Hail Damage

Hail stones are balls or lumps of ice that are formed by cold air currents within some severe thunderstorms. When the hail stones are larger than 0.5 to 0.75 inches in diameter, they can cause serious damage to roofs, skylights, windows, fences, vehicles and crops.

Many hail-related insurance claims involve damage to the roof of a home or commercial building. Sometime, the damage may be obvious – such as broken tiles, shingles, eaves troughs or downspouts. You may also find pieces of the roof on the ground around the building. But at other times, you may not realize there has been hail damage until you discover a leak in the roof weeks or months after the storm.

Therefore, it’s important to take a good look at your roof after you see hail or hear it falling during a storm. You should document any signs of damage by taking photos or videos and writing down a description as well. You should also inspect the attic or ceilings for signs of a leak, such as discoloration, stains or moisture.

If there has been significant damage to the roof, you may need to call in a contractor who can assess the problem and provide you with an estimate for repairs. You should take steps to mitigate the problem, such as putting a temporary tarp over the damaged portion of the roof. However, do not start repair work until you have filed a claim and the insurance company has inspected the damage. The insurer will want to inspect the damage “as is,” and any premature repairs could result in a smaller settlement.

As your public adjuster, NEC Claims can help you assess the hail damage and document your claim in order to maximize your eventual settlement. That’s particularly important if the damage was not discovered until well after the hail storm occurred. Otherwise, your claim may be denied, delayed or minimized by the insurer.

Because repairing hail damage can be expensive, NEC Claims can help you obtain a fair and equitable settlement that covers the cost of rebuilding or replacing your hail-damaged roof, skylights or other parts of your building.