After a hail or wind storm: what to check and what to do

What storm damage looks like

You can learn a lot from the ground, without climbing.

• Soft metals. Dents in gutters, downspouts, roof vents, and AC unit fins show that hail hit hard enough to matter, and which direction it came from.
• Shingles. Hail leaves dark spots where granules were knocked off, and soft bruises or cracks in the shingle.
• Wind. Look for missing shingles, shingles creased where they lifted and folded back, and debris on the roof.
• Flat roofs. Hail can puncture or crack the membrane and dent the metal edge and coping.
• Inside. Check ceilings, the attic, and around light fixtures for water stains.

The first 48 hours

1. Stay safe. Keep clear of downed power lines, and stay off a wet or damaged roof.
2. Take photos. Dated pictures of the roof from the ground, gutters, vents, siding, windows, and any leaks inside.
3. Stop more damage. Put out buckets, move belongings, and tarp the roof if water is coming in. Keep the receipts; most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage.
4. Report it. Call your insurance company or agent and ask for a claim number. Ask what your deductible is. Some policies have a separate wind and hail deductible.
5. Get an inspection. A written report with photos shows what was damaged and what it will take to fix.

How the inspection and claim work

A roofer can inspect the roof, document the damage, and give you a written report and estimate. You can share it with your insurance company. Your insurer sends an adjuster to inspect, and you can ask your roofer to be there to point out what they found.

The claim itself is between you and your insurance company. In Texas, a roofer who is doing the work can't act as your public adjuster or negotiate your claim. If you want someone to negotiate for you, Texas licenses public adjusters for that job.

How to spot a storm chaser

• Pressure to sign the same day, before your adjuster has even looked.
• No local address, and a phone number or truck plates from out of state.
• A request for full payment, or a large deposit, before any materials or work.
• Any offer to pay, waive, or cover your deductible, or a "rebate" or "advertising allowance" that offsets it. That's illegal in Texas and several other states.
• A contract that is mostly blank, or one that hands them control of your insurance claim.

Texas law also gives you three business days to cancel a contract you sign at your home, and the contractor has to give you a written cancellation form.