Storm Damage Roofing Guide — Hail, Wind & What to Do Next

Before anything else, ensure your home is structurally safe. If you see daylight through ceiling damage, major structural sagging, or flooding, prioritize safety and call a restoration company or your local emergency line.

Once safe: (1) Check for interior water intrusion — attic, ceilings, walls. (2) Take date-stamped photographs inside and outside the home. (3) Do NOT let any contractor start work or remove materials before you have documented the pre-repair condition. (4) Look up whether a storm event is confirmed at your address using NOAA Storm Events or a free hail verification service like HailTrace.

Resist the urge to get on your roof immediately — both for safety reasons and because the adjuster needs to see undisturbed damage.

A professional inspection is always recommended, but you can do a preliminary assessment from the ground and at the eave line.

Ground-level indicators: Granule loss in gutters and at downspout splash pads is often the first sign of shingle impact. Fresh granule loss against aged shingles indicates new storm damage. Also check metal surfaces: gutters, downspouts, window screens, AC fins, vents, and satellite dishes. These soft metals dent from hail far more visibly than asphalt shingles.

At the eave line: With a ladder, inspect the lower edge of shingles for circular bruising marks — dark, slightly soft impact points where the hail knocked granules loose and bruised the asphalt mat beneath. One bruise doesn't mean a claim. A pattern of impacts across a large field of shingles typically does.

Hail size matters for insurance purposes: Most carriers require hail of at least 1 inch to approve a claim for asphalt shingles. Hail verification services can confirm the exact size recorded at your address.

Documentation is your strongest asset in the insurance process. Before calling your carrier, gather: the confirmed storm date (carrier will require this), photos of all damaged surfaces, video walkthrough of the property, any prior inspection reports or photos that establish the pre-storm condition, and your policy declarations page.

Organize photos by location (front elevation, rear elevation, left side, right side, gutters, downspouts, skylights, HVAC units). If you have a Ring camera, Nest, or security footage from the storm, save it immediately — it can confirm the event date and severity at your property.

Once you have documentation, call your carrier or file online. Have your policy number, storm date, and a description of what you observed ready.

Your carrier will assign an adjuster and schedule an inspection — typically within 5–14 days. Request confirmation of the inspection date in writing. You are legally entitled to have your own contractor present during the inspection.

Key things to know before the inspection: The adjuster works for your insurance company, not for you. They are trained to minimize scope. A reputable roofing contractor who has experience with insurance claims will know what the adjuster may overlook and can advocate for full scope approval on the spot.

Post-storm contractor selection is where most homeowners get hurt financially or end up with subpar work.

The right way to hire: (1) Get at least 2–3 estimates from licensed local contractors with verifiable Google Business profiles. (2) Verify their state contractor license at your state licensing board's website. (3) Request certificates of general liability insurance AND workers' compensation before any work begins. (4) Get a written contract specifying the scope, materials (including brand and product line), timeline, and total price before signing.

Ask specifically: "How long have you operated in this market?" and "Do you handle insurance supplements?" Both answers reveal experience and commitment to your area.

These warning signs indicate a contractor you should avoid:

"We'll waive your deductible" — This is insurance fraud in most states and a federal crime when the contractor bills the carrier for the full amount while absorbing your deductible. Avoid any contractor who offers this.

Unsolicited door-to-door visits immediately after a storm — "Storm chasers" follow hail events from state to state. They may do adequate work, but they have no local reputation at stake and will be gone before any warranty issues arise.

Requires full payment upfront — Industry standard is a deposit at contract signing (10–30%), progress payments at major milestones, and final payment on completion and inspection.

No physical local address — Google the address on their business card. If it's a UPS Store or a vacant lot, walk away.

Pressure to sign before the adjuster inspects — Any legitimate contractor will wait for your carrier's assessment before asking you to commit to a specific scope or price.