The short version
- Stay off the roof. Check gutters, vents, siding and screens from the ground.
- Photograph damage and note the storm date.
- Get a free professional inspection, then contact your insurer promptly.
- Avoid storm chasers: choose a local roofer with real reviews who will meet your adjuster.
1. Stay safe and stay off the roof
Wet or damaged shingles are slippery, and hail damage is hard to judge from on top of the roof without training anyway. Everything in the next step can be done from the ground.
2. Check what you can see from the ground
Hail damage to shingles is often invisible from the street, but other things around your home show it clearly. Look for:
- Dents in gutters, downspouts and metal vents
- Cracks or holes in vinyl siding, and dents in aluminum siding
- Torn window screens and dented window wraps
- Piles of shingle granules at the bottom of downspouts
- Dents on your car, mailbox or outdoor AC unit
How big was the hail? Research presented to the American Meteorological Society found that hail about 1 inch across can damage 3-tab shingles, and about 1.25 inches can damage heavier architectural shingles. Gutters, vents and siding can dent from smaller hail.
3. Write it down and take photos
Note the date and time of the storm. Photograph any damage you can see, plus hailstones next to a coin or ruler if you can do it safely. These help your claim later.
Not sure of the exact date, or weren't home when it hit? Check our list of recent Central Ohio storm dates, and we can pull a storm report for your exact address before you file.
4. Stop active leaks
If water is coming in, put down a bucket, move valuables and call a roofer for a temporary tarp. Keep receipts. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent more damage.
5. Get a professional inspection
A roofer can confirm whether the roof itself took damage, and document it with photos and chalk marks an adjuster can see. We inspect for free, and if we don't see damage worth a claim, we'll tell you.
6. Contact your insurance company
Don't let it slide. The Ohio Department of Insurance advises contacting your insurer promptly after damage, and your policy sets deadlines for reporting a claim. A free inspection in the next few days tells you whether there's damage worth a claim before you file. Once you do, an adjuster will be assigned to inspect the damage. Read how roof insurance works in Ohio.
7. Watch out for storm chasers
After big storms, out-of-town crews go door to door across Central Ohio, then leave when the work dries up. Before you pick a roofer:
- Check for a local address, insurance and reviews. Ohio doesn't issue a statewide license for residential roofers, so reputation and local registration matter.
- Ask who will stand behind the work. A warranty only helps if the company is still around to honor it. A crew from out of state may be gone by the next storm.
- Pick a roofer who will be at your adjuster meeting. Having your roofer there to point out the damage helps make sure nothing gets missed.