Hail Damage on Your Roof: What to Check After a Highveld Storm

Late spring and summer on the Highveld means afternoon thunderstorms, and many of them bring hail. A short, heavy hailstorm can crack tiles, dent sheeting, split old membranes and block every gutter on the roof within minutes. Some damage is obvious straight away. Much of it only shows up as a leak during the next storm, weeks later, by which time it can be harder to link to the original event.

This article is part of our complete guide to roof waterproofing and our commercial and industrial roof guide.

What Hail Does to Different Roofs

Concrete and clay tile roofs

Hail cracks and chips tiles, and can break the mortar on ridges and hips. A cracked tile may still look fine from the ground but will let water through to the underlay or ceiling. Broken pieces can also slide down into valleys and gutters and block them.

IBR and corrugated metal roofs

Large hail dents metal sheeting and can chip the coating, especially on older or thinner sheets. Dents themselves rarely leak, but damaged coating rusts, and hail can loosen or crack screw washers and flashings. See why IBR roofs leak.

Flat roofs and slabs

Old, brittle bitumen and felt membranes can crack or puncture under hail. Ice also builds up around drains and outlets, causing water to pond and overflow during the storm itself.

Asbestos cement roofs

Weathered asbestos sheeting is brittle and can crack or break under heavy hail. Do not walk on it or try to clean up broken pieces yourself. Damaged asbestos needs to be assessed and handled correctly. See asbestos encapsulation.

Gutters and box gutters

Hail, leaves and broken tile fragments wash into gutters and block outlets. A blocked box gutter during a downpour overflows straight into the roof space. Clearing gutters after a hailstorm is one of the most useful things you can do. See why box gutters leak.

After the Storm: A Safe Checklist

Please do not climb onto a wet, damaged or asbestos roof. Most of these checks can be done from the ground, from a window, or from inside the roof space.

• Look at the roof from the ground or an upstairs window, with binoculars if you have them, for cracked, slipped or missing tiles and lifted sheets
• Check gutters and downpipes for hail, leaves and debris, and for water overflowing during the next rain
• Look for pieces of tile, sheeting or flashing in the garden or driveway
• Check ceilings, cornices and around downlights for new stains or drips
• If you can safely access the roof space with a torch, look for wet insulation, water marks on timbers or daylight through the roof
• Look at flat roofs and balconies for cracked membranes or water still standing a day later
• Take dated photos of everything you find, inside and out

Insurance: What to Do Before You Claim

Many household and building policies cover sudden storm damage, but often exclude gradual wear and tear or lack of maintenance. The wording differs between insurers, so check your own policy or speak to your broker. In general it helps to report damage promptly, keep the dated photos, prevent further damage where it is safe to do so, and get a written assessment of the damage from a roofing contractor. A roof that was already in poor condition before the storm can make a claim harder, which is another reason regular inspections are worth it.

Temporary Fixes and Permanent Repairs

A tarpaulin or temporary patch can keep water out until the roof is properly assessed, but it is not a repair. Once broken tiles or sheets have been replaced, a roof that has taken hail damage is a good candidate for waterproofing. A fully bonded liquid membrane seals hairline cracks, damaged coatings, laps and fixings in one continuous layer and adds protection against the next storm.

How EcoProof Africa Helps After Hail

We inspect the roof, identify what was damaged by the storm and what was already worn, and give you a written assessment and quote. Where sheets or tiles need replacing, we say so. Where the roof is sound, we seal and protect it with a seamless, fully bonded liquid-applied system. We work across Gauteng, and hail season is busy, so the sooner you book, the sooner we can get to you.

Where to Go From Here

• When Is the Best Time to Waterproof Your Roof? Including what to do if you have a leak in the rainy season.
• How Do I Know If My Roof Needs Waterproofing? Seven warning signs.
• Leaking Balcony or Roof Terrace? Causes and fixes for flat areas above living spaces.

Roof damaged in a storm? Get in touch to book an inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if hail has damaged my roof?

Look for cracked, chipped or missing tiles, dents or chipped coating on metal sheets, debris from the roof in the garden, blocked gutters, and new stains on ceilings. Some damage only shows up as a leak during the next rain, so keep an eye on ceilings for a few weeks.

Should I go onto the roof to check for hail damage?

No. Wet, damaged roofs are slippery and broken tiles or sheets may not take your weight. Asbestos roofs should never be walked on. Check from the ground, a window or inside the roof space, and get a professional to inspect the roof itself.

Does a dented IBR roof need replacing?

Not usually. Dents on their own rarely leak. What matters is whether the coating is chipped, the sheet is cracked, or fixings and washers have been damaged. Sound sheets can be sealed and protected.

Will my insurance cover hail damage to my roof?

Many policies cover sudden storm damage but exclude wear and tear. Check your policy wording or ask your broker, report the damage promptly, and keep dated photos and a written assessment.

Can waterproofing protect my roof against hail?

An elastic, fully bonded membrane copes with normal hail better than brittle coatings and seals the small cracks and damaged areas hail leaves behind. Very large hail can still damage the roof covering underneath, so an inspection after a severe storm is always worth it.

Our roof waterproofing services

EcoProof Africa waterproofs flat roofs, metal roofs, corrugated roofs and asbestos roofs, and can help with gutters and concrete slabs. See all our waterproofing services. We work across Gauteng, including Johannesburg, Randburg, Sandton, Edenvale, Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni, Brakpan, Springs, Bedfordview.