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Photograph the damage from the ground with dates, stop any leak, check your wind/hail deductible (often 1% to 5% of dwelling coverage), report the claim promptly, get an independent estimate before the adjuster visits, supplement anything missed in writing, then invoice the finished work to release the held-back depreciation.
Source: Insurance Information Institute, Background on: Hurricane and windstorm deductibles
A hail claim goes best when the evidence is gathered before anyone climbs on the roof and the insurer is told promptly. Hail of 1 inch or larger is what the National Weather Service calls severe, and it can bruise or crack asphalt shingles, especially older ones; smaller hail still dents gutters and vents. The order that works: confirm a storm hit your area, photograph from the ground, stop any leak, read the deductible and settlement lines on your policy, report the claim, get an independent inspection and estimate, meet the adjuster, check the insurer's estimate line by line, supplement what is missing in writing, then finish the work and send the invoice to release the held-back depreciation. Deadlines are set by your policy and your state.
Before step 5, put your numbers through the roof insurance claim calculator: with a percentage deductible, a small hail claim can pay little or nothing.
Your policy sets most of the clock. Read the 'Duties after loss' condition and any limit on how long you have to sue. Some states also set deadlines for the insurer.
| Deadline | Who | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Report the loss | You | 'Prompt notice' on the standard HO 3 form. Waiting makes it harder to tie the damage to a storm. Florida sets one year from the date of loss for a new or reopened claim and 18 months for a supplemental claim (§627.70132). |
| Proof of loss | You | Within 60 days after the insurer asks for it, on the standard HO 3 form. |
| Claim the replacement cost | You | Tell the insurer within 180 days after the loss that you intend to claim the extra replacement cost, on the standard HO 3 form; the money is paid when the work is done. |
| Acknowledge and decide (Texas) | Insurer | Acknowledge within 15 days of notice, accept or reject within 15 business days of receiving what it asked for (extendable by 45 days), pay within 5 business days of accepting; deadlines can extend 15 days after a weather catastrophe (Insurance Code Chapter 542). |
| Pay or deny (Florida) | Insurer | Within 60 days of receiving notice of the claim, unless factors beyond its control prevent it (§627.70131). |
| Situation | Call first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Water coming in | A roofer for a temporary repair, then the insurer | Preventing further damage is your duty under the policy, and the insurer pays reasonable emergency repair costs. |
| Not sure there is damage | A roofer or independent inspector | A free or low-cost inspection tells you whether there is a claim before it goes on your record. See the roof inspection cost calculator. |
| Clear damage across slopes | The insurer, the same day | Report promptly, then book your own inspection before the adjuster's visit. |
| Damage close to the deductible | A roofer for a repair price | Run it through the claim calculator; a claim may pay little. |
| Adjuster's estimate looks short | Your roofer, then the adjuster in writing | A supplement with photos and line items is the normal way to correct it. |
Hail claims are concentrated in the Plains. NOAA's Storm Prediction Center recorded 5,432 hail events with stones of 1 inch or larger in 2025, led by Texas (902), Kansas (375) and Oklahoma (369), according to the Insurance Information Institute's hail statistics.
The National Weather Service treats hail of 1 inch (quarter size) as severe. The UL 2218 impact test behind Class 1 to Class 4 shingle ratings drops steel balls of 1.25, 1.5, 1.75 and 2 inches, so hail at or above the ball size a shingle was tested with can crack it. The hail damage roof calculator compares the hail you saw with your shingles' rating; if you replace the roof, Class 4 impact-resistant shingles can earn a premium discount in some hail states. Ask your agent.
Photograph the damage from the ground with dates, stop any leak, read your deductible and settlement type, report the claim to your insurer, get an independent itemised estimate, attend the adjuster's inspection, supplement anything missed in writing, then finish the work and invoice to release the held-back depreciation.
Your policy sets it; the standard HO 3 form asks for prompt notice, and some policies and states set a fixed limit. Florida allows one year from the date of loss for a new claim (§627.70132). Report as soon as you find damage, while it can still be tied to the storm.
If water is coming in, a roofer for a temporary repair, then the insurer. If you are unsure there is damage, a roofer or inspector first. If damage is obvious, report to the insurer the same day and book your own inspection before the adjuster arrives.
The usual reasons are damage judged cosmetic or pre-existing wear, a date of loss that does not match a storm, damage below the deductible, or late notice. Ask for the reason in writing, compare it with your photos and a contractor's estimate, and use a written supplement or the appraisal clause.
It can, though weather claims are often treated differently from other claims, and practice varies by carrier and state. Claims are recorded in the C.L.U.E. database insurers check. Ask your agent how your carrier treats one weather claim before filing a small one.
Reviewed . Educational information, not insurance or legal advice: your policy wording, your carrier's schedules and your state's rules decide a real claim.