Funny thing is, those “battle scars” might seem harmless now, but have you ever checked for hidden cracks or loose fasteners after a hail event? I’ve seen plenty of metal roofs that looked fine at a glance, but had tiny punctures or seams starting to open up months later. Sure, leaks are obvious, but what about slow moisture intrusion or rust under the paint? Just curious if you’ve looked under the panels since the storm. Sometimes a little extra attention up front saves a lot of hassle down the road...
- After last spring’s hail, I only checked for dents and figured I was good.
- Didn’t really think about the seams or what’s hiding under the panels.
- Curious—has anyone actually found rust or leaks months after a storm?
- Makes me wonder if it’s worth pulling up a panel just to check, or is that overkill?
I actually had the same thought after our last hailstorm—checked for dents, shrugged, and figured I could move on. But then a neighbor down the street started having leaks about six months later. Turns out, the seams on his metal roof had taken a beating, and water was sneaking in under the panels. He didn’t notice until a weird stain showed up on his ceiling.
I get the urge to just leave it alone if nothing looks obviously wrong, but honestly, I’m starting to think those seams and overlaps are the real weak spots. Dents are easy to spot, but water can find its way into places you can’t see. I haven’t pulled up a panel myself (yet), but I did crawl around with a flashlight looking for any signs of rust or water marks near the joints. Found a little bit of orange around one fastener—nothing major, but enough to make me paranoid.
Not sure if yanking up a panel is overkill, but I’d say at least check underneath the eaves and in your attic after heavy rain. If you spot any drips or rusty streaks, then maybe it’s worth getting more invasive. For what it’s worth, my insurance adjuster said hidden damage like that isn’t uncommon after big hail, especially if the hailstones were big enough to dent metal.
Guess it depends how much peace of mind you need. Personally, I’d rather be a little paranoid now than deal with soggy insulation later... but maybe that’s just me overthinking things again.
That story about your neighbor’s leak is all too familiar. I’ve seen folks skip the “under the hood” check after hail, then months later, suddenly there’s a water spot creeping across the ceiling.
That’s the kicker—those seams and overlaps are sneaky. I usually tell people, even if the roof looks fine from the ground, get up in the attic after a storm. Sometimes you’ll catch a faint musty smell or see a rusty nail before anything shows inside. It’s not overkill if it saves you from tearing out drywall later.“Dents are easy to spot, but water can find its way into places you can’t see.”
“Dents are easy to spot, but water can find its way into places you can’t see.”
That’s exactly what I’ve run into over the years. After a hailstorm last spring, one of our duplexes looked fine—no visible dents or missing panels from the ground. But a couple weeks later, a tenant called about a faint stain in the corner of their bedroom ceiling. Turns out, hail had knocked loose just enough flashing at a ridge seam for water to sneak in. The insulation was damp and there was already some minor mold starting.
I agree that checking the attic is key, though I’d add it’s not always practical for everyone—some attics are barely accessible or packed with old insulation. In those cases, I’ve found running your hand along exposed nails or rafters after a storm can sometimes pick up moisture before it becomes obvious elsewhere.
Metal roofs are tough, but they’re not invincible. Those overlaps and fasteners are weak points, especially if the install wasn’t perfect. It’s definitely not overkill to check after every big storm... learned that lesson the hard way more than once.
