Question for homeowners or anyone that knows anything about hail damage (updated)

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Back on August 10 there was a severe thunderstorm that passed through my area. It dropped enough hail that it looked like it had snowed in my neighborhood when it was done. The hail varied from about the size of a marble to maybe as large as a quarter in diameter. The next day I went out and looked around my house and did not really notice any damage to the siding or roof identifiable by me. Since that time "storm chasers" have been attacking my neighborhood and so far have signed up at least 20 people. In addition other neighbors have had contractors and insurance agents look at their houses and most are getting new roofs and siding. I have now opened a claim with my insurance company but frankly I don't trust either side to be exactly up front with me since they each have a vested interest in the outcome. My question really is what kind of damage can hail do to a standard shingle roof that would not be visible to my untrained eye? Ditto with the aluminum siding? If there really is damage to the roof or siding then obviously I want to get it fixed but I really am not looking to get a new roof and siding from insurance if there is really nothing wrong with it.

 

amdskip

Lifer
Jan 6, 2001
22,530
13
81
Hail will shorten the life of an asphalt roof. Our insurance paid for part of our last roof replacement because of this. Look for irregular wear like in the middle of the shingles and not on the edges like normal wear happens. Siding will be dented if damaged and is really no big deal because most siding gets dented over time anyways.
 

Sketcher

Platinum Member
Aug 15, 2001
2,237
0
0
My neighborhood suffered significant hail damage last summer. Nearly every house in the hood replaced siding and roofing. Some of the homeowners had difficulty getting their insurance provider to agree that the roofing needed to be replaced (often shingles absorb impact and don't immediately show the damage 'till years later).

However, even the stodgy insurance companies had to pay out because if you compared the damage to the siding on the same house = it's obvious that the roof must have sustained damage. Further, being that nearly every other house in the hood required service - it becomes more difficult for the insurance company to deny payment for necessary services.

Some things to keep in mind:

1. You can get multiple quotes for the same work (and it's recommended to get multiple quotes) and the Insurance company has to pay whoever you choose to do the work. You can even get quotes, receive the insurance check and then do the work yourself if you're so inclined. Regardless, the Insurance Company has to pay for the quoted work (though each company handles payment a little differently).

2. An insurance agent should assess the work with a roofer/sider who's verifying the damage. This way, even if the insurance agent doesn't know what to look for, the craftsman can show them the damage. Most reputable builders will contact your insurance company for you - if you approve that they do so. Note - approving a builder to contact your Insurance company and assess damage does not lock you in to working with that company!! You can do this with every quote you receive.

3. Do your own homework. Get references from the shops who give drive by quoting. Like yours, about 10 -20 trucks came through my neighborhood offering service and posting advertisements. Some of them were obviously 2-bit shops, otherwise were well established.

4. The more homes that are damaged, the longer it takes for your work to get done. If you have any critically damaged areas (holes in siding/cracked skylights, flashing etc.) get the company to temporarily cover the damage w/duct tape/tarps/whatever. If you get water inside the walls - it'll be difficult to prove further damage w/out tearing down siding and sheetrock.

eh, Have to go,

PM me if you want me to post more or have any questions.

-Sketcher
 

AbsolutZero

Senior member
Oct 16, 2000
327
0
0
Linflas,

In addition to what the others say, I'd like to offer my advice. I am a meteorologist for the government and we deal with lots of homeowners, contractors, and insurance agents asking about hail damage. I also had my roof on our old house replaced in summer 2001.

* Not sure where you live, but here in Oklahoma we get at least 1 large hail event (> 1.5 inch) every year or two. So having roofs replaced is a common occurance. In spring 2001, we had 3 bad hailstorms in a row. The first had hail around quarter size, the other 2 were at least golfball size. It takes at least quarter size hail to damage cars so I would assume it takes similarly large hail (and long duration of it > 5 minutes) to do much damage to a roof, but I don't know the details. I would guess it only hastens the aging process. My neighbors told me to look for "waves" in between the triangle beams for signs its time to replace. If you're in an area where hail that size does not occur often and you see lots of ambulence/storm chasers (i.e. roofing contractors) in your neighborhood after a storm, I bet they are desperate for the insurance buisiness.

* When we bought our first house in 96 (just under 10 years old at the time), our insurance agent (Farmers) only cared about how old the roof was. He did not insure a home if the roof was more than 10 years old and if it was he wanted the seller to replace it. They also did a drive by to inspect the roof. This could be b/c we get lots of hailstorms in OK, but I didn't really ask. I suppose they had their reasons.

* After the 3rd hailstorm in 2 months in 2001, and knowing that the roof was now 14 years old I filed a claim. Luckily our neighbor knew of a good company that worked *fast*. They put on his new roof in one day. While its good advice to get multiple quotes, I would avoid the low bidder unless their reputation was superior. We've known several people who used cheapo roofers and had their roof half done for literally weeks. I would seek advice of people who are in the house contracting buisiness or had a good experience with a roofer. I would be very wary of "buisnesses" coming to my house or calling me out of the blue. At work, we have several individuals that call looking for any location that received large hail the night before, even if it was in another state, probably the same people who cold call.

* I was expecting to get screwed a little since we had a $1000 deductable on our house, but it turned out very well. We use Farmers and they were very cooperative and helpful using our choice of contractor. Sure enough, the contractor came and set up around 10 am, finished the roof by 7pm and hauled off the old roof the next morning.

* We ended up moving that October so adding "New Roof in 2001" was another plus to sell the house in a slow month. It sold in 2 weeks.

I would not worry too much about new roofs. I think its a more reputable buisiness to be in than siding or whatever. If you plan on being in your home for several more years and the roof is relatively new, I would leave it alone. If you don't remember how large the hail was during the storm, call your NWS office and they'll tell you for free. HTH.



 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Thanks for all the good info guys. I have an insurance adjuster coming out today to inspect the house. The house was built in 1996 so the roof is only 6 years old. I have a glass full of the hail in my freezer (dunno why lol) and there was enough of it that our neighbors used it in a beer cooler for a party they had later that evening. What we do know so far is that the most aggressive of these contractors managed to sign up about 15 houses in our neighborhood. The deal seems to be they will cover the insurance deductible in exchange for having their sign planted in the front yard. At least 2 small contractors that have done prior very satisfactory work for a couple of my neighbors said that this contractor most likely will make up the deductible they pay by using the absolute minimum quality material they can get away with using. If it turns out there is any damage to be repaired I will likely go with one of these guys since they have a good reputation with my neighbors that have used them and have not been going door to door trying to gin up business. I will update this thread with the results when I get them.
 

Linflas

Lifer
Jan 30, 2001
15,395
78
91
Update: Well the insurance company says we have damage to the roof and some of the siding. They already sent me a check for a new roof and partial siding replacement so now I have to contact a contractor and begin the process. The one outstanding problem is that the siding used on the houses in our neighborhood is no longer available so now I have to convince the insurance company that it is either replace no siding or replace all the siding. I think this will end up being an issue between the contractor and the insurance company since that seems to be how the other folks in my neighborhood got the issue resolved. I guess the next decision will be vinyl or aluminum.