What To Do After a Hail Storm: 10 Essential Steps to Take After a Damaging Storm

Not sure what to do after a hail storm? First, ensure everyone’s safety. Then, inspect your property for any damage. This guide will help you through assessing the situation, documenting storm damage, and contacting professionals for necessary repairs, including understanding roof damage and what to do after a hail storm.

Step 1: Assess Immediate Safety Concerns

Once a hailstorm subsides, your top priority should be ensuring the safety of your family and pets. Start by scouting your property for immediate dangers like:

• broken windows

• fallen trees or branches

• flooded areas

• downed power lines

• damaged structures

• damaged roofs

Then, cast an eye toward the aftermath outside—patio furniture scattered around can speak volumes about the wind’s strength during the storm. These initial checks are not only about assessing property damage but also about ensuring the area is safe for everyone.

Step 2: Inspect Your Property for Damage

After ensuring the safety of your family, it’s time to focus on your property’s condition. Your property has weathered the storm, but at what cost?

Inspecting your home for hail damage is a critical step to prevent future woes like leaks or mold. Hail is sudden, striking randomly and sometimes sparing nearby homes while leaving yours battered.

Now, after you have assessed your immediate safety concerns, it’s time to thoroughly inspect specific areas to identify any possible hail damage.

Check the Roof and Gutters (from the ground level)

The roof is your home’s shield against the elements, and it bears the brunt of hail, rain, and wind. Depending on the pitch of your roof, you may be able to see parts of your roof from the ground level. These signs could signal trouble and may indicate more significant damage. Timely inspection and repair of a hail damaged roof is crucial to prevent further issues such as leaks and structural damage. Pay special attention to these signs, as they could indicate the need for roof repairs, roof vents issues, or even a full roof replacement.

Examine your home for the following signs of roof hail damage and potential damage to your roof:

• Dents in gutters and downspouts

• Excessive granule loss on shingles

• Discoloration on shingles

• Spots on shingles

It is not recommended to get on the roof deck yourself, and you should hire a trained professional to do that, but from the ground level you should be able to get a better idea as to whether or not serious damage has occurred that requires your immediate attention.

Examine Siding and Windows

Your home’s armor, the siding, may also bear the marks of hail’s fury. Specifically look for punctures, dents, and cracks. And then there are the windows, which after a hailstorm, may now have cracks or breaks—a clear testament to the hail’s force. Early detection of these vulnerabilities can help you avoid issues like water damage.

Survey Outdoor Structures and Vehicles

A storm’s reach extends beyond a home’s walls, causing storm damage. Outdoor structures and vehicles are also at the mercy of falling ice during a hail storm. Survey your fences, sheds, and mailboxes for dents that speak of the hail hits’ impact, as these are common consequences of hail storms.

Don’t forget your vehicle, which may now showcase a dimpled and damaged exterior, a reminder of the storm’s intensity and a prompt for necessary repairs.

Step 3: Document the Damage

After assessing the damage, it’s crucial to document it meticulously. Documenting the havoc with photos and videos is not just about keeping memories; it’s a strategic move for your insurance claim. Capture every dent, every crack from multiple angles, ensuring the full story is told.

This visual evidence, along with the exact date and time of the storm, will prove extremely beneficial when dealing with insurance adjusters and roofing companies.

Step 4: Contact a Professional Roofing Contractor (if necessary)

Despite your diligent inspection, some damages might need a professional’s expertise to be identified. A roofing contractor is your ally, armed with the expertise to unearth issues that may escape your notice. From sagging rooflines to compromised attic spaces, these trained professionals will conduct a thorough roof inspection, ensuring no potential leak or structural weakness goes unchecked.

Beware, though, of storm chasers with their siren songs of quick fixes and pressure tactics—choose a local reputable contractor with glowing reviews and a solid online presence.

Step 5: Understand Your Insurance Policy

Before diving headfirst into the claims process, arm yourself with knowledge of your insurance policy. Hail damage might be covered, but the devil is in the details—understand the difference between Actual Cash Value, which considers depreciation, and Replacement Cost Value, which eyes a fresh start. This distinction will shape your financial recovery, influencing whether you’ll be patching up or starting anew.

Also, monitor your deductible closely, as it is the initial step towards your home’s restoration and crucial to your coverage.

Step 6: File an Insurance Claim

As you stand amidst the remnants of the storm’s fury, insurance claims may be your beacon of hope. If the damage is significant, it’s time to navigate the complex waters of the insurance claim process. Contact your insurance company before moving forward with repairs; timing is key, and the clock ticks on your one-year window to file a claim.

This process may be challenging, but with patience and determination, you’ll be prepared to restore your home. Keep in mind that there are roofing contractors that specifically aid homeowners through the insurance claim process, so if you need assistance in that department, you may want to hire a professional roofing contractor to help document damages and work in partnership with your insurance provider.

Step 7: Temporary Repairs

While you wait for the adjuster’s decision, there are tasks that can be undertaken. Temporary repairs can be a shield against further damage, keeping the elements at bay. A strategically placed tarp might be your roof’s temporary guardian, secured against the winds that continue to howl.

And for those minor breaches, a dab of silicone caulk can be a quick fix, warding off water until a permanent solution is within reach.

Step 8: Schedule Permanent Repairs

Temporary repairs serve as a short-term solution. The true path to restoration lies in scheduling permanent repairs, such as a roof replacement. This is where the partnership with a trusted roofing contractor becomes invaluable, ensuring that every replaced shingle is a step toward a more resilient home.

Whether it’s a handful of shingles or a whole new roof, addressing the damage decisively will protect your sanctuary from future tempests.

Step 9: Follow Up with Your Insurance Adjuster

Dealing with your insurance adjuster requires tact and patience. As you follow up, maintain detailed records of your interactions, ready to advocate for your home’s needs. If the initial offer falls short, don’t hesitate to negotiate; remember, this is about securing the necessary funds to mend your home’s wounds. And tread carefully—resist the urge to provide recorded statements that could be used against you.

Step 10: Plan for the Future to Prevent Hail Damage

You now have a blueprint for navigating the aftermath of a storm—from assessing damage and securing your property to understanding insurance nuances and engaging in repairs. Once your home is repaired, it’s important to plan for the future. Preventing future hail damage is about more than hope; it’s about action. Consider fortifying your roof with impact-resistant roofing materials, such as Class 4 impact rated roofing products like CeDUR. These upgrades are not mere aesthetic choices; they are the armor that will stand valiantly against the next storm’s onslaught.

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