Hail Damage Roof Repair
Documented. Claim-Aligned. Honest.
Most hail damage isn't visible from the ground. We walk the roof, document what's actually there, attend your adjuster's inspection, and complete repair to claim scope. We don't chase claims that aren't there — and we don't inflate the ones that are.
Why Hail Damage Gets Missed
The Damage You Can't See Until You Walk the Roof
Hail damage is the most common storm-damage claim type we handle in the LA, AR, KS, North TX, and AL markets — and it's also the most commonly missed by homeowners and undersold by inexperienced adjusters. The visible signs from the ground (dented vents, granules in the gutter, damaged satellite dish) are real but misleading: they're a small fraction of what's actually present on the roof.
A 1.5-inch hail stone striking a shingle leaves a circular bruise — granules displaced, asphalt mat compromised, surface compromised in a 1–2 inch ring. From the ground, that bruise is invisible. From a drone at typical residential photography altitude, often invisible. Only on physical roof walk-down with close-up inspection does the bruise pattern become clear. And the bruise pattern is what supports a clean insurance claim.
The other thing homeowners miss: hail-damaged shingles often don't leak immediately. The compromised asphalt mat continues to shed water for months — but UV exposure and temperature cycling progressively widen the damage, and eventually the section fails. By that point, the storm event has aged out of the claim filing window, and the homeowner is paying out of pocket for damage that should have been a covered claim. Post-storm inspection inside the filing window prevents that scenario.
Brown's Roofing post-hail inspection is free, takes 45–90 minutes, and produces a written report with photographs you can use whether or not you ultimately file a claim. We document every damage point with the format adjusters and carriers recognize. We don't inflate scopes for marginal damage — but we don't leave documentable damage off the scope either.
Why Our Hail Work Is Different
We Don't Chase Hail Claims
We don't door-knock neighborhoods after hail events. We document what's actually present and let carriers pay what's actually owed. Filing claims for non-existent or borderline damage hurts homeowner insurability long-term.
Before-and-After Documentation
Where homeowners have been on a maintenance program with us, we have pre-storm baseline photographs and inspection records. The before-and-after comparison is the strongest possible claim documentation — and resolves carrier disputes about pre-existing condition vs. storm-caused damage.
Adjuster Inspection Attendance
We attend the adjuster's on-site inspection at no charge — walk the roof with the adjuster, ensure the full damage scope is captured, and supply our supporting documentation. Adjusters scoping alone routinely miss damage we've documented.
Class 4 Upgrade Economics
Hail-claim replacements are the natural moment to upgrade to Class 4 impact-rated shingles. We pull your carrier's discount eligibility before quoting; the upgrade typically pays back through ongoing insurance discounts within 4–7 years and protects the next roof from the next hail event.
Manufacturer-Certified Repair
We hold GAF Certified Contractor, Owens Corning Platinum Preferred, CertainTeed SELECT ShingleMaster, and IKO ROOFPRO Select certifications — replacement to claim scope maintains manufacturer warranty validity rather than voiding it. Critical because hail-claim work often spans full roof replacement.
Insurance-Aware Documentation
Our hail inspection reports use the documentation format adjusters and carriers expect — photographs with measurement scale, slope-by-slope strike counts, severity notation, and written observation. The carrier's job becomes confirming our scope rather than building from scratch.
Local Crews, Permanent Offices
Six offices, state-licensed, fully insured, locally based. After hail events, opportunistic out-of-state contractors fan out through impacted neighborhoods; many disappear before warranty calls. We're still here.
FORTIFIED Bundle Opportunity
Hail-claim replacement is also the natural moment to add FORTIFIED designation. Louisiana Fortify Homes Program grants up to $10,000 can subsidize the FORTIFIED differential. Combined with Class 4, deepest insurance discount stack available.
After Hail in Your Area
- 1.Verify hail in your zip code (NOAA storm-events database)
- 2.Schedule a free post-hail inspection — within 30–60 days
- 3.Get our written documentation report
- 4.File your claim with your carrier (or decide not to)
- 5.Ask us to attend the adjuster's inspection
- 6.Complete repair to claim scope + optional Class 4 / FORTIFIED
Claim filing window expiring?
Most carriers have 30–365 day windows. Inspection within the window protects your right to file even if you decide to delay the actual claim filing.
Insurance Claims Process →What Hail Damage Looks Like
Six Signs of Hail-Damaged Roofing
Some signs are visible from the ground; most require roof-level inspection. We capture all six on every post-hail assessment.
Round Bruise Pattern on Shingles
Hail strikes leave circular impact marks on asphalt shingle surfaces, typically 0.5–2 inches across. The granule layer is displaced, exposing the asphalt mat beneath. Often visible only on close inspection — and most homeowners don't catch it from the ground.
Granule Loss in Gutters & Downspouts
Heavy granule accumulation in gutters or at downspout discharge points immediately after a hail event is one of the strongest indicators of widespread damage. The granules came off shingle surfaces during impact; the gutters caught what washed off in the storm.
Soft Spots on Walked Roofs
When walking the roof during inspection, hail-damaged shingles develop subtle soft spots where the asphalt mat has been compromised. Felt only on physical inspection; not visible from the ground or from drone photography in many cases.
Damaged Vents, Caps & Metal
Aluminum gutters, downspouts, vent stacks, satellite dishes, and ridge caps show direct hail impact more visibly than shingles. Dented metal is often the first thing a homeowner notices — and the carrier's adjuster will check these before going to the shingles.
