Why should you read this? Do you or a loved one own a home? The home is perhaps the largest investment that you will ever make, correct? Did you know that a single hail storm can easily cause the homeowner tens-of-thousands of dollars in damages? Hailstones, as photographed below, can even cause more than $100,000 dollars in damages to your home. Every area and region of the United States is subject to wind and hail storm damage, and in Texas, alone, hail storms annually cause millions of dollars in damages to homes. Continue reading to learn more about how to protect you and your loved ones should you ever experience the dreaded hail storm damage insurance claim. For immediate assistance, contact DKG Roofing (YOUR locally owned "One Stop Shop" for ALL your HAIL damage claims! Repairs from roofs, to siding, gutters and downspouts, garage doors, fences, windows and screens, painting and staining, and much more!) Locally owned, bonded, A+ BBB rating.

Hi, my name is Matthew and I am writing to prepare you for any given wind or hail damage claim, because most hail damage claims involve numerous parties and aspects: homeowner, deductibles, insurance company (agent, adjuster, initial claim, claims center, and supplemental insurance claims), mortgage company or bank, roofing contractor and supplements (supplemental claims), HOA and COA (if applicable), and perhaps subcontractors.

We, perhaps most of us, were not taught how to be expert roofing contractor finders or locators. But what will you do if your home, one of the greatest investments that you will ever make, is hit with that dreadful, devastating hail storm claim? The vast majority of the information that you and I will locate online for wind and hail damage claims is written by roofing contractors, the same folks who have a vested interest in acquiring your business after the wind or hail damage. I am just your average Matthew, and my goal is to assist you, from one neighbor to another, and hopefully prevent you from making many of the major mistakes that I made during my first hail damage claim.

Did you know that your homeowner insurance policy may cover and protect you and yours from much more than wind and hail damage to your roof. Think outside of the box, or outside of the house.

As a result of wind and hail damage, here are some examples of what are often times covered by most standard homeowner insurance policies: trash cans, flowers and flowerpots, wind chimes, birdhouses and birdbaths, skateboards and bicycles, HVACs, jungle gym and swing set, garage doors, house doors, swimming pool and accessories, fences (from staining to painting to replacing), windows and screens, patios, awnings, grills, decks, siding or hardiplank, exterior light fixtures, motion detectors, downspouts, gutters, shed and storage unit, carport, garage, shrubs, plants, and anything else exposed to the hailstones, such as riding lawnmower and wheelbarrow, etc.

Common questions that one may ask while making a hail storm damage roof insurance claim, include: Which roofing contractor do I call? How do I locate a reputable roofing contractor? Which questions should I ask the contractor? What can I, as the homeowner, expect from a roofing company? Should I use the roofer that my neighbor used? Where do I begin my research? Should I locate a roofing company on the internet, Angies.list, online reviews, call the number for the roofing company that I saw on TV, or maybe I should call the number of the roofing company that I saw on a billboard or sign on my way to work? How many roofing quotes should I get?

Just the thought of the myriad of questions for any hail damage claim can seem overwhelming, but that is one of the reasons why I am writing this easy-to-read page. I will discuss and cover what you, the homeowner, need to know about hail storms and the hail damage insurance claim dos and don'ts and will also separate facts from myths.

Regarding hail claims and roofing contractors, I have learned the hard way, so I am here to do my best to share with you, the reader, the homeowner, an easy to follow guide and checklist with basic and important questions that you should ask now, prior, during, and after any hailstorm. I will also provide useful information that no contractor or website provides. Example: Should my pets stay at home while the roofing company is reroofing and repairing my home?

The lack of information that people know about their roofing contractor or any company that they conduct business with is no surprise. Most people give little, if any, thought to hail damage to their home — until it happens.

While most contractors are responsible professionals, everyone has heard horror stories of disappearing work crews, ballooning costs, missed deadlines, shoddy work, and even fraud. To make sure that you choose the right professional to fix your roof, ask the questions on this page before signing a contract.

