Filing a hail damage roof claim in Virginia, step by step

Step one, make it safe and stop the water

Temporary protection comes first. Tarping an open area or covering an interior leak is reasonable emergency mitigation, and policies generally expect you to do it. Keep every receipt and photograph the work before and after.

Do not have permanent repairs done before the insurer has inspected, because that removes the evidence the claim depends on.

Step two, fix the date of the storm

Claims turn on whether damage came from a specific event. The National Weather Service and the NOAA Storm Events Database both publish hail reports by date and location, which is exactly the kind of independent record an adjuster can verify.

Step three, document what hail actually does

Hail bruising on asphalt shingles looks like soft, dark circles where granules have been knocked away and the mat beneath is exposed. Supporting evidence usually appears on softer surfaces before the roof does.

• Dents in gutters, downspouts, fascia and metal vent caps
• Dings on air conditioning condenser fins
• Spatter marks on painted surfaces and window sills
• Damaged screens, siding or deck boards on the same elevation
• Bruised shingles with exposed mat, photographed with something for scale

Step four, file and stay organised

Report the loss to your insurer, note the claim number, and keep one folder with the storm record, your photographs, the contractor's written inspection, all emergency work receipts and every piece of correspondence.

Be careful with anyone who knocks on your door after a storm. Verify the licence in the DPOR lookup, never pay a large deposit up front, and never sign a document that assigns your insurance benefits to the contractor unless you fully understand what you are giving up.