As a homeowner, impending inclement weather can be scary, especially when that weather brings potential hail damage to your roof. While you can take steps to protect your family and belongings, a home’s roof is often one of the hardest-hit areas where you can’t avoid damage.
At Allstate, we work with homeowners after bad weather to assess hail storm damage. It can be hard to see the signs of hail damage from the ground or with an untrained eye like any roof damage. That’s why we offer free roof inspections and walk alongside you as the homeowner every step of the way.
If you’ve survived hail roof damage and want to make sure your roofing materials are in good shape, we can help. Our team is trained to inspect your home after any weather event, including high winds and hail hits, in addition to problems from normal wear and tear like broken gutters and UV light degradation that can destroy your roof over time.
Below are some common questions we answer for our customers – and tips you can take if you’ve experienced hail damage.
How do I know if my roof has hail damage?
The first question we often receive is how do I know if my roof has hail damage. After a storm, hail damage can be difficult to spot from the ground – and we never recommend homeowners get on their roof to inspect new roof damage. Everything may look acceptable to the untrained eye, but there could be sustained damage to the whole roof or underlying asphalt and beams that make any inspection dangerous.
Instead, the best way to confirm roof hail damage to roof structures is to call a trained professional like the Allstate team. We know how to spot hail damage to roof systems and materials and how to take precautions when inspecting a roof that may have sustained significant damage.
What can you do before your free hail damage roof inspection?
Understandably, you may be curious if you’ve sustained hail damage to your roof before the experts arrive. Instead of climbing onto your roof, look for tell-tale signs of legitimate damage from the ground. We recommend that homeowners walk around their homes and document any areas of concern as soon as it is safe to do so. You can take pictures and make a list of anything you see that may be out of the ordinary or that might be hail damage to your roof. Taking the time to conduct this due diligence can make it easier for your insurance roofing company to start a claim right away.
Common items to look for when assessing hail damage
Granule Loss
if you see granule loss on your asphalt shingles roofing, your roof may have sustained some damage from hail and/or the storm. Granule loss can also occur over time through normal wear and tear. When that happens, a hail storm can accelerate shingle damage and cause the protective granules to be worn down even faster. When you dislodge granules, you reduce the roof’s strength and protection.
Cracked Shingles
Another sign to look for on a damaged roof is cracked shingles. Wind speed, combined with hail falls, can cause your shingles to crack, which can lead to roof and property damage if accompanied by a leak.
Missing Shingles
Hail is often accompanied by strong winds. And those strong winds can often cause roof shingles (wood shingles, asphalt shingles, and more) to get pulled off. Look for shingles on the ground or in the trees. They’ll most likely have flown the same way as the wind direction that happened during the hail event. Once the shingles are gone, the protective layer of your roof is exposed, so calling a roofing contractor that offers free inspections quickly is critical.
Hail
this is an obvious sign that you may have noticed during or after a storm. If you see hail in your front yard or noticed it from inside, you may have a problem. Hail impact on a roof can cause damage, depending on the velocity, length of the hail storm, and hail size.
Water Leaks
leaks often accompany hail damage to a roof. You may notice this as a stain on your ceiling or an active drip in your house after the storms ended. Along with documenting any leaks, quickly place a protective cover over your belongings as this problem can escalate rapidly.
Chipped Paint
if you notice paint damage after hail storms, you may have hail damage on your roof. Significant damage can cause damage to your home’s exterior, including your deck, gutters, vinyl siding, and more.
Electrical Issues
downed power lines or electrical issues after hail storms are an immediate cause to call a professional. Never mess with electrical damage after hail storms.
If you notice any signs of sustained hail damage from your gutters to your roofing materials, it’s time to call a professional roofing contractor. Many insurance companies cover hail damage, and having your home and roof inspected is one of the first steps to filing your roof insurance claim.
Should I replace the roof after hail damage?
The answer is, it depends. Hail roof damage can come in many forms. Depending on the intensity of the hail damage, your roof may simply need a minor repair to replace or restore a few shingles. On the other hand, replacing shingles won’t be enough to restore your roof if you suffered major roof hail damage.
In addition to hail damage, our team considers the age of your roof and shingles, the condition of your roof and shingles, and previous damage that may have occurred. If you have a newer roof and shingles, and the hail wasn’t severe, we would never recommend a full roof replacement.
Our team will always make the best recommendation to keep you and your home safe and secure after a hail event. In our inspection report, we’ll document any areas of concern and hail damage so you can make an informed decision about whether or not to follow our recommendations for roof repair or replacement.
If you are concerned about hail damage, contact our team. Our process starts with a free, no-obligation inspection. We’ll show up quickly to assess your damage and get you on the road to repairs. Contact our team for a free inspection today!
Does insurance cover roof hail damage?
Most often, the answer is YES. To begin a claim, you’ll need to contact your insurance company and let them know that you suspect hail damage (roof damage or otherwise). Your next step is to call a professional roofing contractor like Allstate. The first thing we’ll do is schedule your no-obligation roof inspection.
