roof. Ours does.

We can't tell you what your policy covers, promise approval, or promise anything about your deductible. We don't negotiate or act as your adjuster.

What should I watch out for after a hail storm?

Arizona's contractor law has a few rules for storm repairs paid by insurance after a catastrophic storm. A roofer can't:

• Ask you to sign while the storm is still going or while fire or other emergency crews are still responding at your home (work to keep essential services running or to prevent more immediate damage is allowed)
• Pay, promise to pay or rebate your deductible
• Promise what insurance will pay
• Start the repair before your insurer approves or denies the claim, except for work needed to prevent more damage

Check any roofer's license at roc.az.gov. Ours is AZ ROC #345156. Anyone paid to adjust your claim must hold an adjuster license, which you can check with the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.

Frequently asked questions

Is hail damage on my roof covered by insurance?

We can't tell you that, and no roofer should. It depends on your policy, the cause of the damage and your insurer's decision. Ask your insurer or agent. We can document the damage.

How do I know if hail hit my neighborhood?

Check the NOAA Storm Events Database for reports near you. To know what happened to your own roof, book an inspection.

Can a roofer waive my deductible after a hail storm?

No. On storm repairs paid by insurance, Arizona law says a contractor can't pay, promise to pay or rebate your deductible.

Do you work on foam roofs?

Yes. We do foam roofing, and we inspect foam roofs after hail.

Book an inspection with us

If hail hit your home in Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek or Apache Junction, start with an inspection. We'll document the damage and explain your roof's condition. We also serve the rest of the Valley and as far south as Tucson.

Book an inspection with us or call (602) 806-6806. We answer 24/7. See also our tile roofing page, our Chandler roofing page, and what a roofer can do after monsoon roof damage.