The short answer
| Situation | Usually |
|---|---|
| Dented vents or flashing, shingles fine | Repair: replace the metal parts |
| A few cracked shingles from large stones | Repair |
| Damage on one or two slopes facing the storm | Repair or replace those slopes |
| Multiple bruises per test square on most slopes | Replace |
| Roof over ~15–20 years old with hail damage | Usually replace |
| Discontinued shingle, no reasonable match | Replace affected area or whole roof |
| Active leaks in several places | Replace |
How the decision is really made
Hits per test square
Inspectors and adjusters mark a 10 ft × 10 ft square on each slope and count functional hail hits inside it. Functional means the hit damaged the shingle’s ability to shed water or shortened its life, not just a cosmetic mark. When most slopes cross the insurer’s threshold, replacement is the usual outcome. When only one or two slopes do, a partial replacement or repair is more likely.
Roof age and brittleness
Older shingles become stiff. When a roofer lifts them to slip in a replacement, the surrounding shingles can crack. On a brittle roof, a “small repair” can turn into a much bigger one. We test a few shingles before quoting a repair.
Matching
Shingle colours and lines change every few years. A repair with a close but different shingle will be visible, especially on the front of the house. If an exact match is not available, we show you the options. Talk to your adjuster about how your policy handles matching.
Deductible math
If a repair costs $900 and your deductible is $1,000 (or a separate hail deductible is higher), a claim does nothing for you. If a full replacement is $18,000, the claim matters a lot. Get the inspection before you decide whether to call your insurer.
Remaining life and timing
If your roof was going to need replacing in a few years anyway, a hail claim that covers part of the cost can be a good moment to do the whole roof, and to upgrade to Class 4 impact-resistant shingles at your own cost.
Three common Calgary situations
A roof replaced after 2020, hit lightly in 2024. Hits are concentrated on the west slope, with a dented ridge vent. Most slopes are below the insurer’s threshold. Likely outcome: replace the damaged slope and vent, or a repair if the count is very low. Because the roof is young, matching shingles are usually still available.
An original 2000s builder roof in north Calgary, hit in 2024 and 2025. Bruising on every slope, brittle shingles, granule loss. Likely outcome: full replacement. A good time to price a Class 4 upgrade.
A newer roof with dented vents and gutters only. Shingles show marks, but the mats aren’t fractured. Likely outcome: replace the vents and possibly the eavestroughs. The roof itself stays.
Questions to ask before you decide
- How many functional hits did you find per test square, on which slopes?
- Is my shingle line still made, and how close will the match be?
- How brittle are the shingles? Will repairs crack the surrounding ones?
- What does the repair cost compared with my deductible?
- If I repair now, how many more years should this roof realistically last?
What we recommend, and why we sometimes say “repair”
We earn more on replacements. We still recommend repairs when they are the right answer, because a homeowner who gets honest advice calls us back after the next storm and tells the neighbours. If the damage is cosmetic or below your deductible, we will say so in writing.
Next steps
- Book a free hail roof inspection to get hit counts on every slope.
- If there is enough damage, read how to file a hail damage claim in Alberta.
- If a repair is enough, see hail damage roof repair. If not, see roof replacement and the Calgary roof cost guide.