Storm Damage Resource Center
Hail just hit? Here's exactly what damage looks like, what to do in the first 24 hours, how to document everything for insurance, and the step-by-step path from storm to new roof.
Know what you're looking at
What Hail Damage Actually Looks Like
Most hail damage is invisible from the driveway. Here's what trained inspectors — and insurance adjusters — actually look for.
Bruised shingles
Hail knocks granules off in round, dark spots — sometimes soft or 'spongy' to a trained touch. From the ground they look like dark polka dots scattered across a slope. This is the #1 sign adjusters look for.
Dented soft metals
Gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing, and AC fins dent easily. Fresh dents with shiny exposed metal mean recent hail. If the soft metals are dented, the shingles almost certainly took hits too.
Cracked or split shingles
Large hail can crack shingles outright, especially on older, brittle roofs. Cracks let water straight through to the underlayment.
Granule piles at downspouts
A sudden pile of granules where downspouts discharge — right after a storm — means the hail stripped protective granules off across the roof.
Broken skylights and window screens
If hail was big enough to crack a skylight or shred screens, your shingles took a beating. Don't assume the roof is fine because you can't see damage from the driveway.
What hail damage ISN'T
Blistering, curling, and uniform granule loss are usually age and heat — not hail. An honest inspector tells you the difference instead of blaming every old roof on a storm.
First 24 hours
Emergency Mitigation Steps
If water is coming in, do these in order. Your insurance expects you to prevent further damage — and covers reasonable emergency measures.
Stay safe first
Never climb on a wet or storm-damaged roof. Wait until it's dry and daylight. If there's structural damage or downed power lines, stay clear and call emergency services first.
Stop active water
Place buckets under drips, move valuables, and poke a small hole in any bulging ceiling paint to let trapped water drain in a controlled way instead of collapsing the drywall.
Tarp exposed areas — carefully
If shingles are missing and rain is coming, a secured tarp over the exposed area prevents further damage. Only do this if you can do it safely from a ladder without walking the roof; otherwise call a roofer for emergency tarping.
Kill power to wet areas
If water is near light fixtures, outlets, or the breaker panel, turn off the affected circuits. Water and electricity don't mix.
Active leak right now? Call (817) 409-4781 — we prioritize emergency calls.
Protect your claim
How to Document Damage for Insurance
Claims are won or lost on documentation. Do this before anything gets repaired or cleaned up.
- 1
Note the storm's date and approximate time — this becomes your official date of loss.
- 2
Photograph the hail itself next to a coin or ruler if it's still on the ground.
- 3
Take wide shots of each roof slope, then close-ups of any visible damage.
- 4
Photograph dented gutters, vents, screens, and damaged vehicles — they corroborate hail size.
- 5
Shoot the interior: stains, drips, and damaged belongings, with timestamps on.
- 6
Save weather alerts or news reports about the storm for your records.
- 7
Keep any shingle pieces or debris that fell — don't throw evidence away.
Pro tip: our free inspections include a full photo report with slope measurements and damage counts — exactly the documentation adjusters work from. Request yours.
Storm to new roof
What to Do After a Storm, Step by Step
The order matters. Follow it and you stay in control of the process.
Mitigate and document
Stop active leaks, then photograph everything before anything gets cleaned up or repaired.
Get a professional inspection
A trained inspector finds hail bruising you'd miss and gives you an honest read: real storm damage, or just an aging roof. Ours is free, with photos.
File the claim — if there's damage
If the inspection finds legitimate storm damage, call your insurer to open a claim. Give them the date of loss and describe what was found.
Meet the adjuster together
Have your roofer present when the insurance adjuster visits. We speak the same language — slope measurements, test squares, hail counts — and make sure nothing gets missed.
Review the scope, then repair
Once the claim is approved, we review the adjuster's scope line by line, supplement anything missed, and schedule your roof.
No obligation. We inspect first, show you photos, and only then talk claims.
Common questions
Storm & Insurance FAQ
Storm just rolled through?
Don't guess about your roof. A free inspection with photos tells you in under an hour whether you have real storm damage — before you ever call your insurance.