Storm Damage Roof FAQ

Hail damage on an asphalt shingle roof is often invisible from the ground — which is exactly why most homeowners don't file claims they're entitled to.

What to look for from the ground: - Dents in gutters, downspouts, or the metal flashing around the chimney — soft metals dent from hail impacts that leave shingles looking intact - Granule accumulation in gutters after a storm — hail breaks the bond between granules and the shingle mat, and loose granules wash into gutters

What a professional inspector looks for on the roof: - Impact craters — circular bruised areas on the shingle surface where granules are missing - Random pattern of damage — unlike wind damage, hail impacts don't follow a straight line - Fractured fiberglass mat under the granule surface — visible as dark circular areas - Cracked or split seams on ridge cap and hip shingles - Dented metal cap flashing, vent covers, HVAC equipment, and skylights

Key distinction: Granule loss from age looks uniform and widespread. Hail granule loss is irregular, patchy, and correlates with impact points. A trained inspector distinguishes them immediately.

After any storm producing hail 1" or larger in diameter, get a professional roof inspection. The inspection is free. The claim you don't file after a damaging hail event is money you left on the table.

Wind damage is generally more visible than hail damage. Here's what to look for:

Obvious signs: - Missing shingles — single shingles or sections lifted off by wind - Curled or raised shingle corners — adhesive seals broken by wind uplift - Shingles displaced or slid from their original position - Fallen tree branches on the roof or embedded in shingles

Less obvious but important: - Shingles that look intact from the ground but have broken seal strips underneath — these will re-lift in the next wind event - Damaged ridge cap shingles — the highest point is the most vulnerable to wind - Bent or pulled-off flashing at the edges - Gutters pulled away from fascia boards

The threshold for concern: Most architectural shingles are rated for 110–130 mph winds when properly installed. In practice, broken adhesive seals from age combined with 60–70 mph sustained wind can lift shingles that would otherwise survive.

After any wind event with sustained winds over 50 mph, inspect from the ground and check gutters. If you see missing shingles, call a contractor — wind damage typically qualifies as an insurance claim.

A thorough storm damage inspection by a qualified contractor covers all of the following:

Shingles: Impact points, granule loss, lifted or missing sections, cracked or split areas at ridge and hip, exposed nail heads.

Metal components: Gutters, downspouts, drip edge, chimney cap, flashing, pipe boots, vent covers, skylights, HVAC curbs — soft metals dent at lower impact velocities than shingles and are excellent indicators of storm severity.

Ridge cap: Often the first area to show wind damage; inspected closely for lifting or displacement.

Valleys: Concentrated water runoff makes valley flashing and underlayment high-priority inspection points.

Penetrations: Pipe boots, skylight curbs, and chimney flashings examined for impact damage and seal integrity.

Attic: Interior inspection for evidence of water intrusion, damaged decking, or compressed insulation from pooled water.

Photographic documentation: Every damaged area is photographed for the insurance claim report. A proper storm inspection report includes measurement of the affected area, photos of each damage type, and an itemized scope of repair — formatted for insurance adjuster review.

The relationship between hail size and roof damage:

3/4 inch (dime-sized): The generally accepted threshold for insurance-claimable hail damage on standard asphalt shingles. Granule damage begins at this size. Metal components show denting.

1 inch (quarter-sized): Causes more significant granule displacement and begins to fracture the fiberglass mat in standard shingles. Clearly documentable damage on most roofing products.

1.5 inches (golf ball-sized): Substantial damage to standard shingles. May crack or split shingles. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles fare significantly better at this size.

2+ inches (baseball-sized): Catastrophic damage to most roofing products. Can crack concrete tile, dent metal roofing, and cause complete shingle failure.

Important nuance: Age and condition of the shingles matters. A 20-year-old roof with brittle, granule-depleted shingles sustains meaningful damage from 3/4 inch hail that would barely mark a new shingle. Adjusters account for this — or should.

How to find out what fell on your roof: NOAA storm reports, your local National Weather Service office, and commercial weather services like DTN/WeatherOps maintain records of hail size by location and date. This data supports your insurance claim.

Most homeowner's insurance policies require claims to be filed within 1 year of the damage event. Some policies specify as little as 6 months. Read your specific policy declarations page for your carrier's requirement.

Practical guidance: - File as soon as possible after any storm event. The longer you wait, the harder it is to establish the connection between the storm and the damage. - Within 30 days of a storm is ideal. Within 90 days is generally still straightforward. Beyond that, you may face questions about why the damage went unreported. - Get a storm damage inspection before deciding whether to file. A free inspection tells you whether the damage is claimable — you can make an informed decision about filing versus paying out of pocket.

Post-storm demand: After widespread hail or wind events, insurance companies receive high claim volumes. Don't let scheduling delays on the insurer's side become your delay. File promptly, then schedule the adjuster.

Year-end consideration: If a storm occurred in November and your contractor is booked until January, you can still file in November based on the contractor's inspection report. The adjuster visit doesn't need to precede the filing.

