A home roof must have widespread hail damage, such as  7-10 impact marks per square foot, cracked shingles, decking damage, etc, from hail storms to be eligible for an insurance claim.  The roof must be functionally damaged for the insurance company to approve the roof replacement claim

What Level of Hail Damage Qualifies for Roof Replacement?

• Widespread impact mark: Heavy damage per square span or 7-10 hail impact marks per 100 sq ft, causing severe damage. The impact of hail damage hampers the functionality of the roof.
• Cracks or splintered shingles: 1-inch+ hailstones cause cracks in the asphalt shingles and wood shingles, resulting in leaks in the underlayment.
• Extensive granule loss, as signified by the span for hail marks, dark spots on shingles, or finding granules in the gutter, reduces the roof’s lifespan.
• Damaged decking: impact from 2 inches+ hailstones penetrates the decking and even compromises metal roofing.
• Functional damage: the damage from a hailstorm must debilitate the functionality of the roofing components, not just surface-level issues.
• Heavy damage on aged roofs: heavy hail damage on a roof aged 15+ years would qualify for roof replacements. 

Signs of Hail Damage That Trigger Insurance Replacement

• High Density of Impact Marks: indicates severe structural damage, compromising the asphalt shingles.
• Visible Dents on Shingles: Visible dents on the roofing components signify structural weakening.
• Dark Spots from Granule Loss: Granule loss from hail impact damages the protective layer of the shingles, exposing them to UV light.
• Water stains or water spots: Signs of water stains and wet spots on the attic indicate hail-induced damage.
• Cracked or Broken Shingles: A larger number of cracked shingles, exposing the internal structure to water damage throughout the roof.
• Roof decking damage: penetrations on the roof decking, leading to a weakened structure
• Damaged soft metal: visible dents on vents, flashings, etc.

How Insurance Companies Assess Hail Damage

4.1 The Professional Inspection Process

• Initial inspection: homeowners conduct a preliminary inspection of the damage, taking photo-rich notes before filing a claim, along with the evidence. The time between the inspection to filing needs to be as short as possible.
• Adjuster inspection: An insurance adjuster examines the structure for impact marks, visible dents, and roof decking to do an accurate assessment and differentiate the functional damage from the cosmetic damage.
• Professional inspection: A licensed contractor does a comprehensive assessment of the damage done and provides a detailed report influencing claim approval.
• Claim decision: The insurance company reviews the adjuster inspection and the professional roof inspection reports and decides on a claim amount or roof replacement approval.

4.2 What Insurers Look For

• Location of the hail impacts: to map impact marks on the hail-damaged roof
• Damage severity: the type of damage and the extent of hail damage to roofing materials
• Roofing materials age and type: roof hail damage severity can be heavily influenced by the age and type of the materials.
• Number of visible dents: Insurers assess the roof for hail damage by examining the number of visible dents, such as 7-10 per 100 sq ft.

How to claim insurance  – step by step

Step 1

Reviewing the Homeowners Insurance Policies for insurance coverage, Actual Cash Vs RCV policy, etc.

Step 2

Filing a claim within 1 year with damage details for basic home insurance policies.

Step 3

Conducting a professional inspection to verify damage

Step 4

Point out adequate evidence during the adjuster inspection

Step 5

Receive payment from the insurer.

How much Coverage does insurance provide for Hail Damage Replacement

Coverage for hail damage is taken as a covered peril. For a roof of 1,700 sq ft, under comprehensive coverage, the coverage for roof replacement is within $7000-24000$. The average payout for insurance coverage of hail damage is $12000-$13000, minus deductibles.

Factors That May Influence Claim Approval 

• Poor maintenance negatively affects insurance claims
• Undocumented or faulty past roof repairs.
• Delays in filing a claim can be grounds for claims denial
• Asphalt shingles are more prone to damage and may affect eligibility for coverage.
• Curling or fading of shingles can be classified as normal wear and not hail damage
• Damage from faulty shingles may be excluded from being attributed to a manufacturing defect.

Roofing Contractors and the Role They Play in Insurance 

Roofing contractors assess the extent of the hail damage and structural damage. They provide detailed estimates of insurance claims that also support coverage for hail damage by stating that the damages are of a functional nature. If your roof has 7+ hail impacts per 100 sq ft, you may qualify for insurance-covered replacement. Call Northern Generations Construction at (414) 412-6257, We serve Milwaukee, Waukesha, and surrounding WI areas for a professional inspection today.

Proactive Measures for Future Hail Damage- short bullet points

• Installing durable materials such as impact-resistant shingles for future hailstorms
• Ensure protective guidelines to enhance shingle health
• Conduct annual residential inspection to ascertain roof health and damage.
• Reinforce the roofing structure-flashings, vents, to face future storms