Hailstorms can cause extensive, costly damage to your roof. On average, hail damage roof repairs cost $4,250, depending on the damage and materials needed.
What’s the Difference Between Roof Blistering and Hail Damage?
How to distinguish those dings and dents
Get quotes from roofers near you
No obligation · 100% free
Get quotes from roofers near you
No obligation · 100% free
Need a Second Opinion? Connect With a Pro
Roof blistering and hail damage both affect your shingles, but roof blisters create raised bubbles while hail damage leaves dents and depressions.
Roof blisters form from poor attic ventilation or trapped moisture under your shingles, while hail damage results exclusively from hailstones striking your roof.
Your choice between addressing blisters or hail damage depends on identifying the pattern: hail creates regular patterns, while blisters appear randomly across your roof.
Hiring a local hail damage repair professional provides reliable support for diagnosing roof damage and completing repairs that keep your home protected.
Get quotes from up to 3 pros!
Enter a zip below and get matched to top-rated pros near you.
The cost of fixing a roof can be high, making it critical to understand the cause of the damage. While you might assume that the spots on your roof after a big storm are from hail, they could actually be roof blisters, which can be caused by various factors. Roof blistering indicates problems with ventilation or moisture, so knowing how to identify it can help you address underlying issues that could compromise the integrity of your roof.
What Are the Differences Between Roof Blisters and Hail Damage?
Andrey Solovev / Adobe Stock
While hail damage and roof blisters look alike, the core difference between them is that hail damage is caused by—you guessed it—hail, while roof blisters have a number of causes, including:
Poor attic ventilation
Trapped moisture underneath shingles
Tree sap
In addition, there are some slight visual differences to note. Hail damage often looks like randomly scattered dark spots, dents, or depressions on the roof’s surface, while blisters resemble small bubbles or raised areas on shingles and leave a raised circle around them when they pop. Blisters can pop during extreme weather events, which can damage your shingles, create gutter drainage issues, or lead to energy loss, leading to a drafty attic or house.
| Type of Difference | Roof Blisters | Hail Damage |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Raised bubbles | Dents/depressions |
| Pattern | Random | Regular pattern |
| Cause | Several | Hail/extreme weather |
Blisters vs. Hail Damage: Differences in Appearance
soupstock / Adobe Stock
At first glance, blisters and hail damage appear nearly identical. However, there are a few key differences in their appearance that will become apparent if you know what to look for. Ultimately, regardless of the source, it’s wise to have a roof repair or hail damage repair company near you complete an inspection to ensure all the issues have been taken care of.
Size
The size of roof blisters can vary, depending on the cause. Hail damage, however, is never going to be larger than the hail itself.
Shape
Roof blisters often take the shape of protruding bubbles, while hail damage leaves behind dents and depressions on your roof.
Pattern
Hail damage often creates a pattern on the roof depending on which way the wind was blowing during the storm. Blistering, however, occurs much more randomly. If you don’t notice a recognizable pattern on the roof, you’re probably dealing with blistering.
Causes
There are many causes of roof blisters. They might form because of trapped moisture between they layers of the roofing material, prolonged exposure to the sun, tree sap, or poor attic ventilation. Hail damage, however, is caused by hail and hail alone.
Related Damage
Take a look around your home’s exterior and see if you notice any other signs of damage. Hail often leaves indents on any metal in your home, such as on your gutters. There might also be roofing granules in your gutters or downspouts. Blistering will be contained to the roof, and you might see some shingle granule loss where the blisters have grown and popped.
Roof Blister Prevention
There are a number of steps to take to prevent roof blisters since there are so many potential causes. Be sure to:
Promote good attic ventilation that allows heat to escape
Install a roof with high-quality roofing materials
Conduct regular roof inspections to detect blistering and other issues early
Keep your roof clean and free from debris to minimize moisture buildup
Hail Damage Prevention
It’s difficult to fully prevent damage from natural events, but there are hail-resistant roofing materials that can minimize the impacts of this extreme weather. Choose a rubber or metal roof—ideally copper or steel—if you live in an area prone to hail storms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Roofing services reviews from real Angi homeowners in Columbus, OH
4.3★ avg. • 121 total reviews
- Carla M.
Mitchell and the crew were top tier i am so happy with my new roof
Home Genius Exteriors - Chance R.
D1 Roofing delivers outstanding service from beginning to end, backed by a strong warranty and expert teams. I highly recommend them for their excellence in meeting and surpassing expectations with unmatched communication. Choosing D1 Roofing was flawless decision
Division 1 Roofing LLC - Jeremy P.
This place took $25,000 for a flat roof job with a five-year warranty and never returned to fix the leaks that were caused by their work. These people are not professionals and should not be doing this type of work. They incorrectly changed the pitch of the roof, and caused more damage than...
- David B.
The technician was very professional and friendly. He answered all my questions and was very thorough. He left the fireplace area very clean . He inspected from the roof and advised me as to other work that might need to be done. There was no pressure there. I was very satisfied with the...
Supreme brick & chimney - Kevin S.
I am really impressed with their timeliness and turnaround. Mitchell came out, and we decided to move forward with their pricing. Our roof was on within a week, and we could not be happier with their team! Amazing company, great prices and honest, dependable craftsmanship. I highly recommend...
Window Depot USA of Central Ohio - Rob B.
Manuel Calvillo is the best option in the area for roofing and you won't be disappointed.
- Julie K.
They damaged multiple items on my property, including a marble slab used as a table top, tried to hide it, and refused to pay or replace. Arrived day one without a ladder to access roof & delayed a day. Left a mess in back yard; didn't wear face masks; no show by owner to property to see damages
Grants Tree Service - Marcia L.
I've hired Gary/Cherokee Roofing for two different homes, work quality, responsiveness, and completion have been great both times. And the prices quoted were very competitive. I would definitely hire again.
- Paul F.
Lyle did a great job removing asbestos shingles from our front porch roof. They worked together with our roofer to make sure that the new roof was able to be installed on the same day that Lyle removed the asbestos shingles.
Lyle Environmental - Paul F.
Bradley Builders did a good job replacing the roof on our front porch. They color-matched the existing shingles on the rest of the house and installed a metal ridge roll since we live in a historical neighborhood. They did the job while we were out of town. When we got back, everything was...
Bradley Builders, Inc.
The homeowners guide to roofing services
From average costs to expert advice, get all the answers you need to get your job done.
Why is hail damage bad for a roof? You’ve probably heard horror stories about what hail can do, but let’s dig deeper into what’s really going on.
Hail damage can cause leaks and reduce the lifespan of your roof. But what does hail damage look like on a roof? Learn how to spot it and what to do about it.
Storms can bring varying hail sizes. Find out what size hail will damage a roof and how to assess your roof after inclement weather.
Hail is small but mighty. Is your metal roof strong enough to withstand extreme weather conditions, like a hailstorm? Here’s everything you need to know.
Learn how hail can damage your roof, what signs to look for, and when you should repair or replace your roof after a storm.