Central Indiana just moved into the heart of its storm season, and roofs across the Indianapolis area are taking the hits. On June 16, 2026, half-dollar size hail was reported near Indianapolis, and that follows golf-ball hail that rolled through central Indiana earlier this spring. If a storm has passed over your neighborhood recently, your roof may have damage you cannot see from the driveway.
That last part is what trips up most homeowners. Hail damage is rarely obvious. Your shingles can look perfectly fine from the ground while the surface that protects them has already been compromised. Here is how to tell what is really going on up there, and when it is time to bring in a professional.
Why Indianapolis roofs are so exposed to hail
Indianapolis sits in a corridor of severe weather that fires up every spring and summer. The most active stretch runs from May through July, when warm Gulf moisture collides with cold fronts and the result is the kind of thunderstorm that drops hail and pushes 60 mph wind across the metro. Doppler radar has detected hail at or near Indianapolis well over a hundred times, and several of those events have happened in just the past year.
Here is the catch. Hailstones smaller than a quarter can knock the protective granules off asphalt shingles. Anything over an inch can crack or bruise them outright. Either way, the damage often does not announce itself. It quietly shortens the life of your roof until, months later, a leak shows up in the ceiling and the real cost reveals itself.
The signs of hail damage you can actually see
You do not have to climb onto the roof to find the first clues. Start at ground level and work your way up.
Check the soft metal first
Before anything else, look at the soft metal around your home. Gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing, and chimney caps all dent easily, and fresh impact craters on them are a reliable sign that the hail was large enough to hurt your shingles too. If your gutters are pocked with dimples after a storm, your roof almost certainly took the same beating.
What hail looks like on shingles
If you can safely get a look at the shingles themselves, or have a contractor do it, this is what hail damage typically looks like:
Random impact marks. Hail hits are scattered and inconsistent, unlike the even wear patterns that follow water flow.
Bruising or soft spots. Press gently on a suspected hit. If it feels soft or spongy, the mat underneath has been compromised.
Granule loss. Bare or shiny patches where the protective granules have been knocked away, often with granules collecting in the gutters below.
Cracked or fractured shingles. Clear splits that expose the layer beneath.
Functional damage versus cosmetic damage
This distinction matters a great deal when insurance enters the picture. Functional damage affects your roof's ability to keep water out: cracked shingles, fractured tiles, compromised flashing, and granule loss serious enough to speed up deterioration. This kind of damage almost always supports a valid claim.
Cosmetic damage is surface level. Minor denting on metal, light scuffing, small granule disturbance with no exposed substrate. Some Indiana homeowner policies carry a cosmetic damage exclusion, so it is worth reviewing your policy before you file.
A roof that looks fine from the street can still be failing where it counts. The only way to know for certain is to get a trained eye on it.
What to do after a storm
If a storm has rolled through your part of Indianapolis, take these steps in order:
Document the storm. Note the date and save any local hail size reports from the National Weather Service for your area.
Get an independent inspection first. Have a roofing contractor assess the damage and write it up before an adjuster arrives, so nothing gets missed.
File promptly. Indiana gives homeowners a limited window to file storm claims, and waiting can complicate coverage.
Ask your contractor to be there for the adjuster's visit. Discrepancies between what a contractor finds and what an adjuster estimates are common, and having your roofer present protects you.
The smartest move is to look before the next storm
The best time to catch a small problem is before it becomes a wet ceiling. A spring inspection in March or April catches what winter's freeze and thaw left behind. If you missed that window, an inspection after any significant storm is the next best thing. A cracked shingle or a gutter pulling loose is an inexpensive fix today. Left until fall, the same issue turns into water in your insulation, your framing, and your drywall.
At 317 Restoration, we do not guess. We get on the roof, document what we find, and tell you straight whether you are looking at a quick repair or a claim worth filing. If a storm has passed over your home recently, schedule a free roof inspection or learn more about our storm damage roof repair for Indianapolis homeowners.
