What to Do If Hail Has Damaged Your Roof
Hail and other storm events can cause significant damage to homes. If you’re a homeowner who has experienced hail damage or damage from another type of storm event, you may be wondering what steps you should take next. In this blog, we’ll discuss what homeowners should do if their home is damaged by hail or a storm event and how insurance claims for hail damage work.
Step 1: Assess the Damage
The first step in dealing with hail or storm damage to your home is to assess the damage. Walk around your home and inspect the exterior for any visible damage. Look for things like broken or missing shingles, dented gutters, and broken windows. Take photos of the damage and make notes of anything that needs to be repaired.
Step 2: Contact Your Insurance Company
Once you’ve assessed the damage to your home, it’s time to contact your insurance company. Call your insurance agent or company as soon as possible to report the damage. They’ll likely ask you for information about the damage, such as when it occurred and the extent of the damage.
Step 3: Schedule an Inspection
Your insurance company will likely want to send an adjuster to your home to inspect the damage. The adjuster will assess the damage and determine the cost of repairs. It’s important to be present during the inspection to point out any damage that you’ve identified.
Step 4: Review Your Policy
Before any repairs can be made, it’s important to review your insurance policy to understand your coverage. Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover damage caused by hail or other storm events, but there may be specific limits or exclusions. Make sure you understand what is and isn’t covered before proceeding with repairs.
Step 5: File Your Claim
Once the inspection is complete, and you’ve reviewed your policy, it’s time to file your claim. Your insurance company will provide you with instructions on how to file your claim. Be sure to provide all necessary documentation, including photos of the damage and any repair estimates.
Step 6: Make Repairs
Once your claim has been approved, it’s time to make repairs to your home. You can choose to make the repairs yourself or hire a professional. If you choose to hire a professional, be sure to get multiple quotes and choose a reputable contractor.
Hail Damages Different Roofing Materials in Different Ways
Experience in roof inspections following hailstorms has educated roofing contractors about how hail damage affects different roofing materials. Not surprisingly, hail damages different roofing materials in different ways.
Roof hail damage can also vary greatly from one part of a house roof to another. This variation is due primarily to the wind that drives the hail. A glancing blow will do less damage than hail that impacts the roof at close to 90 degrees.
- Hail damage to asphalt shingles: Shingles can have broken or cracked tabs, but the most common hail damage takes the form of crushed or dented areas where granules are forced into the shingle mat material or displaced entirely. Since granules protect the shingle from UV degradation, hail dents can result in shortened shingle life.
- Hail damage to wood shingles: Wood shingles can crack from hail impacts. Cracking will be along the grain, and can cause parts of shingles to break loose.
- Hail damage to slate roofs: Hail impact can crack slates, although cracks tend to be more random than with wood shingles. Some slates may break loose from their fasteners and slide off the roof.
Keeney’s Hail and Storm Roof Repair Services
Between dealing with storm-chasers, insurance companies, and big out-of-town corporations trying to take advantage of the situation, trying to repair or replace your roof can be a very stressful time! Keeney Home Services is a family business, and we would be honored to help your family. We can help make this experience as stress-free as possible. We offer:
- A free and thorough inspection of your roof for storm damage and roof hail damage, covering roof shingles, gutters, skylights, flashing, vent hoods, vent stacks, chimney caps, and chimneys.
- Free estimates for all recommended roof repairs.
- Prompt, expert repair and/or replacement of storm-damaged roof elements.
Our expert roofers have the experience to be able to suggest the appropriate roofing services, whether it’s roof repair or roofing replacement.
Hail and storm damage can be stressful for homeowners, but by following the steps above, you can ensure that the damage is properly assessed, and repairs are made. Remember to always review your insurance policy and understand your coverage before filing a claim. By doing so, you can help ensure that your claim is processed smoothly and efficiently. For a free no-obligation estimate, contact us today.