Before hiring, you should always check with the appropriate boards and companies to make sure that your roofing contractor is licensed and insured.

Ask at least three different companies to submit proposals. Learn what you can from each person, the contractor or his representative, who looks at your roof, and ask questions and take notes. Pay careful attention to what each roofer recommends and then take time to make an informed decision.

Should I go with the lowest bidder? Don't jump at the lowest bidder. If all bids for your roof are within 20 percent of each other, the low bid might be okay. Compare what each roofer is offering, and watch out for hidden costs or extras.

How long has the roofing contractor been in business? Does the contractor have a permanent business office address, phone, and email? An established contractor should be able to provide a business address, phone, and email. A permanent business address is a sign of a stable company. See also Texas Sized Hail and Why You Should Avoid Hail Storm Chasing Roofing Repair Companies.

Look for a contractor who is a certified installer of the products they offer. Certified contractors can offer stronger warranties on the products they install and follow stricter installation guidelines.

How long has the roofing crew who, furthermore, will be working on your home, been in the roofing contractor’s employment? What kind of training do they receive? Is the entire crew qualified to install the roofing material for your home?

Ask the roofing contractor for copies of licenses, state certifications, liability and workers compensation insurance, local and national industry associations, warranties, BBB rating, and several references.

A good roofing contractor will hand over his or her license number and insurance information for anyone that asks. When you call to make sure that he is licensed, be sure that your contractor is an actual roofing contractor. Most are registered with the State Board of Roofing Contractors. When calling the insurance carrier, verify that the account is in good standing and the contractor has not only liability insurance, but workers' compensation insurance as well. It's a good idea to mention that you will be calling to check on this, most will see it as a sign of professionalism, not distrust.

Beware of roofing contractors who employ subcontractors. When the homeowner allows the roofing contractor to become the general contractor, too, you are entering into possible liability and poor workmanship. Roofing contractors are known for subcontracting all unrelated roofing work, e.g., installation of gutters and downspouts. Some roofing contractors even subcontract the reroofing work. So ask your contractor, do you employ or use subcontractors for any of the work performed? If so, which work will the subcontractors be performing? Are written warranties on material and installation provided? If so, what are their limitations? Who is ultimately responsible for the work that the subcontractor performs and who is liable for any possible material defects? Example: Should you need to use the warranty for any work that is performed by a subcontractor, who is the responsible party and who do you contact if there is a problem? Subcontractors, consequently, are often the lowest bidder. Subcontractors are often paid on a per job basis, which can result in poor workmanship as the job is completed as fast as possible. Then there is liability, are the subcontractors licensed to do the work that they perform? Are they qualified to do the work they perform? Are they insured? Now let's discuss the written contract. 

A roofing contractor should also always provide a written contract. Do not settle for a verbal agreement under any circumstances, and never pay cash. Get your written contract, including all agreements, warranties, guarantees, such as start date, material used, and the clean-up process (which should include from removal to disposal of all old material and debris, such as old shingles to the hundreds of nails in your yard).

Be sure to spell out the exact terms of your agreement before any work takes place. Ask if the roofing contractor will provide a written warranty of the work he completes. If the product he is installing has a warranty, find out if he will honor the manufacturer’s warranty as well as if there is a problem. If he will, make sure that is explicitly stated in the warranty. Perhaps you may relocate in a few years, so ask the contractor if the warranty is transferable, and if so what are the limitations? A transferable warranty is also a nice selling point for any prospective buyer.

Verify that the contractor will replace the vent flanges and flashing, not just reuse (or repaint) the old materials. Often these should be replaced, even if you believe them to be sound. If this is anything other than a minor repair, insist that new flashing be used. A roofing contractor should also include in the bid the cost for removing and disposing debris from the project. This includes scraps and old roofing materials. Most companies rent a commercial truck or dumpster to haul debris, so make sure your quote covers these costs. Also ask about how the contractor intends to contain the job to prevent nails and other debris from spreading throughout the yard.

Never give any down payment or upfront money — or you may never hear from the roofing contractor again. Your insurance company will be paying for the work as it is completed, less your deductible.

