Commercial Hail Damage Checklist

The 12-Point Checklist

1. Date and time of the hail event - as close as your records allow. Carriers cross-reference NOAA SPC data.
2. Estimated hail size - penny, nickel, quarter, or larger. Photos with a coin for scale if possible.
3. Wind speed during event - from local forecast or NOAA archive.
4. Granules in gutters - photos of downspout exits; gutter debris.
5. Dented metal flashings - gutter fronts, vent caps, roof-perimeter metal.
6. HVAC unit damage - bent fins, dented panels - these support timeline.
7. Siding and window damage - corroborates storm path and intensity.
8. Interior water signs - new stains, bubbling paint, water in HVAC drip pans.
9. Skylight damage - cracked or chipped domes.
10. Downspout and gutter separation - wind co-damage indicator.
11. Neighboring property damage - corroborates storm intensity at your location.
12. Pre-event photos (if any) - any prior roof photos in your records.

What You Still Need a Roofer For

A thorough roof-surface inspection requires safe roof access, hail- impact recognition (indentations in flat membranes, mat bruising in shingles), and photo-keyed documentation that holds up with adjusters.

Timing

Filing sooner is always better. Hail damage weathers. Indentations become harder to photograph cleanly. Gutters clear. Call for an inspection within days of the event, not weeks.

What Not To Do

• Don't climb the roof without fall protection
• Don't start repairs before the adjuster's inspection
• Don't sign an AOB (Assignment of Benefits) without reviewing it