The short answer
Blisters are raised bumps in the asphalt that pop and leave small pits, and they appear on every slope regardless of which direction a storm came from. Hail leaves flat bruises and dents concentrated on the storm-facing slopes, and it almost always leaves matching dents in soft metals such as gutters, vent caps and air conditioner fins. If intact raised blisters exist elsewhere on the roof, the pits probably predate the storm.
What causes it
| Cause | How you can tell | How common |
|---|---|---|
| Blistering | Round pits spread evenly over every slope, some still raised and unpopped | Not insurable |
| Hail bruising | Flat dented spots concentrated on one or two slopes facing the storm | Insurable |
| Foot traffic | Popped blisters along a walking path, often after other trades were up there | Not insurable |
| Mechanical damage | Scrapes and gouges rather than round marks | Depends on cause |
| Manufacturing granule loss | Patchy loss with no impact mark underneath | Warranty question |
How fast do you need to act
Not urgent as damage, but urgent as a claim. If you believe it is hail, document it and report it promptly, because the longer the gap between the storm and the claim the harder the causation argument gets.
What to do right now
- Look at all four slopes, not just one, because the pattern across the roof is the whole diagnosis
- Look for unpopped blisters still raised, which prove blistering is happening on this roof
- Check gutters, downspouts, vent caps and the air conditioner fins for matching dents
- Note which direction the storm came from and whether the marks match that side
- Photograph with something for scale next to the marks
- Get an independent inspection before an adjuster visit rather than after a denial
What we see in the Hill Country
This is the argument we see most often in Hill Country claims. Texas heat produces a lot of blistering, so a roof here can genuinely have both: old blisters across every slope and real hail bruising on the south and west. A good inspection separates them rather than calling the whole roof one thing, and that separation is usually what decides whether the claim gets paid.
When to call us
We inspect for this at no charge across Boerne, San Antonio, New Braunfels, Kerrville, Fair Oaks Ranch, Bulverde, Helotes, Spring Branch, Austin and Stone Oak. You get photographs of what we find and a written explanation, including when the honest answer is that nothing needs doing yet. Call (210) 245-4125 or book an inspection.
