Hail Damage
Hail damage is property damage caused by hailstones to roofing, siding, gutters, HVAC units, and other exposed surfaces. Hail is the number one driver of residential property insurance claims in the United States, with annual insured losses averaging $10-14 billion (Insurance Information Institute).
The Bread and Butter of Storm Restoration
Hail damage is the single biggest driver of residential property insurance claims in the United States, with annual insured losses averaging $10-14 billion and individual years exceeding $15 billion (Insurance Information Institute). For roofing contractors and supplement companies, hail season is revenue season. The average residential hail claim runs $12,000-$15,000, and a single major hail event generates hundreds of claims in one metro area.
Texas leads all states in hail frequency, followed by Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Oklahoma. But hail damage claims happen across the entire Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic.
What Hail Damage Looks Like
Hail damage on asphalt shingles is not always obvious from the ground. It takes a trained eye and a close inspection to identify the damage patterns that support a claim.
| Damage Pattern | What to Look For | Where to Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Granule displacement | Dark spots where granules are knocked off | Shingle field, especially south and west exposures |
| Mat fracture | Soft spots or cracks in the shingle mat | Under displaced granules |
| Bruising | Dents that compress but do not crack | Ridge cap, hip shingles |
| Collar damage | Dents or cracks on metal components | Pipe jacks, vents, flashing |
| Gutter dents | Impact marks on aluminum gutters | Gutters and downspouts |
Document every damage point with close-up photos and wider context shots showing the location on the roof. The adjuster's inspection may miss damage on the back slope or in valleys if they do not walk the entire roof.
Hail Claims and the Supplement Opportunity
Hail claims are among the most frequently under-scoped residential claims. The carrier's adjuster may document shingle damage but miss collateral damage to gutters, siding, window screens, HVAC units, and fence panels. Each missed component is a supplement opportunity. Common items left off initial hail scopes include:
- Starter strip replacement
- Drip edge replacement
- Ice and water shield (code upgrade in many jurisdictions)
- Pipe jack replacement
- Ridge vent replacement
- Step flashing at wall-to-roof transitions
Review every line item on the carrier's scope against what you found during your inspection. The gap between the two is your supplement.
Documenting Hail Damage for Maximum Recovery
Photography quality makes or breaks a hail claim. Use a chalk circle around each hail hit for close-up photos. Include a measuring device (coin, ruler) for scale. Shoot wider context photos that show the hit location relative to the roof plane. Document the compass direction of each slope - wind-driven hail causes more damage on the windward exposures, and carriers know this.
Get on the roof the same day or the day after the adjuster inspects. If you wait weeks, weather exposure can obscure hail damage patterns. Fresh damage photographs are harder for the desk adjuster to dispute than photos taken months after the event. Having accurate data in an ESX file for your supplement - rather than a manual re-key from the carrier's PDF - lets you focus your time on documentation rather than data entry.
Further reading
Frequently asked questions
The average residential hail claim is $12,000-$15,000. Annual US insured hail losses average $10-14 billion, with individual years exceeding $15 billion (Insurance Information Institute). Texas leads all states in hail frequency.
Hail damage on asphalt shingles shows up as granule displacement, fractures in the mat, and bruising. These patterns require close inspection and clear photography to document properly for the insurance claim.
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