Arkansas spring is hard on roofs. By the first week of June, I've usually walked dozens of homes that took hail, wind, or both during May. Some of the damage is obvious, the kind you can see from the driveway. Most of it isn't.

If you went through a heavy storm in April or May and you haven't had anyone look at your roof yet, this is the month to do it. Insurance claims have time limits, and waiting until October to discover a punctured shingle means a winter of leaks and a denied claim.

What hail actually does to a roof

Hail damage looks like a bruise more than a hole. Shingles get hit, the granules knock loose, and the asphalt underneath gets exposed. From the ground, the roof might look fine. From up close, you can see dark spots where the granules are gone. That's the start of the failure.

The shingle doesn't leak yet. It might not leak this year. But the UV protection is gone in those spots, and once the asphalt starts breaking down, the rest follows fast.

This is why insurance pays for hail damage even when nothing is leaking. The damage shortens the life of the roof, which is the asset they insured.

What I check after a Central Arkansas storm

When I walk a roof after storm season, here's what I'm looking at:

Shingle granule loss, especially on south and west exposures
Soft metal damage on vents, flashing, gutters, and AC fins, which is how I confirm hail size
Cracked or lifted shingles around ridges and hips
Bent or torn flashing at chimneys, skylights, and roof valleys
Gutters pulled away from fascia by wind or debris
Missing or damaged ridge cap shingles

I also look at the soft stuff people forget. Window screens punched through, AC fins flattened, deck boards split. Those tell me the storm was severe enough to have hit the roof hard, even if the roof itself doesn't show much from the ground.

The catch with insurance timing

Most Arkansas homeowner policies require you to file a hail claim within a year of the storm date, and some carriers use shorter windows. If you wait until you find a leak, it's often too late. You also need documentation, which means an inspection report from someone who can identify storm damage versus normal wear.

If you had a major hail event this spring and haven't had anyone look at the roof, get someone up there before summer ends.

What you can check from the ground

I'd rather you not climb your own roof. Twenty-foot ladders and steep slopes are how people end up in the ER. You can do a fair amount of checking from the ground:

Walk the perimeter and look for loose shingles, dark spots, or anything in the lawn that came off the roof
Check gutters for granules. A handful after a heavy rain is normal. A pile is not.
Look at metal vents and AC fins. Dents on those are the easiest hail evidence to spot.
Check ceilings and upstairs walls for new stains, especially after a heavy rain.

If anything looks off, that's when you call someone. Roof inspections are inexpensive compared to the cost of a denied insurance claim or a winter of leaks.

When to call

You don't need a full home inspection for a post-storm roof check. If that's all you need, say so when you call. I'll come out, look at the roof, document anything I find, and tell you whether it's worth filing a claim or whether you're fine.

Storm season is mostly over by mid-June. This is the right window to deal with what spring left behind.

Frequently asked questions about storm damage roof inspections in Arkansas

How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in Arkansas? Most homeowner policies require a claim within one year of the storm date, sometimes shorter. Check your specific policy before you wait.

Can a roof have hail damage without leaking? Yes. Hail knocks granules off shingles and exposes the asphalt to UV. It will fail eventually, even if it isn't leaking yet.

Do you provide reports for insurance claims? Yes. The inspection report includes photos and detailed notes that document storm damage for insurance carriers.

How much does a roof inspection cost in Central Arkansas? Less than a full home inspection. Get a quote here and I'll price it based on the roof's size and pitch.

For a full list of services, see our residential and commercial inspections.

Call or text: 501-505-6805 Email: inspectorbjmoody@gmail.com

After the Storm: What an Arkansas Roof Looks Like in June

Hail and wind damage from May storms doesn't always look like damage. BJ Moody walks through what he checks on Central Arkansas roofs in June, and why insurance timing matters.