When a hailstorm rolls through Colorado Springs, most homeowners step outside and ask the same thing: was the hail even big enough to cause real damage? It’s a fair question, but size only tells part of the story. Wind speed, the angle the hail hit at, how old the shingles already were, and how long the storm lasted all factor into whether a roof took real damage.
Standing in the driveway after the clouds clear, most people can’t tell any of that just by looking up, which is exactly why a quick call to a trusted roofing contractor in Colorado Springs, CO for a proper inspection often makes more sense than guessing. Catching the signs early can mean the difference between a simple roof repair and a much bigger bill down the road.
Hail size and what it usually takes to cause damage
Hail is often described by comparing it to something familiar, a pea, a marble, a quarter, or a golf ball. As a rough guide, hail around one inch across, roughly the size of a quarter, is often where roof damage starts to become likely. Hail closer to 1.75 inches, closer to a golf ball, tends to cause more obvious damage and is harder to miss. That said, smaller hail moving fast in a strong wind can still bruise a roof that is already a little older or already showing wear, so a smaller storm is not automatically a safe one.
What hail damage actually looks like once you get close
Granule loss is one of the most common signs, and it is exactly what it sounds like, the protective mineral coating on asphalt shingles getting knocked loose or worn away by the impact. From the ground this can be almost invisible. Up close, an inspector is also looking for bruising, which feels soft when pressed, along with shingles that have been lifted or cracked at the edges. None of these things are obvious from a ladder glance, which is part of why so much hail damage goes unclaimed simply because nobody looked closely enough.
A storm rarely stops at the roof
While the roof usually takes the worst of it, the same storm that dents shingles is also hitting gutters, cracking siding, breaking windows, and stripping paint off the exterior. Here at The Rich Co Inc, we handle all of that under one roof, roofing, gutters, windows, siding, and exterior paint, so a homeowner is not left calling four different companies for damage that happened in the same afternoon.
Why a real inspection beats guessing the hail size
Knowing the hail was roughly quarter size or golf ball size is useful information, but it is not a verdict on the roof. The only way to know for certain is to have someone get up there and look, checking for granule loss, bruising, and lifted shingles section by section. That is exactly what our free inspection is built to do. There is no cost and no obligation attached to finding out what a storm actually did to a property.
What happens once damage is confirmed
This is where our team does something most roofers do not. We have licensed insurance adjusters on staff, which means the same people inspecting the roof are also the ones who document the damage formally and negotiate directly with the insurance company on the homeowner’s behalf. A claim usually starts from RCV, the Replacement Cost Value, or what it costs to replace the damaged item today.
The insurer may pay ACV first, the Actual Cash Value, which is RCV minus depreciation for age and wear, holding back the difference until the work is finished and documented. If the first estimate misses something, our adjusters prepare a supplement, a request for additional payment backed by evidence rather than guesswork.
One Google reviewer, S. Williams, described our crew fighting the insurer and catching the wrong shingles being supplied along with other items the original estimate had missed. That is the kind of catch that only happens when the people doing the inspection are also the ones fighting for the claim.
A standard roofer versus a company that owns the whole process
Most roofers will repair whatever the insurer agrees to pay for and leave the rest to the homeowner. A storm damage contractor with adjusters on staff works differently, inspecting independently, documenting formally, and negotiating so the scope of damage and the scope of work actually match. We have brought over 40 years of combined experience to that process, which is part of why homeowners across Colorado Springs and El Paso County keep coming back to the same local team rather than the storm chasers who show up for a season and leave.
Frequently asked questions
Q: How big does hail need to be to damage a roof?
A: Hail around one inch, roughly quarter size, is often where damage starts becoming likely, and anything closer to golf ball size tends to cause more obvious damage. Wind speed, roof age, and shingle condition all affect the outcome too, so an inspection is the only way to know for certain.
Q: Can small hail still damage my roof?
A: Yes, especially if the roof is already older or the hail arrived with strong wind behind it. Granule loss and bruising are not always visible from the ground even after smaller storms.
Q: What is granule loss?
A: Granule loss is when the protective mineral coating on asphalt shingles wears away or gets knocked loose, often after hail. It can shorten the life of the roof and is one of the signs an inspector checks for.
Q: Do I have to pay for a roof inspection after a storm?
A: No. We offer a free inspection with no cost and no obligation across Colorado Springs and El Paso County.
Q: What if the insurance company already sent a low estimate?
A: Our licensed adjusters review the estimate, document anything it missed, and prepare a supplement to negotiate a fairer outcome on your behalf.
Contact Us
Your home deserves quality work done right the first time. At The Rich Co Inc, we’re here to help with everything from roofing and gutters to windows, siding, and interior upgrades every step of the way.
Visit Us: 8735 Mossy Bank Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80927, United States
Phone: +1 (719) 287-5385
Website: https://therichcoinc.com/
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