Hail damage to a roof: hail sizes, impact-rated shingles, and the claim step by step
Hail an inch across, the size of a quarter, or larger counts as severe (NOAA). After a storm, photograph the damage, make only temporary repairs such as a tarp, file the claim quickly, and be there for the adjuster's visit (Texas Department of Insurance). Shingles rated UL 2218 Class 4 have survived a 2 inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet in the lab.
Anthony Hicks30+ years in construction. Updated November 5, 2026.
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Hail sizes
NOAA’s severe storms lab measures hail against everyday objects, and counts hail a quarter’s size, 1 inch across, or larger as severe:
| Compared to | Diameter |
|---|---|
| Pea | 1/4 inch |
| Penny | 3/4 inch |
| Quarter | 1 inch, severe from here up |
| Ping-pong ball | 1 1/2 inches |
| Golf ball | 1 3/4 inches |
| Tennis ball | 2 1/2 inches |
| Baseball | 2 3/4 inches |
| Softball | 4 inches |
Hail falls in paths called swaths, from a few acres to 10 miles wide and 100 miles long, and strong wind can drive it in at an angle, into siding and windows (NOAA). Nebraska, Colorado and Wyoming usually have the most hailstorms (NOAA).
Impact-rated shingles
UL 2218 is the lab test that rates a roofing product’s impact resistance from Class 1 to Class 4 by dropping steel balls on it and checking the back for cracks. A Class 3 product has survived a 1.75 inch steel ball dropped from 17 feet; Class 4, the top rating, a 2 inch ball from 20 feet (GAF). In hail country, Class 4 shingles are an option on a reroof.
After a hailstorm, step by step
The Texas Department of Insurance lays out the steps:
- File the claim as soon as you can. With wind and hail coverage on the home policy, the insurer should pay for the hail damage.
- Take pictures and video, and make a list of the damage inside and out. Keep damaged items until the insurer says otherwise.
- Prevent more damage: cover broken windows and holes, remove standing water, and save the receipts; the policy may pay for temporary repairs.
- Be there for the adjuster’s visit, so they see everything.
- Keep a list of everyone you talk to at the insurance company.
- Get more than one estimate, don’t pay in full up front, and never sign a contract with blank spaces. In Texas it’s illegal for a contractor to waive a homeowner’s deductible.
What gets looked at
A hail inspection covers the whole roof and what’s on it: the shingles or other covering, and the metal on the roof such as vents, flashing and gutters, along with siding, screens and windows on the sides the storm hit. Each damaged item becomes a line on the estimate, with its measurement and photos. The roof replacement cost guide prices a full reroof in your state, and the roof repair cost guide a smaller fix.
Writing the estimate
BluMatrix measures the roof from the address, takes the photos into a photo report on the visit, and writes the estimate line by line at current prices for the ZIP code, as a PDF or an ESX file that opens in Xactimate. When more damage turns up once the work starts, the supplement guide covers asking for it, and the actual cash value vs replacement cost guide shows how the policy pays for the roof.
Common questions
What size hail damages a roof?
NOAA counts hail 1 inch across, quarter size, or larger as severe. Whether a given roof is damaged is for an inspection to show; impact-rated shingles are tested against 1.75 and 2 inch steel balls (GAF).
Does insurance cover hail damage to a roof?
With wind and hail coverage on the home policy, the insurer should pay for hail damage, says the Texas Department of Insurance. The policy’s deductible and terms for wind and hail apply.
Should I make repairs before the adjuster comes?
Only temporary ones, such as a tarp or boarding a window, with the receipts kept (Texas Department of Insurance).
What is a Class 4 roof?
A roof covered with products rated UL 2218 Class 4, the top impact rating: they survived a 2 inch steel ball dropped from 20 feet in the lab test (GAF).