A big hail storm just rolled through and you’re wondering what to do about your roof. Take a breath, most of the important steps are simple, and doing them in the right order protects both your home and your insurance claim.
1. Stay safe first
Wait until the storm has fully passed. Watch for downed power lines, broken branches, and slippery surfaces. Nothing about a roof inspection is urgent enough to risk your safety.
2. Don’t climb on the roof
We can’t stress this enough. Roofs are steep and slippery after a storm, and walking a damaged roof can hurt you and cause more damage. Leave the on-roof inspection to a professional with the right equipment.
3. Inspect from the ground
You can gather useful clues safely:
- Check your eavestroughs, downspouts, and vents for dents.
- Look for shingle granules washed into the gutters or at the base of downspouts.
- Note any dented siding, screens, or outdoor metal, if hail dented those, it likely hit the roof.
- Photograph everything and note the date and time of the storm.
4. Schedule a professional inspection
Book a proper roof inspection. We’ll get on the roof safely, document hail hits with photos and marked test squares, and give you a written assessment. This is the evidence that supports an insurance claim, and it tells you whether you even have a claim worth filing.
5. Handle the insurance process
If there’s significant damage:
- Contact your insurer or broker to open a claim.
- Share our documentation and let us meet the adjuster on-site if possible.
- Get the approved scope in writing before work begins.
We regularly work directly with adjusters and know what they look for, which makes the whole process smoother.
Don’t wait too long
Most policies have time limits for reporting storm damage, and hail damage gets harder to attribute to a specific storm as time passes. If a storm hit your area, book a free hail inspection sooner rather than later.