Once onsite, our team will conduct a thorough review of your home to look for hail damage or other roof damage. A complete roof inspection includes an assessment of your shingles (wood shingles, asphalt shingles, etc.), your entire roof, from protective under layer to top layer, metal fascia trim, roof vents, gutters, and more. Even if you don’t see obvious damage, our team will cover every inch of your home to ensure nothing gets missed.
Next, you’ll get a full report that outlines anything we documented, from minor damage and signs of normal wear to major hail, leaks, dented gutters, missing roof shingles, etc. We work regularly with a homeowners insurance company so we understand exactly what the insurance company expects to see to support an insurance claim. Our expert roofers have a trained eye to capture any signs of hail damage or concern.
Once your claim has been opened, we’ll work with your appointed insurance agent to keep them apprised throughout the repair or replacement process. Insurance policies are written to limit the opportunity to commit fraud, so by working together with your insurance company throughout any insurance claims, we add peace of mind for everyone and act as a resource along the way.
If you’re unsure if you can choose your roofing contractor when filing insurance claims, review your insurance policy or call your company and ask your insurance agent. If your insurance company sends you a request that you use one of their approved contractors, take the time to research that company. You want someone experienced with hail damage and roof structures, as well as home hail damage to the rest of your home. We also recommend looking for someone established in your area with good reviews from past customers.
Hail damage to roof systems – and property – can be frustrating. Once we’ve completed our assessment and you’ve opened your insurance claim, we’ll work quickly to repair your hail-damaged roof. We want you to be able to protect your belongings and get back to normal life as soon as possible.
How much does insurance pay for hail damage on the roof?
Many homeowners can expect to have some coverage from their insurance policy in the event of roof hail damage. But there are a few things to consider before – and after you make a claim.
Know Your Coverage
While most insurance companies do cover hail damage in some way, homeowners that live in areas where storms and hail damage occur frequently may be surprised to find that the coverage has limitations or that they will pay a higher premium for basic coverage. The best time to find out about your insurance coverage is BEFORE you need it. Request your policy details from your insurance agent and review the coverages for roof damage and hail damage. You will also want to check for any requirements regarding how quickly you must start your claim for roof hail damage. Don’t wait, as some policies have a short window to receive notice.
Understand Your Costs
If your homeowner’s insurance policy covers roof hail damage, that’s great news. But before you open the claim, ask how much your portion of the costs will be. Typically, there are two types of ways that you may have to pay for a portion of your roof hail damage.
The first option is a standard deductible. If you have a flat deductible, you may be expected to pay a fee towards the overall repair or replacement costs. Often, this is between $1,000 to $2,000 or more. Once you’ve paid that amount (or it is taken out of your insurance claim proceeds), your part of the obligation is complete.
The second option is a portion of the repair (usually 1-5%). If the repairs cost $2,500 and your percentage is 5%, you may pay $125. Alternatively, if the repair is $15,000 and your percentage is 5%, you may be responsible for $750.
Not only is this important because you will want to know how much money you’ll have to pay towards your roof and hail damage repairs, but it’s also important to assess if completing a claim makes sense. If we complete a roof inspection and determine that the hail damage is minor and can be repaired for $500, it wouldn’t make sense for a homeowner to file with their insurance if their deductible was higher.
Document the Process
Always document the process before and during any roof damage repair or replacement. You can compare what you noticed alongside the report you receive from your contractor and insurance adjuster.
What If Your Insurance Doesn’t Cover Your Hail Damage?
In some cases, your insurance may deny a claim or pay less than the cost of repairs. If you believe you are being unfairly treated by your insurance company, you may wish to contact a public adjuster. The same is true if you’re unsure of all the legal coverages and you wish to have a professional on your side.
Public adjusters are independent insurance professionals that act as an intermediary between you and your insurance company to ensure you receive the full benefits of your coverage. While public adjusters and their legal function may vary by state, typically, they’ll conduct their own investigation of your property and any hail hits that caused roof damage. Public adjusters can compare their findings with your insurance company’s report and identify areas that you may not be receiving full coverage under your policy.
In Florida, public adjusters are the only adjusters that the State licenses to represent you as the insured. If you choose to hire a public adjuster, take the time to research them, just like a roofing contractor. You can find online reviews, ask for samples of their results and ask if they belong to the Florida Association of Public Insurance Adjusters, which requires a strict code of ethics for members.
Public adjusters are not attorneys, but they are licensed and may work with attorneys in some cases to protect you.
We’ve covered how to identify hail damage, what to do if you suspect hail damage or need to hire a professional to assess your roof, and how to work with your insurance company to file a claim. Contact our team anytime to get started with a free roof inspection. We’re happy to help you recover after a hail event and get back to normal.
We proudly offer hail damage repair services for homes in Bonita Springs, Naples, Estero, Fort Myers, Fort Myers Beach, North Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Lehigh Acres, and the surrounding areas.Â
