By Omer Okic, owner of Ultimate Exteriors · 28 years on Des Moines roofsUpdated October 2026
You can spot most hidden storm damage without climbing on the roof: use binoculars, check your gutters for shingle granules, look in the attic and check the flashing.
- Binoculars from the ground, not a ladder
- Heavy granules in gutters often mean hail damage
- Attic stains and damp insulation point to leaks
- Document everything before calling a pro
After a hailstorm or high winds, a roof can look fine from the driveway and still be damaged. Here's how to check your home safely, without climbing a ladder.
1. Start from the ground with binoculars
Walk around the house in mid-morning or late-afternoon light, when shadows make damage easier to see. Look for lifted or creased shingles, missing shingles, bare spots where granules have worn away and any sagging areas. Photograph what you find and note the date.
2. Check your gutters for granules
A heavy layer of shingle granules in your gutters or at the bottom of your downspouts after a storm is a common sign of hail damage. While you're there, look for dented gutters and loose fascia connections. If you have gutter guards, granules can collect on top of them instead.
3. Look in the attic for water
With safe footing and a flashlight, look for pinpoints of daylight, water stains on the decking, damp or compressed insulation and water trails on the rafters. Moisture spread evenly across the underside of the roof is more often condensation; spots and trails usually mean a leak.
4. Focus on flashing around chimneys and vents
Flashing around chimneys, vents, skylights and valleys is where many leaks start. Look for gaps, rust and cracked sealant. Avoid patching flashing yourself after a storm, since DIY repairs can complicate an insurance claim.
5. Document everything and call a professional
Keep dated, clear photos and a short log of what you found. Many insurance policies have deadlines for reporting storm damage, so don't wait. We offer free storm damage inspections across the Des Moines metro and will tell you honestly whether there's damage worth repairing.
Think a storm damaged your roof?
Read how storm damage inspections and insurance claims work in the Des Moines area, or schedule a free inspection.
If the damage is widespread, our guide to what a new roof costs in Des Moines explains what moves the price and what a complete quote should include.