Hail Damaged Roof: What to Do, in Order
This hail damaged roof what to do list is in order, because after a hail storm the order matters more than any single step. It is the sequence that protects the house, keeps your claim clean and stops you signing with the first crew that knocks.
The Short Answer
Stop any active leak, photograph the outside from the ground, get the roof inspected and documented before you file, file the claim promptly, be there when the adjuster comes, and choose your roofer last, not first.
What to Do After Hail Damage to Your Roof
Stay off the roof
Hail-damaged shingles are slick and the decking may be weakened. Everything in the next step can be done from the ground.
Photograph the property the same day
Hailstones on the lawn next to a coin or ruler, dented gutters and downspouts, dinged AC fins, cracked skylights, damaged cars. These show the size of the hail and fade fast.
Stop water getting in
Move belongings, catch drips and get an emergency tarp if water is coming in. Most policies expect you to prevent further damage, so keep receipts.
Get an inspection before you file
A documented roof inspection tells you whether you actually have a claim. Filing blind can leave a denied claim on your record.
File promptly
Many policies set a deadline after a storm. Check yours, and do not wait for a leak to appear.
Be there for the adjuster
Walk the property with them and point out what you photographed. Your roofer can meet the adjuster on the roof with the evidence.
Choose your roofer last
Compare written scopes from local contractors once you know what the damage is, not on the doorstep the day after the storm.
Hail Hit My Roof: What Not to Do
Don't sign on the doorstep
Contingency agreements signed before an inspection can lock you into a contractor before you know what the roof needs.
Don't accept a deductible offer
No contractor in Texas can legally cover, waive or rebate your deductible. The claim that results is in your name.
Don't wait for a leak
Hail often bruises a roof without opening a hole. By the time it leaks, tying it to the storm is harder.
When to Call for Repair
Once the damage is documented, most hail damage is repairable without replacing the whole roof. Our hail damage roof repair Austin page explains what that repair involves and when replacement becomes the better call.
Hail Damage Roof Next Steps: Questions
How soon after a hail storm should I get my roof inspected?
Within days if you can. Evidence on gutters, vents and AC units is clearest right after the storm, and many policies set filing deadlines.
Can hail damage a roof without causing a leak?
Yes, often. Hail bruises shingles and loosens granules without opening a hole, and the leak shows up months later.
Should I call my insurance company or a roofer first?
Get the roof inspected and documented first, then file. You file with evidence instead of guessing.
Is it safe to wait until the next storm to deal with it?
No. A damaged roof takes the next storm worse, and the longer you wait the harder it is to show which storm did the damage.
Related Storm and Hail Guides
Both of our main guides go deeper: storm damage roofing in Austin covers wind, rain and tree damage, and roof hail damage Austin covers hail on every roof type. Or browse all storm and hail roof damage guides.
What hail damage looks like on a roof
Signs on shingles, metal and tile, and what is not hail.
Texas roof insurance claim timeline
Your steps and your insurer's deadlines.
Hail damage: repair or replace the roof?
The factors that decide it.
Hiring a storm damage roofer in Austin
The checks that matter and the red flags.
Class 4 impact-resistant shingles in Austin
When the upgrade is worth it.
Austin hail season
When storms hit and how to prepare.
Pre-storm-season roof inspection in Austin
What gets checked before spring.
Hail just hit your roof?
Call the hail damage roofing contractors in Austin on Burnet Rd. We'll inspect, document and tell you honestly whether you have a claim. We're a storm damage roofing company in Austin, open 24/7 for active leaks. Read more about the hail damage roofer Austin TX homeowners call, or our storm damage roofer Austin TX work.
Austin Storm & Hail Damage Roofing · 12001 Burnet Rd, Austin, TX 78758 · (512) 709-6335 · Open 24/7