Damage Assessment
Skylight Damage After a Hailstorm: What to Check
A skylight can be damaged by hail even when the surrounding shingles look fine, since the dome or glazing, the flashing seal around its frame, and the surrounding roof deck are three separate failure points that don't always show damage at the same time. Check for visible cracking or pitting in acrylic domes, chipped or cracked glass panes, and any new water staining on the ceiling or wall directly below the skylight, which usually points to a flashing seal problem rather than the glazing itself.
Direct Answer
A skylight can be damaged by hail even when the surrounding shingles look fine, since the dome or glazing, the flashing seal around its frame, and the surrounding roof deck are three separate failure points that don't always show damage at the same time. Check for visible cracking or pitting in acrylic domes, chipped or cracked glass panes, and any new water staining on the ceiling or wall directly below the skylight, which usually points to a flashing seal problem rather than the glazing itself.
What to check after a hailstorm
Skylights fail in a few distinct ways after hail, and knowing which one you're looking at changes what needs fixing.
- Look for visible cracks, chips, or a cloudy/pitted appearance on an acrylic dome skylight -- acrylic is more prone to visible impact marks than tempered glass.
- Check tempered or laminated glass skylights for hairline cracks near the edges or corners, where impact stress concentrates.
- Inspect the flashing around the skylight's frame (step flashing along the sides, a cricket or saddle on the uphill side if the skylight is wide) for any visible gap, lift, or displaced sealant -- this is a separate failure point from the glazing itself.
- Check the ceiling and wall directly below the skylight for new staining or a musty smell, since a flashing leak often shows up there before any visible crack is found on the roof.
- Note the skylight's approximate age and manufacturer if known -- some manufacturers offer a hail-breakage warranty (VELUX, for example, backs certain glass options with a 10-year hail warranty), which can affect whether a repair is a warranty claim rather than an out-of-pocket or insurance repair.
Why this matters for a claim or repair decision
- A cracked skylight left unaddressed is a direct water-intrusion point, unlike a dented gutter that's mostly cosmetic -- treat any confirmed crack as urgent regardless of how minor it looks.
- Flashing-seal failure around a skylight is one of the more common leak sources on an otherwise intact roof, and it's frequently missed in a quick ground-level or drone-only inspection since it requires checking close to the skylight frame itself.
- If your skylight has a manufacturer hail warranty, check it before assuming the repair falls entirely on your homeowners insurance or out of pocket.
Sources
The data above is cited directly from these publishers - follow the links to read the original reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hail crack a skylight without damaging the shingles around it?
Yes. A skylight's glazing and the surrounding shingles are different materials with different impact tolerances, so it's entirely possible for one to show damage while the other doesn't.
Is a cloudy or pitted look on an acrylic skylight dome always hail damage?
Not always -- UV exposure over time can also cause acrylic to yellow or become hazy. A sudden change after a specific storm date is a stronger hail-damage indicator than gradual haziness noticed with no clear before/after point.
Should I get on the roof to inspect my skylight myself?
It's safer to check for interior staining and visible cracking from inside or with binoculars from the ground first, and have a professional inspect the flashing and exterior glazing up close.