What to Do After a Storm: How to Handle Roof Damage and Insurance Claims
Severe weather can cause serious damage to your roof and property. That’s why homeowners insurance is so important.
After a storm with strong winds, heavy rain, or hail, what’s the first step you should take?
Call a professional roofer to inspect your roof for any signs of damage.
Step 1: Call Your Roofer for a Roof Inspection
After a storm, contact your roofer immediately.
A professional inspection will help determine if the damage is serious enough to file a homeowners insurance claim.
Step 2: Have Your Roofer Present at the Insurance Inspection
If you decide to file a claim, it’s smart to have your roofer present when the insurance adjuster comes to inspect your property.
An experienced roofer may spot damage the adjuster could miss.
However, your roofer should never interfere with the adjuster’s work. Their role is simply to assist and answer questions.
Step 3: Understand Insurance Company Requirements
Every insurance company follows specific criteria when adjusting claims.
Larger companies often have clearer processes, while smaller insurers might use technicalities to deny claims.
Documentation is crucial—you must provide proof of loss.
Simply saying there’s damage is not enough to get your claim approved.
Typical Roof Insurance Claim Process for Hail Damage
Here’s a step-by-step overview of how insurance adjusters inspect for roof hail damage:
1. Take Photos of the Property
- Photograph the front of the house to verify the correct address.
2. Measure the Roof Eaves
- The adjuster will measure the eaves (roof edges).
3. Check for Multiple Roofing Layers
- Identifying if there are multiple layers is important for claim calculations.
4. Inspect Soft Metals for Hail Damage
- Look for dents in awnings, vents, and flashing.
- Soft metal damage often indicates shingle damage.
5. Measure Shingle Thickness with a Haag Gauge
- The Haag Gauge helps determine the shingle type and condition.
6. Create a 10×10 Test Square
- Mark off a 10-foot by 10-foot area.
- Look for hail impacts inside the square.
- Most insurers require at least 10 hits to approve a roof replacement, but some may need more or fewer.
7. Check for Other Damage
- Inspections also include gutters, siding, garage doors, A/C units, pool decks, and sheds.
Important Note: Not All Damage Means a Full Roof Replacement
In one case study, hail dents were found on an awning but not on new shingles.
The roof had been replaced after a previous storm, but the awning was not.
There was minor new damage, but it wasn’t enough for a full roof replacement.
