What hail damage looks like
- Round dark spots where granules were knocked off the shingles.
- Bruises that feel soft when pressed, like a bruise on an apple.
- Dented gutters, downspouts, vents and metal flashing.
- Granules collecting in the gutters and at the bottom of downspouts.
- Cracked or split shingles on older, brittle roofs.
Stay on the ground
Look from the ground and from windows, and check gutters and soft metal. Leave the roof to a roofer with safety equipment.
The insurance claim, step by step
- 1Photograph the house from every side, dented metal, gutters and any hail you can still find.
- 2Report the claim to your insurer and note the claim number and adjuster.
- 3Have a registered roofer inspect and document the roof.
- 4Compare the adjuster's scope with the roofer's findings.
- 5Sign a written contract only once you understand what the claim covers.
See also: Checking a Pennsylvania roofer
Storm chasers
After hailstorms, crews from out of the area often go door to door. Under Pennsylvania's home improvement law, contractors must be registered, put their number on the contract and give you three business days to cancel. Do not sign on the doorstep, and do not hand over a large cash deposit.
If the roof is replaced
A hail-driven replacement is the same job as any other full replacement: tear-off, deck check, eave membrane, underlayment, flashing and shingles. See asphalt shingle roofs. Some shingle lines are designed to resist impact better; ask the roofer about them.
Questions
+Will insurance replace the whole roof?
It depends on the policy, the extent of the damage and the roof's age and condition. Ask your insurer how your policy handles hail.
+How soon after a storm should I call?
Soon. Many policies have time limits for reporting, and roofers get busy after big storms.