Hail and Wind Roof Damage in Lubbock: What to Check

A good hail and wind inspection covers every slope of the roof, not just the side facing the storm, plus the metal parts and the edges where wind gets a grip. Hail leaves bruises, cracks and dents in the surface; wind lifts, creases and tears shingles loose, usually at edges, corners and ridges. On the South Plains the two often arrive together, so ask the inspector to report them separately, with photos tied to each finding.

Why Lubbock storms need both checks

The National Weather Service office in Lubbock has written up several storms where hail and wind hit the city at the same time. On June 5, 2025, a storm passing Reese Center west of the city produced hail up to tennis-ball size inside the city limits and a measured 80 mph gust at Reese Center, according to the NWS event summary. The survey teams found roof and tree damage concentrated in west Lubbock, heaviest along and north of Highway 114, with broken windows and skylights reported as far south as Wolfforth.

Hail can also be very patchy. In the May 28–29, 2024 storms, NWS logged 1.75-inch hail in Wolfforth while the southwest side of Lubbock saw mostly small hail at or below quarter size, and the airport missed the hail entirely (NWS). A neighbor's roof claim does not tell you what happened on your street, and a quiet street does not rule out damage two miles away.

What hail damage looks like

Wind-driven hail strikes at an angle, so the west- or north-facing slope may look worse than the rest. A thorough inspection should cover:

• Shingle surface: bruises that feel soft, spots where granules are knocked off to the black mat, and cracks or splits.
• Soft metals: dents in gutters, downspouts, roof vents, turbine vents, flashing and the AC condenser fins. These help show the size and direction of the hail.
• Ridge caps: they sit highest and often take the hardest hits.
• Skylights and plastic vent covers: cracked domes and caps let water straight in.
• Metal roofs: dents in panels, plus any damage to seams, trim and fasteners.

Not every mark matters equally. In lab testing of asphalt shingles, the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) found that dents and tears are the damage types most closely tied to water getting through, while new shingles held up well on granule loss (IBHS summary). Ask the inspector to say which findings affect how the roof sheds water and which are appearance only.

What wind damage looks like

Strong straight-line wind works on the edges first. The inspector should check:

• Lifted or creased shingles: a tab that bent back leaves a crease line and may no longer be sealed down, even if it lies flat now.
• Missing shingles or ridge caps: check the yard and the far side of the fence too.
• Drip edge and starter course: loose edge metal lets wind get under the first row.
• Metal panels: loose or backed-out fasteners, bent trim and lifted panel ends.
• Flashing: at walls, chimneys and around pipes, where wind-driven rain finds gaps.

West Texas dust storms add another layer. Blowing grit wears exposed surfaces and packs gutters and valleys, which slows drainage the next time it rains. Ask the inspector to note gutter and valley condition while up there.

What a useful inspection report includes

• the date, the inspector's name and the company's contact details;
• each slope checked, and any area the inspector could not reach safely;
• photos with captions saying where each was taken and what it shows;
• hail findings and wind findings listed separately;
• older wear or past repairs, so storm damage is not mixed up with age;
• the recommendation (repair, replace a section, replace the roof, or watch it) and the reason for it.

If anything looks wrong, our after-hailstorm checklist covers the first steps, and the hail damage repair page covers what the repair itself should include. For a check with no storm involved, see roof inspection in Lubbock.

Your part: stay on the ground

Leave the roof to the inspector. From the yard you can photograph dented gutters, the AC unit, pieces of shingle on the ground and anything hanging loose. Inside, look for new stains on ceilings and check the attic from the hatch only if it is safe to stand there. The Texas Department of Insurance suggests checking for missing or damaged shingles after storms as part of routine roof care (TDI); a ground-level look plus a professional inspection is the safe way to do that.

Common questions

Can a roof have hail damage you can't see from the ground?

Yes. Bruises and small cracks in shingles are rarely visible from the yard. Dented gutters, vents or AC fins are a sign the roof surface should be checked up close by a pro.

Is a dented metal roof a damaged roof?

Not always. The Texas Department of Insurance notes that dents on a metal roof might not affect how it performs, and some policies exclude purely cosmetic damage (TDI). Ask the inspector whether seams, fasteners or coatings were affected.

Does wind damage always mean missing shingles?

No. A shingle can lift, crease and fall back into place, then come off in the next storm. Creases and broken seal strips are the usual clues. We connect Lubbock homeowners with independent local pros. You confirm the price and schedule directly with them.