A hailstorm rolls through, the neighbors are out looking at their cars, and you're wondering: do I have roof damage, and should I file a claim? Filing too fast — or with thin documentation — is one of the most common ways homeowners end up with a denied or lowballed claim. Here's what to check first.
1. Document the storm itself
Before you look at the house, capture the event. Photograph hailstones next to a coin or tape measure (grab them quickly — they melt). Note the date and time. Save a screenshot of the local weather report. Insurers verify storms against weather data, and your own record helps if there's any dispute about which storm caused the damage.
2. Start with the soft stuff
Hail large enough to damage shingles almost always damages softer things first. Walk the property and photograph: dents in gutters, downspouts, and metal window wrap; damaged window screens; dings in AC fins; pockmarks in deck stain or fence boards; and shredded plants. These "collateral" marks establish that damaging hail actually hit your property.
3. Check the roof — from the ground
You don't need to climb on the roof, and right after a storm you shouldn't. From the ground with binoculars, look for dark spots or bruises on shingles, exposed black substrate where granules were knocked away, and granules piling up at downspout exits. On metal roofs and vents, look for dents.
4. Look inside, too
Check ceilings and attic spaces under the roof within a few days, and again after the next rain. Water stains, damp insulation, or daylight through the roof deck all belong in your documentation.
5. Get a professional inspection before you file
An experienced roofer can tell functional hail damage from normal wear — and insurance adjusters take documented inspections seriously. Many reputable companies inspect for free after storms. Be careful with door-knockers who appear the same afternoon; get a company you choose, not one that chose you.
6. Know your numbers before you call
Pull your policy and find your wind/hail deductible — on many newer policies it's a percentage of your home's insured value, not a flat number. If your deductible is $6,000 and the damage is one dented vent, filing may cost you more (in future premiums) than it pays. If the roof took real damage, file promptly; most policies have time limits after a storm.
If you do end up in a claim and feel like you're getting the runaround, I Hate My Insurance Company is built exactly for that — helping homeowners push storm and hail claims through properly.
Keep everything in one place
Claims live and die on documentation. Photos, inspection reports, dates, receipts — adjusters ask for all of it, sometimes months later. The My Home Genius app gives your home a single record: store your photos and documents against the actual rooms and exterior of your house, so when the adjuster calls, everything is one tap away.
Hail claims aren't fun, but homeowners who document first and file smart consistently come out ahead.