Hail Damage Roof Repair: How to Spot It and File the Claim

A hailstone hits like a small hammer. On an asphalt shingle it can knock granules loose, crack the shingle, or bruise the mat underneath without breaking the surface. According to the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS), the signs of hail on shingles are:

• A random pattern of impact marks. Hail does not fall in neat rows, so the hits are scattered.
• Bruising. Soft spots you can feel when you press on the shingle.
• Cracks or breaks where a stone struck.
• Damaged ridge caps. IBHS notes they are especially vulnerable on an asphalt shingle roof.

Metal roofs show hail as dents in the panels, trim and flashing. Some dents are only cosmetic and some open seams or fasteners, so have them looked at up close and read how your policy treats dents that do not let water in.

Gutters, downspouts and other metal are the best witnesses. IBHS calls this collateral evidence: dents or spatter marks on A/C units, gutters, metal flashing, downspouts or patio furniture confirm that hail actually fell at your house, which helps separate storm damage from normal wear.

Bruises do not show from the ground. Neither do hits on the back slopes, and a cracked shingle may not leak until well after the storm. A roof that looks fine can still have damage worth claiming.

The reverse is also true. IBHS lists look-alikes that are not hail: granule loss along shingle edges from normal weathering, uniform wear or discoloration, manufacturer defects, marks from installation or tools, and granules knocked off by heavy rain. An adjuster will be checking for exactly these, so your documentation should too.

• Write down the storm date and time. That is your date of loss. NOAA's Storm Events Database keeps records of severe weather collected by the National Weather Service, which helps back up the date.
• Take photos and video of every side of the house, the gutters, dented metal, debris in the yard and any interior stains, before you touch anything.
• Make temporary repairs only. North Carolina's Department of Insurance says your policy requires reasonable emergency repairs to prevent further damage, like a tarp, and that you should keep receipts and photograph the damage before and after. It also says not to make extensive repairs before the adjuster arrives.
• Keep damaged materials until you check with your insurer before throwing anything out.
• Get a professional inspection. In Eastern North Carolina, Carolina Trophy Roofs offers a free storm damage roof inspection: every slope walked, findings photographed, and a written report you can hand to your insurer.

1. Report the loss promptly. Every North Carolina homeowners policy requires prompt notice to your agent or company. Get a claim number and write down who you spoke with.
2. Read your declarations page. Find your deductible. NCDOI notes that some policies carry a separate wind or hail deductible set as a percentage of your dwelling coverage. Its example: a 1% deductible on $200,000 of coverage means $2,000 out of pocket per wind or hail claim. Details are on NCDOI's windstorm and hail page.
3. Know who adjusts it. Along the coast, wind and hail may be on a separate policy, often through the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. NCDOI says your primary insurer still investigates and adjusts the claim.
4. Hand over your evidence. Photos, the storm date, receipts for temporary repairs and your contractor's inspection report.
5. Do not start permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected and you have agreed on the cost, per NCDOI.
6. Track the clock. NCDOI's homeowners insurance FAQ says the company should acknowledge your claim within 30 days, but there is no set time limit to settle it.

The insurance company's adjuster inspects the roof and writes an estimate of loss. Many count hail hits within a marked test area on each slope and look at collateral damage on gutters and vents. Ask what to expect next and whether they need anything else.

Have your roofer on the roof at the same time if you can. Carolina Trophy Roofs, for example, meets the adjuster on the roof and handles the paperwork through the claim, as laid out in its North Carolina roof insurance claims guide.

Know how you will be paid. If your policy pays replacement cost, the first check is usually actual cash value, which is repair cost minus depreciation. NCDOI says you must provide proof of replacement within 180 days after the date of loss to collect the rest, and you are paid at actual cash value until you do. NCDOI also notes the insurer only has to replace the damaged area of a roof, even if the shingles will not match.

First, get the insurer's estimate line by line, not just the summary page. Then work through these in order.

Supplements. If your contractor finds damage or required items the estimate missed, they can submit a supplement with photos and measurements for the insurer to review. This is a normal part of a roof claim.

Appraisal. If you and the insurer cannot agree on the amount, NCDOI explains that either side may demand an appraisal. Each side picks a competent, disinterested appraiser within 20 days of a written request, the two appraisers pick an umpire, and an amount agreed by any two sets the loss. Each side pays its own appraiser and splits the umpire's cost. Read your policy's appraisal clause first.

A complaint to NCDOI. The Consumer Services Division can forward your complaint to the insurer, require a response, and review it against state rules. It cannot decide the value of your claim.

A public adjuster, covered next.

North Carolina law describes three kinds of adjusters. Company adjusters and independent adjusters work for and are paid by the insurance company. A public adjuster does not work for any insurance company. They work for you on the preparation, presentation and settlement of the claim, for a fee or a percentage of the settlement set by a written contract.

Under Article 33A of Chapter 58 of the North Carolina General Statutes:

• A public adjuster must be licensed in North Carolina.
• You are not required to hire one, but you have the right to.
• The contract must be in writing, and you can rescind it within three business days after signing.
• After a declared catastrophic incident, fees are capped at 10% of the settlement, and no fee can be charged before settlement.

For a straightforward roof claim, a solid inspection and a supplement often settle things. A public adjuster is worth a look when the estimate and the damage are far apart, the claim was denied, or the loss goes beyond the roof. Mantis Claims Group is a licensed North Carolina public adjuster that handles storm claims, including hail damage to roofs, gutters and siding, on a contingency fee set out in a written agreement.

• Reporting: NCDOI says to give prompt notice but does not list a set number of days. Check your policy for any specific reporting window.
• Insurer acknowledgement: within 30 days, per NCDOI.
• Proof of replacement: within 180 days after the date of loss to collect replacement cost, per NCDOI.
• Appraisal: each side names its appraiser within 20 days of a written demand.
• Public adjuster contract: three business days to rescind.
• Lawsuits: your policy may limit how long you have to sue. Check your policy and talk to a lawyer if it gets that far.