Check these spots from the ground first
You do not need to climb on the roof to get a first read. After a hail storm moves through Canton, walk the property and check the soft metals: gutters, downspouts, mailbox tops, AC condenser fins, and window screens. Dents there mean hail large enough to damage shingles.
Look at your shingle field from the yard with binoculars if you have them. Fresh hail hits show up as dark spots where granules were knocked off.
The eight places hail damage hides
Shingle faces: bruised or cracked granule beds.
Ridge caps: the highest, most exposed line on the roof.
Soft metals: roof vents, pipe boots, and flashing.
Skylight frames and glass seals.
Gutters and downspouts: dents and granule piles.
Siding on the storm-facing side of the house.
Deck and fence stain: fresh pock marks.
Outdoor AC units: bent condenser fins.
When to call your insurance company
Have a roofer document the damage before you file. A written inspection report with photos gives the adjuster something concrete to work from and keeps a cosmetic-only denial from ending the conversation.
File promptly. Most Georgia policies expect notice within a reasonable window after the storm date, and waiting months gives the insurer room to argue the damage came from somewhere else.
How claims get denied, and how to avoid it
Most denials come from weak documentation or a contractor who cannot tell functional damage from wear. Hail bruises have a specific pattern: random, directional, and soft to the touch. Wear is uniform. A roofer who works claims every week knows the difference and knows how to present it.
We document storm damage the same way we would want it documented on our own homes, and we meet the adjuster on site when needed.
Want a Straight Answer About Your Roof?
We inspect roofs across Canton and Cherokee County every week. Get a free, no-pressure inspection and know exactly where your roof stands.