Hail and wind damage: what to do before you sign anything

Do this in order

1. Document first. Dated photos from the ground, plus any hail you can photograph next to a coin for scale. Note the storm date. 2. Call your insurer before a contractor. The adjuster establishes the date of loss. A contractor cannot approve your claim. 3. Get your own inspection from a licensed local roofer who has been in business more than five years. 4. Only then compare the adjuster estimate against your contractor scope.

What actually counts as damage Insurers look for **functional** damage — hail bruises that fracture the mat and knock granules loose, creased or torn shingles from wind, damaged vents and flashing. Cosmetic marks on metal are often excluded outright, and many policies now carry a separate, higher wind/hail deductible. Read that line in your declarations page before you file.

Contract traps after a storm - **Contingency agreements.** A form that says "we do the work if insurance approves" is a binding contract in most states. Read the cancellation window. - **Deductible waiving.** If someone offers to "eat your deductible" or inflate the invoice, that is insurance fraud in most states — and you are a party to it. - **Assignment of benefits.** Signing your claim over hands the contractor control of the negotiation and, sometimes, the right to sue your insurer in your name. - **Out-of-town crews.** Ask where the company will be in three years when the workmanship warranty matters.

Deadlines Most policies require prompt notice and set a hard filing window (often one year from the date of loss). If neighbors are replacing roofs, get inspected now rather than after the window closes.