After a major storm rolls through Central Texas, most homeowners do a quick walk around the yard, see no obvious damage, and call it a day. That’s a mistake.
Roof damage from hail and high winds often looks minor from the ground — but left unchecked, it turns into water intrusion, mold, and structural problems that cost three to five times more to fix.
What Hail Actually Does to Your Roof
Hail doesn’t always punch holes. More often, it knocks the protective granules off asphalt shingles — those small mineral particles that protect the shingle from UV rays and water. When enough granules are gone, the shingle dries out, cracks, and fails.
Signs to look for on the ground:
- Granules collecting in your gutters or at the base of downspouts
- Dents on metal surfaces like gutters, vents, or AC units (if hail dented metal, it likely hit your shingles too)
- Cracked or split shingles visible from the edge of the roofline
Wind Damage Is Sneakier
High winds don’t need to rip shingles off to cause damage. Wind can lift shingle edges and break the seal strip underneath. Those shingles look fine from the ground — but they’re no longer waterproof.
After a windstorm, look for:
- Shingles that appear raised or buckled
- Missing shingles (obvious, but often missed on back slopes)
- Exposed black underlayment where shingles have shifted
When to Call for an Inspection
If your area saw wind over 50 mph or hail larger than a quarter, schedule a professional inspection. Don’t wait for a leak — by the time water shows up inside, the damage has already spread.
Lone Ranger Roofing offers free post-storm inspections throughout Bell County and DFW. We document everything, give you an honest assessment, and if there’s insurance-eligible damage, we help you navigate the claim.
Call us at (254) 300-1413 or schedule online.