FILING A HAIL DAMAGE CLAIM

---

Note  the date and time of the storm. Your insurance claims manager will ask  for the date & time of the loss and the storm event can be  correlated with reports from the local weather and public safety  authorities.

After the storm take pictures of the yard, sidewalk and patios.

1. Hail stones set next to a tape measure.
   The size of a hail stone is directly proportional to the potential for damage to the roof and shingles.
2. Roof – looking for obvious signs of roof damage such as missing or torn shingles,
3. Outdoor air conditioning units.
   Hail stones can dent and bend the cooling fins, blocking the air flow.

The  following advice assumes your roof isn’t leaking necessitating  emergency repairs, but you are concerned about functional hail damage to  the shingles that could cause a leak over time if not repaired.

After  a huge hail storm, you can feel a little lost. The hail has damaged  your roofing breaking multiple shingles and even tearing them off your  roof deck. You know that it if it is not repaired quickly, during the  next rainstorm, water will leak into your home damaging your home and  possessions.

Repairing your roof should be your main priority, but you need to go  through your insurance in order to pay for your repairs or new roof.  Filing an insurance claim can be a long process. Understanding the steps  to file your claim can keep you confident throughout the process.

Right after the storm, you need to make a note of the day and time  when the hail storm occurred. This is important because the insurance  company will want to make sure that it coincides with reports from local  weather and public safety authorities.

You will need to take photos of:

• Outside of your home covered with hailstones
• Closeup of hailstones next to a ruler or measuring tape
• Obvious hail damage – such as torn or missing shingles
• Any leaks within the attic

Before you call your insurance, call a roofing contractor first. You want to make sure that you find a qualified, experienced contractor that has years of experience dealing with hail damage. You will also make sure that they are qualified to repair the type of roofing that is on your home.

Once you find a roofing contractor, discuss your roof repair with  them. Show them the photos that you took after the storm. They will need  to do an inspection and an assessment of your roofing and the repairs  that need to be made. They should outline the areas in chalk that need  to be repaired. They should take photos off the damaged areas. At this  point, they should explain the extent of the damage, and they may  discuss if it may be a better idea to replace the roof. They should offer you an estimate of the work that needs to be done. No repairs should be made at this point.

Once you have a price for your roof repairs, you can call your insurance company.

Before you make the call:

• Find your homeowners insurance policy
• Know your insurance policy number and your deductible
• Organize the facts that you have collected including date/time of storm, size of hailstones, price given in estimate

When you make the call, you will be given a claim number, make a note  of that number. You will be assigned a claims adjuster for your roof  repairs.

Your insurance adjuster will give you a call to schedule a time when  they will do the inspection. Make sure to ask them if they would like to  see the photos of the damage, you may be able to send it to your  adjuster before your inspection. You should have your roofing contractor  come to the roofing inspection. This way, your contractor can explain  the extent of the damage and their findings during their assessment.  Your adjuster will do their own inspection.

After the inspection is over, your adjuster will let you know if your  claim has been approved. If it is approved, you can then begin to  discuss your roof repairs or replacement with your contractor.