Storm Damage

After the Hail: A Mountain West Homeowner's Roof Damage Checklist

The hour after a hailstorm is chaotic, and the week after is when costly mistakes happen. Work this checklist in order and you will protect both your roof and your claim.

First, what hail actually does to a roof

Hail damage to asphalt shingles is usually subtle from the ground: dark bruises where granules were knocked away, exposing the mat beneath. Those bruises let UV and water age the shingle rapidly — the leak may not appear for months. That delay is why documentation now matters so much later.

Step 1: Document the storm itself (day one)

• Record the date and approximate time of the storm.
• Photograph hailstones next to a coin or tape measure if any remain.
• Photograph obvious ground-level evidence: dented gutters, downspouts, window screens, AC fins, and pocked deck rails. Insurers treat these as corroborating evidence.

Step 2: Do a ground-only visual check

From the ground or a window, look for missing shingles, exposed black patches, granules piled at downspout exits, and dented roof vents or flashing. Stay off the roof. Hail-bruised shingles are slippery, and walking them can worsen damage — adjusters and roofers have the footwear, training, and insurance for this.

Step 3: Get a professional inspection before filing

A roofer's inspection report — with marked-up photos of bruising, mat fractures, and collateral damage — tells you whether a claim is justified before you put one on your record. If the damage is cosmetic or below your deductible, knowing that first saves you a claim entry with no payout.

Step 4: Beware the door knock

After major Mountain West hail events, crews canvass entire neighborhoods. Some are legitimate; many are not. Red flags: pressure to sign a contract or an assignment-of-benefits 'so we can deal with your insurer,' offers to cover or rebate your deductible (many states prohibit this), and no verifiable local address. Your state may give you a short rescission window to cancel a roofing contract tied to an insurance claim — but better not to need it.

Step 5: File and meet the adjuster prepared

If the inspection supports a claim, file promptly — policies have time limits, commonly one year for hail in many states. Have your roofer's report ready, and ideally have your roofer present at the adjuster's inspection so disagreements are resolved on the roof, not in paperwork rounds.

Step 6: Choose the repair scope deliberately

If replacement is approved, this is the moment to consider Class 4 impact-rated shingles. The upgrade cost is modest during a replacement, many insurers across the region discount premiums for it, and across the Mountain West the question is never whether hail returns — only when.

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