How to spot roof damage from the ground after a storm
After hail or strong wind in Jonesboro or elsewhere in Northeast Arkansas, you can look for useful clues without climbing a ladder. This guide helps you decide what to document and when to request a closer inspection.
Start with safety: wait until the storm has passed, then walk around the property from the ground. Missing shingles, scattered roof materials, dented accessories, and new interior water stains are reasons to investigate, but none alone proves hail damage or an insurance claim.
When is it safe to look?
Wait for lightning, hail, and strong wind to end. Stay clear of downed lines, damaged trees, loose building materials, and areas with possible structural damage. Use the yard or another safe vantage point; a wet or damaged roof can be dangerous even when it looks intact.
What roof clues can you see from the yard?
Look across each visible slope and around the roof edges. Photograph any change you notice, including its location, without trying to diagnose the cause from a distance.
- Shingles on the ground or gaps on a slope: wind may have displaced roofing and left underlayment or decking exposed. A lifted or creased shingle may be harder to see.
- Granules near downspouts: a new accumulation after a storm deserves attention, especially with bare-looking shingle areas. Granules also shed with age and during normal wear, so this finding does not establish hail damage by itself.
- Dented gutters, vents, or metal: they can show where hail struck the property. A roofer still needs to assess whether the roof covering was affected.
- Loose flashing or damaged roof edges: look near walls, chimneys, vents, and rake edges. These details can allow water in even when the main field of shingles appears sound.
What signs inside the building matter?
New ceiling stains, damp insulation, peeling paint, or a drip during rain are reasons to act promptly. Water can move along framing before appearing indoors, so the stain may not sit directly below the roof entry point. Move belongings away from the leak, contain water safely, and tell the roofer where and when it appeared.
Can a ground check rule out hail damage?
No. Hail bruising, fractured shingles, and small flashing failures can be difficult to verify from the yard. If nearby properties were affected, you notice new leakage, or you see several of the clues above, request a professional storm damage inspection. The findings may support a targeted roof repair or, when damage is widespread, a discussion of replacement.
What should you do next?
- Take dated photos from safe ground-level locations, including exterior clues and any interior water damage.
- Call Delta Roofing at (870) 393-7555 if water is entering or roofing is exposed. Ask about temporary protection; do not attempt roof tarping in unsafe conditions.
- Arrange an inspection and ask for photos and a written scope of what was found. Delta can document roof conditions, while your insurer decides coverage under your policy.
- If you contact your insurer, keep your photos, correspondence, and receipts for any temporary work. Review your policy’s reporting terms and ask your agent about the claim process.
Arkansas’s Insurance Department recommends documenting storm damage and saving receipts. For more information about visible roof clues, see GAF’s ground inspection guidance.