Yes — legitimate storm damage inspections from roofing contractors are free. Here's why: the contractor's business model is repairing damage they discover, not charging for inspections. If they find nothing claimable, they move on. If they find significant damage, they quote the repair.

This creates a good incentive alignment: the contractor is motivated to find real damage, and you pay nothing for the inspection itself.

What a free inspection includes: - Full exterior inspection with photos - Interior attic check if accessible - Written damage report suitable for insurance documentation - Explanation of what was found and whether it's worth filing a claim

What it doesn't include: - Legal advice about your policy - Guarantee of insurance approval - Obligation for you to hire that contractor

The only "cost" of a free storm inspection is your time. Given that the alternative is leaving a legitimate claim unfiled, the ROI on a post-storm inspection is essentially unlimited.

No. A first denial is frequently not the final answer, especially for hail damage claims where the damage requires trained eyes to document correctly.

Steps after denial:

1. Get the denial reason in writing. The insurer must specify why the claim was denied — pre-existing damage, no insurable damage found, policy exclusion, etc.

2. Get an independent inspection. If the adjuster found "no insurable damage" and your contractor's inspection found significant impact points, the reports disagree. Document the disagreement.

3. File an appeal. Most insurers have a formal internal appeal process. Submit your contractor's documentation alongside the appeal.

4. Request the appraisal process. Most homeowner's insurance policies include an appraisal clause: each party selects an appraiser, the two appraisers agree on an umpire, and the three resolve the dispute. This process bypasses litigation and is often effective for disputed hail damage claims.

5. File a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance. For bad faith claim handling, this creates formal pressure and a paper trail.

6. Consider a public adjuster. They work on contingency (typically 10–15% of the recovery). If they can't get more money, you pay nothing. For large claims, this is often worth it.

7. Consult a property insurance attorney. For very large claims, legal representation can be warranted.

Don't assume a denial is final.

This is one of the most frustrating situations homeowners face, and it's more common than it should be. Several legitimate explanations exist, and at least one illegitimate one:

Legitimate reasons: - Your neighbor's roof was older or in worse condition — more susceptible to the same-sized hail - Your neighbor had RCV coverage; you have ACV — same damage, different payout - Your neighbor's contractor documented the damage more completely during the adjuster inspection - Different adjusters covering different blocks — adjuster variability is real and documented - Your neighbor's roof faces a different direction — wind-driven hail damages roofs differently depending on exposure

Questionable reasons: - Your adjuster was simply more conservative than your neighbor's - Your adjuster was more experienced and found your damage genuinely below threshold

What to do: Get your contractor present at the re-inspection (if you're pursuing an appeal). The difference between a paid claim and a denied claim is often documentation quality — not actual damage differences. A contractor who knows how to document for insurance adjusters, points out every impact point, and has measured hail size data from a certified weather service is far more effective than you going it alone.

File the appeal. The worst outcome is the same denial. The realistic upside is a full claim payment.

If you're paying out of pocket, here are realistic costs for common storm damage repairs:

Minor hail damage (cosmetic granule loss, no structural breach): Often not worth repairing immediately. Monitor for leaks. At end of shingle life, include in replacement cost.

Wind damage — few missing shingles (1–10): $150–$600 for replacement, matching existing.

Wind damage — large section (50–200 sq ft): $800–$3,000 depending on material and area.

Damaged flashing (chimney, skylights): $300–$1,200 depending on type and extent.

Full section hail damage requiring replacement: $2,500–$8,000 for a partial re-roof of one slope or section.

Full roof replacement after hail total loss: $10,000–$25,000 for most residential homes.

Tree branch or limb impact: Highly variable based on extent — $500 to full replacement.

Flat roof storm damage repair: $600–$5,000 for membrane repairs; larger sections significantly more.

The decision framework: Is the roof nearing end of life anyway? Is the damage widespread or localized? If you're 3 years from replacement on a 25-year shingle and the damage is cosmetic, budget for the replacement rather than paying for repairs on a roof you'll be replacing soon.

The most impactful things you can do, in roughly declining order of effectiveness:

1. Install Class 4 impact-resistant shingles at next replacement. This is the biggest single upgrade for hail protection — roofs with Class 4 shingles survive events that total standard shingles. Also qualifies for insurance discounts in most hail belt states.

2. Ensure proper wind fastening. Shingles nailed above the nail zone (too high) have significantly reduced wind resistance. This is a contractor-level decision, but asking about it before a re-roof is reasonable.

3. Address overhanging tree branches. Falling branches cause significant storm damage. Trim or remove limbs that overhang your roof.

4. Maintain gutters and drainage. Clean gutters ensure water doesn't back up under the drip edge during heavy rain — a secondary but real damage pathway.

5. Annual inspection. Existing damage — loose flashing, cracked caulk around penetrations, lifted shingles — makes storm damage worse. A pre-season inspection finds these vulnerabilities.

6. Consider metal roofing. For homes in severe hail or hurricane zones, standing seam metal roofing with appropriate gauge and profile survives events that destroy asphalt roofing. Higher upfront cost, but dramatically reduced storm vulnerability.