The roof

Hard to access, unrepaired hail damage leads to roof leaks and further interior damage. Not all roof hail damage consists of cracks or holes. On asphalt shingles, it shows up as dark spots due to surface grains being knocked off. If storm winds cause loss of shingles, the underlayment may also show damage. Slate shingles may chip or crack due to hail, as might shake shingles.

[Related: Hail damage: Are you covered?]

Windows

The winds of the storm causing the hail can force it to fly sideways, causing window damage or breakage. Beyond looking for cracks in the glazing, look at the seal around the window for damage. Left unchecked, damaged seals deteriorate, permitting the incursion of moisture and other elements.

Home siding

Especially susceptible to hail damage when high winds are present, hail damage to siding results in dents, nicks, and cracks. Aluminum siding usually exhibits dents from hail damage. Painted exteriors often exhibit discoloration, in addition to chipping. Even stucco is susceptible to hail damage.

Beyond the house, consider any exterior fixtures or appliances when assessing hail damage, including sheds, carports and air conditioning units.

Keep reading to learn some steps you can take to decrease the potential damage caused by hail to homes and vehicles as well as what to do after hail hits.

(Photo: Shutterstock.com)

Preventative measures

Unless you can control the weather, you must consider taking steps that decrease the potential damage caused by hail to homes and vehicles. Many vehicle covers purport to protect cars from hail damage, but the best means of avoiding hail damage is parking vehicles inside of a garage. If no garage is available, an awning may provide some protection from minor hailstorms. Some suggest covering cars with old quilts and comforters, but such measures work only in minor hailstorms.

Another highly recommended precaution against home hail damage is using high quality roofing materials and roof designs. Blueprint for Safety recommends:

• installing roofing shingles rated under UL 2218 or FM 4473 as Class 3 or 4 roofing materials
• Building new houses or other structures with a roof pitch (or slope) of at least 27 degrees
• Using 5/8 inch plywood for roof sheathing with support trusses spaced no more than 24 inches on center

What to do after hail hits

1. Asses the damage

Once it is safe to go outside, make a quick assessment of any damage to windows, siding, outdoor fixtures, cars, plants and livestock. Obviously, avoid entering any unsafe situations, including unstable buildings, downed trees and power lines.

2. Call a reputable local roofing contractor

Leave the roof inspection up to the professionals and contact your trusted local roofing contracting company. You can look at sites like the Better Business Bureau to ensure your contractors are appropriately insured and licensed. Once the contractor deems that you do indeed have hail damage, they will recommend you reach out to your insurance company, who will set up an appointment to have an insurance adjustor look at your roof, usually within 3 days.

3. Have your roofing contractor meet with your insurance adjustor

A good way to advocate for yourself is to ask that your local roofing contractor be present when the insurance adjuster comes. The contractor can point out specific areas of concern to the adjuster and make sure all hail damage spots are taken into account.

Adjusters typically make notes and take photographs of damaged areas on the property. They may require several estimates, and also may confer with contractors on their own regarding the damages and repair costs. In many cases, the adjuster agrees there is damage and provides a prompt insurance repair quote. However, the process of obtaining a claim payment may take longer. If one adjuster finds no warranted repairs, but your contractor says otherwise, consider requesting a readjustment, which involves having another adjustor from your insurance company review and give a second opinion.

4. So many options to choose from

If your insurance adjustor approves coverage for hail damage, your local roofing contractor will provide options on various shingle types and colors that you can choose from. Once decided, the contractor will coordinate a date to complete the hail damage repairs with their trusted roofing crew. The time period between insurance adjustor approval and a completed, new roof can vary depending on the approval process, materials chosen and the size of house, but usually takes from a couple days to a few weeks.