Any time severe weather hits, homeowners are worried about property damage. And depending on the severity, hailstorms can be downright scary! Hearing ice hit your roof and home’s exterior is nerve-wracking. But after the storm is over, it’s essential to assess any damage as quickly as possible so that you can file an insurance claim and be well on the way to getting your home repaired. Here are five things you should do immediately after a hailstorm.
1. Take Notes
Write down the day and time that the storm occurred. This will help your insurance company later on; though they should be able to look at the past weather data, it’s always good to have your own information. Walk around your home and take note of any damage you see to your siding or windows. It’s even a good idea to take pictures of signs of the storm at ground level and the ice pieces or fallen branches left behind.
2. Check Your Gutters
After you’ve checked the ground level, take a look at your gutters. If there are any visible dents or cracks, you should schedule an inspection with a roofing contractor. Ensuring that your gutters continue to function properly is a key to keeping your roof well maintained.
3. Schedule a Roof Inspection
Even if you can’t see any roof damage from the ground, hail can displace the granules where it strikes your asphalt shingles. Over time, the shingles will continue to erode, and you will be left with a leaky roof. Make sure you choose a roofer that can do both minor repairs and full replacements. That way, if just one area is damaged, you won’t be paying for a new roof.
4. Avoid Shady Storm Chasers
Some roofers, who are really more like salespeople, go door to door after a hailstorm has hit a particular area. They will try to sell you a new roof, even if you don’t need one, working with your insurance company to cover it. However, the roof you will get will be of much lower quality, and the unsupervised team installing it is simply the one with the lowest bid to the storm chaser. If someone knocks on your door after the storm, they probably aren’t the best roofer to do the inspection and replacement.
5. File an Insurance Claim
If you think that the hailstorm has damaged your roof, contact your insurance agency right away. Sometimes, if there is too much time between the storm and the claim, insurance companies will deny it. Plus, you want to be proactive when dealing with roof damage because it only leads to further issues from water leaking into your home.
Do you suspect damage to your roof? Get matched with a trusted roofer in your area who can inspect your roof, then recommend any repairs or replacements you might need.
