How to Repair Hail Damage on Your Roof

Posted on: 29 November 2016


Hail damage can happen to your home in all types of ways. It can break windows, puncture siding, and dent your roofing shingles depending on the size of the hail and the wind speed. If the damage is minimal, you can likely repair it yourself. Roofing damage can vary from stripped or missing granules to dented or missing shingles. See below for tips on how to repair hail damage to your roof.

Here's What You'll Need:

  • Crowbar
  • Hammer
  • Nails
  • Replacement shingles


  1. First, take a look at your roof to inspect it for hail damage. Hail damage (or any type of damage for that matter), can lead to bigger, costlier problems such as leaks. Using a piece of chalk or white paint, mark the areas that are damaged. Look for dents, missing shingles, or shingles that look shiny, which means the granules are missing. Circle these damaged areas so you know exactly how much damage you have and what all needs to be replaced or repaired. If you have quite a bit of damage, it may be best to call out a professional and have the entire roof replaced. If you only have a handful of areas (and your roof isn't that old), you should be able to handle the repairs yourself.
  2. Next, take your crowbar and hammer to remove the damaged shingles. Place the crowbar beneath the bottom of the damaged shingle and gently pry it up to break the strips. Then use the hammer to remove the nails that are holding the shingle in place in both the center and at the top center of the shingle set above. Be sure to do so gently so you don't damage any of the surrounding shingles that aren't damaged.
  3. Once you have the damaged shingle removed, you can slide in the new shingle beneath the shingle set above. Nail it in place at the center, then nail it in the top (at the center of the shingle above). 
  4. Repeat this process for every damaged shingle, being careful not to damage any of the shingles that are still in good shape.

While on your roof, it's a good time to walk around to ensure you don't have any soft spots or damage near your gutters. It's also a good time to clean those gutters while your at it, as full gutters can lead to water damage.

This is a small repair job, but if you have quite a bit of damage, it's best to speak with a professional like those at Rocky Mountain Roofers & Gutters.