Hail damage is one of the reasons to file an insurance claim for roof damage. But the truth is, most homeowners don’t know they have hail damage right away.
They usually figure it out after a roofing or storm-chasing company comes knocking on their door. This is usually when the beginning stages of filing a claim begin.
However, there is a limit on how much time can pass between the hail storm and filing an insurance claim. That’s why one of the most common questions I get asked is, “How long do I have to file an insurance claim for hail damage?”
For over 30 years, the team at Bill Ragan Roofing has educated and guided homeowners through the insurance claim process. Because of this, I’ll answer this common question head-on.
This article answers the following questions:
- How long do you have to file a hail damage claim for your roof?
- What does hail damage look like on a roof?
- Can you spot hail damage without having to get on your roof?
How long do you have to file a hail damage claim for your roof?
Every insurance company and policy has different wording on how long you have to file an insurance claim. It also depends on whether the property is commercial or residential.
We're a residential roofing company, so we’ll answer this question for residential purposes. You usually have 1 year from the day of the hail storm to file an insurance claim for hail damage to your roof.
As I said, every insurance company and policy is different. But all you have to do is look at your insurance paperwork to get the exact timeline.
Just know that insurance companies have access to hail maps. This means they’ll know when and where the hail storm hit.
So, the insurance company can look at these maps to see if your home was impacted and how long ago it happened. That’s why you need to file an insurance claim as soon as you're aware of hail damage to your roof.
What does hail damage look like on a roof?
Now you know that most homeowners have a year to file an insurance claim for hail damage to a roof. As I said, you need to file an insurance claim as soon as you know your roof was impacted.
And remember, most homeowners don’t know this until a roofing company or storm chasing company comes knocking on the door. That’s why you need to know what size hail causes and what the damage looks like on a roof.
(Hail damage to 3-tab asphalt shingles)
If the hail is 1” in diameter or bigger, it’ll damage your roof, and you’ll see dents/dings on your shingles. But even if your roof doesn’t have large dents in the shingles, it doesn’t mean it wasn’t damaged by hail.
Dings/dents/splatter marks on your roof vents, gutters, roof flashing, and other roof penetrations are also a sign that your roof was damaged by hail. If your roof has any of the damage mentioned above, there’s a good chance the insurance company will approve your claim.
Just know that the insurance adjuster has the final say in the approval process. But as long as you hire a roofing contractor that works with insurance claims, you’ll have someone on your side to fight for you.
Can you spot hail damage without having to get on your roof?
Now you know what hail damage actually looks like on a roof. However, I don’t recommend checking for the hail damage mentioned above on your own.
There’s no reason to put your safety at risk when your insurance company sends someone out for an inspection. But I understand wanting to know if your roof has hail damage before filing an insurance claim.
The best way to do this is by looking for collateral hail damage to objects on the ground level.
Below is a list of things to check for visible hail damage from the safety of the ground:
- Downspouts (Above 5 feet, so it can’t be blamed on a lawnmower)
- Dings or strikes to your garage door
- Holes in your window screens
- Dings to any painted wood or shutters
- Splatter marks or dings to your electric meter, AC unit, or grill
- Dents to your mailbox and other soft metals on your property
- Dents on the top of your car and the car’s hood
If you find any of the damage above, it doesn’t mean your roof has extensive hail damage. However, it does give you a better idea if you should contact your insurance company and file a claim.
But remember, the insurance adjuster has all the power to approve or deny your claim. To walk around your property and check for these signs, get this free Storm Damage Checklist.
What’s the process for filing a claim for hail damage to your roof?
After reading this article, you now know how long you have to file a claim, what hail damage looks like, and how to spot it safely from the ground. The first thing you need to do is contact your insurance company if you think your roof has hail damage.
But before you do, just know that the insurance claim process is long, confusing, and sometimes frustrating. It’s even more overwhelming if you’ve never been through it before.
Because of this, it’s important to understand the insurance journey you're about to embark on. That’s why I wrote another article breaking down the insurance claim process to help homeowners that are in your exact shoes.
The team at Bill Ragan Roofing has guided thousands of homeowners in Nashville and surrounding Middle Tennessee areas since 1990. We work with you and your insurance policy to get your hail-damaged roof taken care of.
Check out Homeowners insurance: The process to replace a storm damaged roof to learn what you need to know about filing a hail damage claim.
