Hail damage to your roof

Hail is less common in the UK than wind and rain, but a severe hailstorm can crack tiles and bruise flat roofs.

What hail does to a roof

Large hail can crack or chip tiles and slates, dent metal roofing and flashings, and bruise or split flat-roof membranes — weakening the surface even where it doesn't break through immediately. The damage is often subtle and shows up as leaks months later.

Spotting hail damage

Look for cracked or chipped tiles, dislodged granules in gutters, dents on metal flashings and rooflights, and pockmarks on flat roofs. Because it's easy to miss from the ground, a post-storm inspection is worthwhile if you've had severe hail.

Repair, replace, claim

Isolated cracked tiles are a repair. Widespread damage may be an insurance claim (treated like other storm damage) and, on an older roof, can tip the balance toward replacement. A roofer's report supports both the decision and any claim.