Does Homeowners Insurance Cover Roof Hail Damage?

Usually, yes, if the policy covers hail and wind and the damage is real. Whether it covers your roof depends on the policy, the deductible, any exclusions, and what the adjuster finds. We can’t promise a claim result. What we can do is make sure the roofing side of it is done right, which is where most claims go sideways.

What we do for a hail claim

A roofer, not a salesperson, inspects and photographs the roof. You get written findings and a line-item estimate for the repair or replacement. When the adjuster comes out, we meet them on your roof and walk them through what we found, so nobody has to translate between a roofer and an insurance company. If the adjuster wants more documentation, we provide it. Your insurer decides what’s covered and what your deductible is; our job is to make sure they have everything they need to decide it fairly.

What hail damage looks like from the ground

You usually can’t see hail damage to shingles from the driveway. What you can see: dented gutters and downspouts, dented vents and vent caps, torn window screens, chipped paint on a deck or fence, and, after a hard storm, granules piling up at the bottom of the downspouts. Any of those is reason enough to have a roofer look.

What to do the day after the storm

• Note the date. Insurers want it.
• Photograph the hail if there’s still some on the ground, and anything dented or torn from ground level.
• Photograph any new stains or drips inside, and move belongings out from under them.
• Stay off the roof. Hail-damaged shingles are brittle, and a footprint can turn a claim into an argument.
• Call us for a free inspection. If we find damage, we’ll document it in a way an adjuster can use.
• Read your policy, or call your agent, and ask three questions: is hail covered, what’s my deductible, and how long do I have to report it.

Is it too late to file for last year’s storm?

Maybe not. Deadlines and notice requirements vary by policy and insurer, and some give you a year or more. A contractor can’t tell you whether a claim is timely; your insurer or agent can. What we can do is inspect the roof now and tell you, in writing, whether the damage we see is consistent with hail and roughly when it happened. That report is worth having before you call.

Oregon’s Division of Financial Regulation recommends confirming coverage, exclusions and deductible with the insurer before filing, and keeping receipts for any temporary protection. Their storm-damage page is a good ten-minute read.

If your home was in the storm path, request a hail damage inspection. It’s free, and it’s the piece of paper the whole claim rests on.