Checking for hail damage without going up

Hail damage is usually not urgent on its own. NRCA says most of it is cosmetic. It matters because claims have deadlines, and Angi's guidance is to file within six months of the storm.

What is probably happening

• NRCA describes hail damage to asphalt shingles as granule loss, material removed at the edges, and punctures. Insurers call the soft spots 'bruises'.
• Soft metals tell the story from the ground: dents in gutters, downspouts, AC fins, vent caps and mailbox tops mean hail large enough to mark a roof.
• Hail without dents in the soft metals is usually hail that did not hurt the shingles.

Do this in the next five minutes

1. Photograph dents in gutters, downspouts, window screens, the AC unit and any metal vents, with a coin for scale.
2. Photograph the roof from the ground on every side. Look for dark spots where granules are gone.
3. Check the gutters and downspout outlets for piles of granules.
4. Note the date and time of the storm and the hail size if you saw it.
5. If soft metals are dented, book an inspection from an established local roofer. A roof inspection runs $125 to $600 after a hailstorm.
6. Then decide whether to call your insurer. Nebraska's insurance department says if repairs will cost less than your deductible, you may not want to file.

Do not

• Do not go on the roof. NRCA says inspecting after a storm means climbing a ladder onto a potentially unsound structure, and hail on granules is slick.
• Do not accept a 'free inspection' from a door knocker as your evidence. Two roofers walking your roof after each other can create the very marks they then photograph.
• Do not let anyone file a claim for you or tell you what your policy covers. In Florida a roofer may not interpret policy provisions or adjust a claim unless licensed as a public adjuster (F.S. 489.147).

Ask this contractor, on the phone, before anyone comes out

Tap each one as you ask it.

• Will you give me photos of each mark you are calling hail damage, with a chalk circle and a scale?
• How do you tell hail bruising from blistering or old wear on my roof?
• Is this repairable, or are you saying the roof is a total loss, and why?
• Will you be handling, negotiating or advising on my insurance claim in any way?

End the call if

• A total-loss verdict from a contractor who did not photograph individual hits.
• An offer of a gift card, cash or a waived deductible for letting them inspect or for filing a claim. In Florida that is a prohibited practice with fines up to $10,000 per offense.
• Out-of-state plates and no local address. NRCA: check for a permanent place of business.