December 6, 2025
When a major storm hits, most homeowners know to check their yard, their gutters, and maybe even their attic. But the roof? Unless there’s obvious destruction, most people assume everything is fine.
The truth is:
80% of storm damage is invisible from the ground — and often ignored until it becomes a major, expensive problem.
In Episode 3 of The Royal Podcast — Powered by United Roofing, Ethan and Alyssa break down what homeowners really need to know after a storm, why hidden damage matters, and how a simple inspection can save thousands of dollars.
This blog post is the full breakdown of that conversation.
When people think “storm damage,” they picture dramatic scenes:
• shingles flying off
• holes in the roof
• water pouring through the ceiling
But that’s the exception, not the rule.
Most storm damage is subtle and hard to spot unless you’re trained to see it. That’s why homeowners often wait too long to act, leaving their roofs vulnerable to long-term issues like leaks, rot, and insulation damage.
Here are the three most common types of “hidden damage” that almost no one catches:
A strong gust of wind can lift a shingle and allow it to settle back into place. From the ground, everything looks normal — but the seal underneath is broken.
A broken seal means:
✔ the shingle can blow off during the next storm
✔ water can seep under the edges
✔ the entire slope loses its integrity
Wind lift is one of the top reasons claims get approved… and one of the most overlooked forms of damage.
Hail doesn’t need to break shingles to cause serious trouble.
A single hail impact can bruise the shingle matting underneath — weakening the roof layer you can’t see.
Bruising leads to:
✔ premature aging
✔ faster granule loss
✔ leaks months (or years) later
And unless someone is on the roof touching those impact spots, most bruising goes undetected.
Storms strip the protective granules off shingles.
Those granules are like sunscreen for your roof.
Without them, shingles:
✔ crack faster
✔ dry out sooner
✔ lose their weather protection
Heavy granule loss turns your roof into a ticking time bomb — there’s no way to see this from the driveway.
Most homeowners walk outside, look up, and think:
“Looks fine to me.”
But the driveway is the worst place to evaluate roof health.
From that angle, you cannot see:
✘ lifted shingle edges
✘ cracks or creases
✘ hail bruising
✘ granule displacement
✘ loosened flashing
That’s why roofing pros always say:
If you didn’t get on the roof… you didn’t inspect the roof.
After a major windstorm in Myrtle Beach, a homeowner named Mike called us saying:
“I’m pretty sure my roof survived — my neighbor’s didn’t, but mine looks fine.”
The driveway agreed.
The roof… didn’t.
Once our team climbed up, we found:
• 18 lifted shingles
• 6 cracked shingles
• hail bruising from an earlier storm
• granule loss across the back slope
He had zero idea — and he was one storm away from major leaks.
Because we documented everything and moved quickly, insurance approved a full replacement.
If he had waited another season, the damage would have been considered wear-and-tear… and denied.
Here’s the simple truth:
Insurance covers sudden storm damage — not old damage.
If a homeowner delays:
• the claim becomes harder
• documentation becomes weaker
• adjusters may deny the claim
• the homeowner pays out-of-pocket
The inspection date matters.
The documentation matters.
Acting fast matters more than anything.
Here’s the storm response checklist United Roofing gives every homeowner:
Free. Fast. Safe.
Climbing your own roof is dangerous — and ineffective.
Photos, dates, notes.
This can be the difference between approval and denial.
Tarps are temporary.
Left too long, they cause more harm than good.
A contractor who mishandles the claim process can cost thousands.
A good one can protect the entire replacement.
Storm damage isn’t always dramatic — but it’s always important.
A professional inspection can catch issues that the driveway never shows, prevent leaks before they start, and protect you from costly repairs down the road.
United Roofing’s mission is simple:
to give homeowners the peace of mind they deserve after every storm.
Listen to the full conversation on Spotify or YouTube.
Your roof protects what matters most.
Let us protect it.