How to distinguish between wind damage and hail damage on your Illinois roof. Different patterns, different repairs, and insurance claim implications.
Wind and hail often come from the same storm, but they cause very different types of roof damage. Knowing the difference matters because insurance adjusters evaluate them separately, and the repair approach is different for each.
Wind Damage — What It Looks Like
Wind lifts shingles from the bottom edge, breaking the factory seal strip that bonds each shingle to the one below it. Signs of wind damage include:
- Creased shingles — a horizontal fold line where the wind lifted and bent the shingle
- Missing shingles — wind ripped them completely off the roof
- Lifted/unsealed shingle tabs — the bottom edge is raised even if the shingle is still attached
- Pattern: wind damage typically follows a pattern — one side of the roof (the windward side) has more damage, and the damage concentrates along edges, ridges, and roof perimeters where wind uplift is strongest
Hail Damage — What It Looks Like
Hail strikes the flat surface of shingles from above, crushing the mat and knocking granules loose. Signs of hail damage include:
- Circular impact marks — round areas where granules are displaced, often exposing the dark asphalt underneath
- Soft/bruised spots — the shingle mat feels spongy when pressed, even if granules are still present
- Cracked shingles — from large hailstones impacting brittle shingles
- Pattern: hail damage is RANDOM — it appears across the entire exposed roof surface without following a directional pattern. Damage on multiple sides of the roof at similar density confirms hail rather than wind.
Why the Difference Matters for Insurance
Insurance adjusters look for specific patterns to determine the cause of damage. A roof with random circular marks across all slopes = hail. A roof with creased/missing shingles concentrated on one side = wind. Most Chicagoland storms produce both, and a thorough inspection often finds evidence of both types. The adjuster's determination affects the claim scope — hail damage across the entire roof usually results in a full replacement, while localized wind damage might only warrant partial repair.
Get a Professional Assessment
Our inspectors are trained to identify and document both wind and hail damage distinctly. When we meet your adjuster, we ensure both types are properly categorized and that the claim covers the full scope of work needed. Our insurance claim process →
Document before anything else
Insurance decisions are made on evidence. Note the date of the storm, photograph dents in gutters, vents and the air conditioner, and keep any hailstones in the freezer or photograph them next to a coin. Save weather alerts from that day. If something needs a temporary repair to prevent more damage, keep the receipts. Then get a professional inspection with photos of every slope before the adjuster comes.
Know what you are signing
After a big storm, crews from out of state go door to door. Some are fine; many leave when the work dries up, and their warranties leave with them. Before signing anything, read it. A contingency agreement can commit you to that contractor if the claim is approved. Check that the company has a local address, references nearby and insurance, and never sign over your claim payment. In Illinois a contractor cannot lawfully offer to pay or waive your deductible.
Common questions
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