After your roof has been "reroofed," you should also call your insurance adjuster and request him or her to perform a quality inspection of the roof to verify all stated and agreed upon repairs.

From on the roof to in the house inspection. Numerous individuals, with a combined weight of perhaps one ton or more, will be traversing and working — from tearing, pulling, ripping old shingles to hammering on your roof — while heavy bundles of shingles and material are being dropped on the roof during the process. Think of it like this, with all that weight and movement on your roof, it is comparable to a small earthquake in your home. So, you will need, after roofing is completed, to have your roofing contractor inspect the interior of your home, including walls and ceilings for cracks, nail and drywall pops. Verify that all ceiling fans are operable, because the placement, and dropping, of heavy bundles of shingles can easily cause damage to any ceiling fan. Also verify that your wall unit appliances are functioning properly. Your roofing contractor is responsible for any damages caused by his roofers.

In the attic inspection. Upon completion, the roofing contractor should also inspect the attic (if accessible) to verify that any unit housed in the attic, such as homes that house hot water heaters there, is intact, and to inspect and verify that all vents are installed and sealed properly, and to verify that the hot water heater pilot light is currently lit. (Excessive air flow from improper vent installation can extinguish the pilot light on a regular basis and also allow rain to enter the attic). After your roof has been "reroofed," you should also call your insurance adjuster and request him or her to perform a quality inspection of the roof to verify all stated and agreed upon repairs.

Exterior inspection. Beware of nails in the lawn and on the walkways. Roofers often drop and throw old material and debris to the ground. On the exterior of your home, verify that the roofing company, who employs large vehicles to deliver and remove material, didn't damage any flowers, shrubs, trees, sprinklers, siding, windows, HVACs, electric and/or gas meters, sheds, fences, etc., during the process.

Make preparations! Remember, with all that weight and movement on your roof, it is comparable to a small earthquake inside your home.

Now that you have secured your roofing company, and prior to any roofing work being performed, remove from walls, window sills, shelves (yes, remove items from shelves), and fireplace mantels all photos, painting, vases, nic nacs, etc., because any item is subject to fall and break while your roof is under construction. Is your flat screen mounted to the wall? If so, remove it. Also, if your home has any furniture and items resting or touching the walls and windows, pull them a few inches from the wall. Hours of constant movement, pounding, banging, shaking, and vibrations during the roofing work can play havoc on both the wall and item. With several walls and several items, think about the possible outcome. An ounce of prevention, well, you know the saying.

The hail was loud, but the roofers are much louder. No one on the internet, to my knowledge has addressed this subject — NOISE LEVEL and what to do about it.

If you have satellite, contact your satellite provider for reroofing instructions. Prior to reroofing, your satellite provider will need to schedule dates for both removal and installation of the dish. The removal and installation is not free, but your insurer should indemnify the cost.

On the day that the roofers begin the project, it may take from a few days to numerous days to complete all roofing related repairs, I highly suggest that your family stay at a hotel, perhaps pet friendly, or with friends for the duration. Please remember your pets too, as the noise level is very disturbing to most pets (dogs are especially sensitive to sound). While the work is being performed you will need one individual, preferably the responsible person who signed the initial contract and who can also sign additional paperwork (if needed), on site, meaning your home. The responsible person should be the first person on the jobsite and the last person to depart. (While the responsible person is at your home, he/she may stay inside the home, but be prepared for the very loud noise level.) I know that it makes for a long day, but I encourage you to remember that your home is one of the greatest investments that you will ever make. Your home is exactly that, your home.

I hope that I helped at least one person reading this, if so, please share the page. You are also encouraged to bookmark this page, because you may need to reference it one day for you or a loved one. See also, DKG ROOFING (YOUR locally owned "One Stop Shop" for ALL your HAIL damage claims! Repairs from roofs, to siding, gutters and downspouts, garage doors, fences, windows and screens, painting and staining, and much more!) Locally owned, bonded, insured, A+ BBB rating.

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