Cracked or Displaced Tiles
On clay or concrete tile roofs, hail strikes from 1.5"+ stones can crack individual tiles even though the underlying underlayment may still be intact. Cracked tiles, slipped courses, and broken hip tiles all qualify as documentable damage on a tile-roof claim.
Damaged Skylights & Solar Panels
Skylight glazing and solar PV panels are tested to specific impact ratings; severe hail can crack glazing or shatter panels. Documented and claim-eligible damage that's often missed on initial homeowner inspection because it requires roof-level access to confirm.
Our Inspection Scope
What We Document Post-Hail
Six-step inspection scope on every post-hail visit. The output is a written report formatted for insurance-claim use.
Visual Roof Walk
We walk every accessible slope of the roof, document hail strikes with photographs (close-up + reference scale), count and locate strikes by slope, and assess the granule retention pattern. Most documentation happens here — what the carrier's adjuster will eventually see.
Granule Loss Assessment
Gutter and downspout discharge inspection captures granule accumulation evidence. We collect samples for documentation and compare against pre-storm granule signatures (when available from prior maintenance reports).
Metal Component Inspection
Vents, downspouts, satellite mounts, ridge caps, and exposed metal flashings inspected for impact dimpling. These often show damage more clearly than shingles and serve as confirming evidence on borderline claims.
Skylight & Solar Verification
Skylight glazing and solar PV panels checked for cracking, hairline fractures, or impact damage. Often missed on homeowner self-inspection; we capture as part of standard scope.
Soft-Touch Roof Survey
Roof-level walking inspection identifies hail-damaged shingles that visually appear intact but have soft spots from impact-compromised asphalt mats. Critical for capturing damage that adjusters scoping from the ground might miss.
Written Damage Report
All findings documented in a written report with photographs, slope-by-slope damage counts, severity classification, and recommended scope. Submitted to the homeowner; can be provided to insurance carrier as supporting evidence on claim filing.
Pairs With
Related Storm-Damage Resources
Insurance Claims
Six-step claim process from documentation through repair. Adjuster meeting attendance, scope-dispute handling.
Learn more →
Class 4 Shingle Upgrade
Hail-claim replacements are the natural moment to upgrade to Class 4. Insurance discounts pay back the differential in 4–7 years.
Learn more →
FORTIFIED Roof
Combine hail-claim replacement with FORTIFIED designation for the deepest insurance discount stack. LFHP grants subsidize the upgrade.
Learn more →
FAQ
Hail Damage FAQ
- Common signs visible from the ground: dented metal vents, downspouts, or gutters; granule accumulation in gutters; visible damage to satellite dishes or skylight frames. Less visible signs require roof-level inspection: round bruise marks on shingles, soft spots underfoot, displaced ridge caps, cracked tiles. Hail damage frequently goes undetected for months after the storm because most homeowners can't safely access the roof — by which time the claim filing window may be expiring. Brown's Roofing offers free post-hail inspections.
- Most homeowners insurance policies require claims to be filed within 30–365 days of the date of loss, depending on carrier and state. Louisiana, Texas, and Florida have specific statutes for storm-related claim filing windows. The practical advice: document and file as soon as you safely can after a major hail event. Delayed filings can be denied for "failure to mitigate further damage" if the carrier argues the homeowner allowed deterioration to compound. We can document immediately even before you're ready to file.
- Depends on damage scope and carrier scope rules. Many carriers operate under "matching shingle" provisions — if a documentable percentage of slopes have damage that requires replacement, the entire slope (and sometimes adjacent slopes) gets replaced for visual consistency. State law in some jurisdictions (e.g., Louisiana matching law) requires this. Other carriers may scope only the visibly damaged area. We document slope-by-slope so the conversation with the adjuster is grounded in evidence; we don't inflate scopes but we don't leave damage off the scope either.
- In most cases, yes. Class 4 shingles add 4–6% to project cost (pure upgrade differential, not the full project) and qualify for 20–35% homeowners insurance premium discounts on the wind/hail portion. Payback is typically 4–7 years. Insurance carriers in hail-prone markets (KS, AR, North TX, LA) are increasingly favorable to Class 4 underwriting. We pull your carrier's specific Class 4 discount eligibility before quoting so the after-discount math is real.
- If you have documented hail in your zip code (verifiable on NOAA storm-events database) and your carrier's adjuster denies damage we've documented, the typical paths are: (1) request a re-inspection with our documentation submitted as supporting evidence, (2) hire a public adjuster for a second professional opinion, or (3) escalate through the carrier's appeal process. We can provide professional contractor estimates and observations that often resolve disputes informally; for formal escalation, public adjusters and storm-claim attorneys are the right path.
- Costs depend on damage scope and whether replacement vs. repair is the appropriate scope. Spot repair of localized hail damage is the lowest tier; slope replacement (one or two slopes) is mid-tier; full roof replacement (most common for widespread hail) is the largest scope, with metal and tile pricing higher than asphalt. Insurance-claim funding typically covers most or all of replacement scope minus your deductible — homeowners often pay only the deductible plus elected upgrades. We provide a written estimate after damage assessment.
- After major hail events (1.5"+ stones documented in your area), yes — and ideally within 30–60 days of the event before claim filing windows tighten. Hail damage frequently isn't visible from the ground; we've documented claim-worthy damage on roofs the homeowner thought were undamaged. Inspection is free, takes 45–90 minutes, and produces a written report you can use whether or not you ultimately file a claim.
Hail Damage Response in Your Market
Free Assessment
After a Hail Storm? Get Inspected.
Free post-hail inspection within 30–60 days of the event. Written documentation report. Adjuster meeting attendance at no charge. We don't chase claims.