Hail roof damage is one of the most frequent and expensive roofing problems experienced by homeowners and commercial property owners alike throughout Canada. Extreme weather events such as Alberta’s heavy hail storms and Ontario’s summer thunderstorms can result in extensive damage to shingle roofs, metal roofs, flashing, and the components underneath the roof.
If your roof has sustained hail damage in Canada, understanding how your roof has been affected will help you prepare an accurate roofing and hail damage report for your insurance claims. This guide covers how hail damages roofs and the signs of hail damage, how to submit insurance claims for hail damage, and how professional roof measurement and inspection services, such as those provided by roofmeasuring.com, can help you increase the chances of receiving claim approval from your insurer.
Table of Contents
Understanding Hail Roof Damage in Canada
Hail storms occurring frequently in Canada, especially across Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and portions of Ontario, provide an ongoing challenge to homeowners. Severe hail storms occur every year in cities like Calgary and Edmonton, causing extensive damage to roofs and siding.
How Hail Damages a Roof
Hailstones can be large ranging from a size of pea sized pellet to the size of a golf ball or even a baseball, and hail roof damage will also vary depending on the:
- Size and density of the hail stones
- The direction of the wind and how much the wind is blowing
- Age and material of the roof
- Slope of the roof and how protected from wind it has been
Some examples of some of the damage you may have experienced on your roof due to hail include:
- Cracked or bruised Asphalt (Shingles)
- Granule loss (on the Shingles)
- Dents (in Metal Roofing)
- Broken Roof Tiles
- Damaged Flashing, Pipe Boots, or Vents
- Soft spots (on a Flat Roof’s Membrane)
- Exposed Fiberglass Mat
If hail damage is not repaired, it can eventually cause leaks, as well as molding and structural issues to the roof and insulation issues associated with the roof.
Why Hail Roof Damage Is a Serious Insurance Matter
Most Canadian homeowner insurance policies provide coverage for hail roof damage caused by a sudden and unexpected event, but insurance companies will only settle your claim if you have sufficient evidence to back it up. If you do not have a professional inspection along with an accurate report of the dimensions of your roof then there is a possibility that your claim will be:
- Delayed
- Denied
- Partial payment
- Underpayment
That is why having an accurate report from a qualified professional will be valuable when submitting your claim to the insurance company.
Signs of Hail Roof Damage You Should Never Ignore
If you experience a hailstorm, you won’t always be able to see roof damage right away from the ground. Here are the most frequent indicators of hail damage:
1. Granule Loss
The asphalt shingles on your roof have granules that provide protection from the weather; a hail impact can knock many of them off, leaving the shingle’s underlying mat exposed and resulting in a faster deterioration of that section of your roof.
2. Circular Bruises/Dents
Hail will leave circular, dark spots all over the top surface of your roofing shingles.
3. Soft Spots on Shingles
When you lightly poke the shingle that was hit by hail, it may feel spongy to the touch.
4. Cracked/Split Shingles
Large hail will completely crack shingles.
5. Damaged Gutters/Downspouts
If you see dented aluminum gutters, they likely have been hit by hail as well as any roofs above.
6. Interior Water Stains
If a leak occurs after a hailstorm, there is likely undocumented damage to your roof.
Insurance Roof Report for Claims: What It Includes
A hail damage insurance roof report must be professional, accurate, and detailed. This is because the insurance adjusters depend greatly on this documentation to determine whether to approve the claim or calculate the total amount of the claim.
Normally the following is included in a complete roof report:
- The total area of the roof in square footage
- The pitch/slope of the roof
- The type of roofing material
- A thorough assessment of all damage
- Photographic evidence of the damage
- Marked damage locations
- Replacement cost estimates
- Line-item breakdown for materials and labor
Contractors and property owners can use roofmeasuring.com to obtain accurate digital measuring of their roofs to assist them in submitting a professional, data-supported insurance claim.
The Roof Insurance Claim Process in Canada
Understanding the claim process can prevent costly mistakes.
Step 1: Inspecting your roof after the storm
Make sure you keep a record of any visible damages immediately.
Step 2: Contacting your insurance provider
Immediately report the hail damage on your roof (and whether or not you have coverage).
Step 3: Getting a professional inspection on your roof
Hire an experienced roofing inspector or contractor to assess the damage caused by hail.
Step 4: Preparing an insurance report for your roof
Prepare a complete and accurate measuring report to provide to the insurer.
Step 5: Meeting with an insurance adjuster
Once the roof inspection has been completed, an adjuster will visit your property to inspect it, verify any damages and evaluate your overall claim.
Step 6: Insurance claim payment and settlement
If the damage has been verified by the insurance company’s adjuster, you will receive a payment for either your repairs or the replacement of your roof.
Accurate roof measurement reports play an important role in helping to determine the final amount of money received from an insurance company as compensation.
Why Accurate Roof Measurement Matters in Hail Damage Claims
Roofing companies base their payments on:
- Area of the roof
- How many “squares” are involved
- The difficulty of roofing
- The material of the roofing
- The waste factor.
Even a small mistake in measuring the roof can cost the roofing company thousands in claim payouts.
