After a major hailstorm rolls through Southeast Michigan, homeowners face the same question: is this a repair job or a full replacement? The answer matters a lot — because insurance companies prefer to pay for repairs when replacements are warranted.
What Hail Actually Does to a Roof
Hail doesn’t just dent shingles — it fractures the asphalt mat beneath the surface granules. That damage isn’t always visible to the untrained eye. You might see a shingle that looks fine from the ground but has lost the structural integrity needed to protect your home from water intrusion.
Key signs of hail damage:
- Random dark spots where granules have been knocked off
- Dents on metal components: flashing, ridge caps, vents, gutters
- Soft spots when you press on a shingle (bruising beneath the surface)
- Cracked or split shingles on older roofs
When Is Repair Sufficient?
In limited cases, repairs make sense: isolated damage on a newer roof with strong granule coverage, or damage limited to a small section with matching materials available. But this is rare after significant hailstorms.
When Replacement Is Warranted
Replacement is warranted when hail has caused widespread granule loss across the roof surface. Even if individual shingles look “okay,” widespread granule displacement shortens the life of every shingle and voids most manufacturer warranties. Insurance adjusters know this — but they don’t always volunteer it.
In Michigan, if hail damage is found on 8 or more hits per 10 square feet (a standard test square), most carriers are required to approve a full replacement.
The Supplement Problem
Insurance companies frequently approve ACV for a roof replacement and withhold the depreciation (called the “holdback”) until the work is complete. They also routinely underestimate the scope — missing satellite dish brackets, pipe collars, skylights, and proper starter courses.
Phase III documents every line item on every roof we inspect. We supplement aggressively when adjusters miss items — and we recover that money for our customers.
Get a Free Inspection
If your area was hit by hail in the last 12 months, you may have damage you haven’t seen yet. Phase III provides free roof inspections for Southeast Michigan homeowners. If there’s no damage, we’ll tell you. If there is, we’ll document it and walk you through the claims process.
Call Phase III Construction: (734) 237-7322