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Storm and hail · Check it yourself
Is that hail damage?
How to tell before you call anyone, and when not to file. Most of this you can settle yourself from the ground. The one place a contractor earns their keep is inspecting everything the hail hit, not just the roof.
Everything that matters is visible from the ground with binoculars. Falls from roofs are among the most common serious home-maintenance injuries, and a wet or aged roof is worse.
1Settle it yourself
- Check the soft metal firstGutters, downspouts, vents, flashing and the garage door dent at hail sizes that may not fracture a shingle mat. Dented soft metal means hail fell. It is a reason to have the roof looked at, not proof of a claim.
- Know what hail damage looks like on shingleCircular bruises where granules are missing, and the mat beneath feels soft rather than holed. Random pattern, sharp edges, hits on all slopes. That is why a hail-damaged roof usually looks fine from the ground.
- Rule out what it is notUse the table below. Wind in particular matters, because wind and hail often carry different deductibles.
| What you see | What it is |
|---|---|
| Uniform wear that follows sun exposure | Age, not hail |
| Round spots that are raised, not depressed | Blistering |
| Marks that follow a walking path | Mechanical damage from foot traffic |
| A crease in a line rather than circular bruises | Wind |
2Before you file
Get the damage measured against your deductible first. A claim you barely recover on still goes on your record and can affect renewal and pricing. This is the step most people skip, and it is the one that costs them.
3Get everything inspected, not just the roof
The garage door, gutters, siding, window frames and screens are all claimable, and all routinely omitted when only the roof is assessed. Garage doors in particular are the most commonly missed item on a storm claim.
Talk to a local roofer who will inspect the garage door, gutters, siding, window frames and screens along with the roof.
877-360-46574Choosing who does the work
Decline. That is a proposal to misrepresent the loss to your insurer, and it is your name on the claim rather than theirs. It is also the clearest available signal that the contractor should not be working on your house.
Vetting a contractor after a storm. Ask for a local business address, proof of general liability and workers’ compensation, and a warranty that will still exist in five years. Out-of-state crews follow storms, and they arrive in numbers wherever a big one has just landed.
5Questions
My gutters are dented. Do I have a claim?
Not necessarily. Dented soft metal means hail fell. It is a reason to have the roof looked at, not proof of a claim.
Why does my roof look fine?
Hail bruises the mat under the granules rather than punching a hole, so damage usually can’t be seen from the ground.
What should I do next?
Follow the order on storm claim, step by step, starting with your deductible.
Written by Jaylan Jones. I Like To Exterior Services earns a referral fee when a call connects to a contractor. See our business-model disclosure.
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