Professional measurement services provide:
- Accurate measurements through aerial photography
- Accurate calculations for the slope of the roof
- Accurate takeoffs for materials used
- Reduced disputes on claims.
This is vital in high-claim areas like Toronto and Winnipeg, where a hailstorm has impacted an entire block or neighbourhood.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make After Hail Roof Damage
Stay away from making mistakes that will drain your bank account. Some of the most common and expensive mistakes include:
- Taking your time to file a claim
- Climbing onto your roof without using any safety equipment
- Accepting the first low settlement provided by an insurance company
- Failing to get a second professional inspection of your roof after the storm
- Measuring your roof incorrectly
- Ignoring small amounts of hail damage
Types of Roofing Materials and Hail Resistance
Different types of roofing react differently when struck by Hail.
Asphalt shingles
Most prevalent roofing system in Canada. Susceptible to bruising and losing granules.
Metal Roofing
More resistant to impact; however, there is a chance of denting.
Cedar Shakes
Under large hail impact can contain splits or cracks.
Tile Roofing
Ultimately very durable; however will crack upon impact of large hail stones.
Hail Storm Hotspots in Canada
Some geographic locations have experienced a higher number of hailstorms than other geographic locations.
- Hail capital of Canada: Calgary
- Red Deer
- Regina
- Ottawa
Property owners located within these areas should have routine inspections of their roofs scheduled after significant storm damage.
How Contractors Use Roof Measurement Reports for Claims
The roofing contractor uses professional digital measuring services to ascertain:
- The exact amount of material needed to cover the roofing system
- Prepare accurate estimates for repairing the roofing system
- Prepare reports for the insurance company
- To not bid too low or too high on the project
- Speed up the insurance approval process
Roofers now have access to accurate information related to roofing systems through roofmeasuring.com’s digital measurement services, including:
- Annotated digital diagrams of the roof
- Slope-adjusted measurements
- Lengths of eaves, ridges and valleys
- Calculating waste
This improves the contractors ability to negotiate with their insurance adjusters.
What Insurance Companies Look For in Hail Roof Damage Claims
Insurance providers evaluate:
- date of storm
- extent of damage
- consistency of damage
- age of roof
- maintenance history
- evidence of pre-existing damage
Use of clear digital photos and accurate measurements together improves the insurer’s ability to rely on the claim.
Benefits of Professional Roof Inspection Services
Hiring professionals provides:
- Safety compliance
- Drone inspection technology
- Thermal imaging (for hidden moisture)
- Detailed reporting
- Claim negotiation support
Professional documentation often results in higher claim approval rates.
How RoofMeasuring.com Supports Insurance Claims
With accurate aerial roof measurement services through RoofMeasuring.com, contractors & homeowners can:
- Create an Insurance Ready Roof Report
- Provide a precise Square Footage for the Roof
- Minimize Claim Disputes
- Shorten Approval Timelines
- Maximize the Accuracy of Payouts
With professional measurement data, you can be confident that you are supporting your hail roof damage claim with accurate measurements.
Preventing Future Hail Roof Damage
There’s no way of preventing hail from damaging your roof, however you can reduce your risk by doing these things:
- Impact-resistant shingle installation
- Yearly roof inspections
- Ongoing maintenance for gutters and flashings
- Replace last roof before it has a chance to fail
- Maintain all records associated with roofing maintenance
You may qualify for a discount on your insurance by utilizing impact-rated roofing products.
Final Thoughts: Protect Your Property from Hail Roof Damage
In Canada, roof damage caused by hail storms is an urgent matter that requires immediate attention as well as proper documentation. Accurate measurements and documentation of the damaged roof are required by contractors who have multiple projects with numerous insurance companies or homeowners who are attempting to file a claim.
An Accurate Roof Report for an Insurance Claim Will Improve Your Chance of Being Fairly Compensated for Your Roof Damaged by Hail. You can use Roofmeasuring.com to obtain the professional roof measurement services necessary to ultimately improve your claims process for any roof damaged by hail. By using this type of service, you can ensure accuracy, compliance, and expedite the approval process for your claim.
FAQs
1. How do I know if my roof has hail roof damage?
Missing granules, dark spots where hail has hit, cracks or breaks in the shingles, and dents in the vents and/or leaks inside the house occur after a hail storm.
2. Is hail roof damage covered by insurance in Canada?
Yes, most house insurance policies in Canada cover rain storm damage to your roof, as long as it is fast and caused by things that can’t be avoided, such as exposure to weather elements or wear over time.
3. How long do I have to file a hail roof damage claim?
Most people have 6 to 12 months to file a claim on their insurance policy for hail damage, depending on the terms of their individual policy.
4. Should I repair or replace my roof after hail damage?
Most cases of hail will result in very little damage to the roof, so the roof will typically get repaired. Conversely, in cases where there is more widespread damage from hail, your insurance company typically will pay the full amount of a new roof.
5. Does hail roof damage cause leaks immediately?
Not all the time. Damage to the roof from hail can weaken the shingles so that it takes weeks or months for any leaking to occur due to repair delays.
