If you’ve lived in SE Michigan for more than a year, you know what hail season looks like. From May through September, severe thunderstorm cells roll through the region regularly — and some of them carry hailstones large enough to destroy a roof, dent siding, and shatter skylights in minutes. The problem is that most of the damage happens up high, where homeowners can’t easily see it.

Michigan Hail by the Numbers

Michigan ranks among the top 20 states nationally for hail events, with SE Michigan counties experiencing multiple significant hail events every year. The Detroit metro area sits in a corridor where Great Lakes moisture and warm air collide with cold fronts from the west — a reliable recipe for severe thunderstorms from late spring through early fall.

Hailstones as small as 3/4 inch (the size of a penny) are considered sufficient to damage asphalt shingles. Anything above 1 inch frequently causes damage to siding, gutters, and other exterior components. Stones above 1.75 inches can compromise structural integrity and crack skylights or window glazing.

What to Inspect After a Hailstorm

From the ground, walk the perimeter of your home and look for:

• Dents in gutters and downspouts — if gutters are dented, the roof likely took hits too
• Damage to window screen frames or bent aluminum trim
• Dents in AC condenser fins — visible from the side of the unit
• Dings or splits in wood trim around doors and windows
• Granule loss from asphalt shingles — look for granules collecting in downspout splash blocks or along the foundation
• Visible dents in siding — especially vinyl, aluminum, and softer fiber cement products

Do not attempt to inspect the roof yourself. Beyond the safety risk, walking on a hail-damaged roof without knowing what you’re doing can worsen existing damage and complicate your claim. Call a licensed contractor for a professional inspection.

The Claim Filing Window — Don’t Wait Too Long

Michigan homeowner’s policies typically require you to report a loss “promptly” — and many include language that sets a one-year deadline from the date of loss for filing. Hail damage that goes unreported through a Michigan winter can also worsen significantly, making it harder to establish the original cause.

If you experienced a significant storm and you’re not sure whether you have damage — get an inspection. There’s no cost to find out, and the information is always valuable.

What Phase III Does on a Hail Inspection

When Phase III Construction inspects a storm-damaged home in SE Michigan, we don’t just get on the roof and count hits. We run a full exterior audit: roof system (shingles, flashing, ridge caps, pipe boots, ventilation), gutters, fascia, soffit, all siding faces, windows, skylights, AC condenser, decking, and any outbuildings.

We document everything with photos, note the date of the storm event, and build a scope that reflects the full damage picture. If you decide to file a claim, we can be present during the adjuster’s inspection and make sure our findings are part of the conversation.

We pursue every dollar your policy allows — and we make sure nothing gets missed. That’s what we do for every homeowner in Wayne, Oakland, Washtenaw, and Livingston Counties.