Being professional roofing contractors we know all too well the damage hailstorms can do. Hailstorms produce balls of ice ranging in size from a few centimeters up to nearly 6″ in diameter. A 6″ piece of hail is pretty rare, and would certainly do major damage to your home, but even the more common, smaller hail frequently does enough damage to roofs and siding to require major repair work.

Hail damage to your siding and roof are not always easy to see, especially if you have a two or three story house. You should take steps to identify and repair hail damage as soon as possible though in order to avoid further damage and other complications. You may even be denied by your insurance company if you wait too long to file a claim for the repairs.

Step 1: Take a walk around the exterior of your home and look for any damage. Check for dents in the siding and freshly damaged paint. Inspect your gutters and downspouts for dents and dings. If you can safely look at your roof, check for missing shingles and shingles with blisters or dents.

Step 2: Take a walk around the interior of your home and look for any damage. Look for new water stains running down your walls or pooling on your ceiling. If you have water leaking into your home you need to have this damage address immediately. Roof leaks can be one of the most costly problems you can have in your home, the longer you wait, the worse it gets, the more it is doing to cost you.

Step 3: Contact your insurance agent right away and make sure they are aware of the damage. They will probably have one of their adjusters out to evaluate your home and prepare a cost estimate for the repairs.

Step 4: Call your local roofing contractor to get your own, independent estimate. Most insurance adjusters are impartial and fair, but it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion from someone who is working for you. Most roofing contractors offer a free estimate, and because they are independent of the insurance company, they may be less biased in their appraisal. The roofer than you contact should also be willing to communicate with the insurance adjuster to arrive at a fair and appropriate solution.

Step 5: Ask for everything in writing! Your insurance company should give you, in writing, a description of your claim and what will be covered. Your roofing contractor should also provide you with a written contract with a detailed description of the work to be done and how much it will cost.

It only takes a matter of minutes for a hailstorm to do an amazing amount of damage to your roof. As soon as the storm passes begin the process of determining the damage and contacting your insurance company and roofing contractor. If you wait too long it may be too late!

We are a St. Paul roofing contractor who specializes in roofs, siding, windows and decks. We are known as one of the premiere St. Paul Siding and roofing company. To get a free no-obligation estimate along with some helpful tips and articles, visit our website at http://www.traditionroofing.com.