The 5 Hail & Storm Claim Questions We Hear Most In Colorado

What should you do first after a hailstorm, and what does an insurance claim actually cost you? Short answer: start with a free professional roof inspection before you call your insurance company, and if your claim is approved, your out-of-pocket cost is usually limited to your deductible, commonly $2,500 to $5,000 for wind and hail in Colorado. Here are the five questions we hear most, and honest answers to each.

I am Patrick Knackendoffel, founder of WestPro Home Exteriors. We have handled the storm claim process thousands of times for homeowners across the Front Range, and these are the questions that come up again and again after a big storm. Here is how we answer them.

What Should I Do First After a Hailstorm?

Get a professional inspection. A good roofer will get on the roof, take pictures, show you what they found, and make an informed recommendation. If a claim makes sense, they will help you through the whole process.

We have done this thousands of times for homeowners across Longmont, Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins, Loveland, Erie, Firestone, and the surrounding Front Range. The inspection is free, and we will give you an honest assessment of whether a claim is even appropriate.

If emergency tarping of your roof is necessary, we coordinate that immediately after the inspection, because we want your home protected while you go through the claim and repair process. The cost of roof tarping is typically around $300 and is frequently covered by your insurance claim, though we will also commonly tarp roofs for free just to help our customers.

How Do I Know If My Roof Has Hail Damage If I Cannot See Anything From the Ground?

Most hail damage is not visible from the ground, which is exactly why so many damaged roofs go unaddressed until the leaks start.

A trained inspector looks for dented soft metals on the roof, vent caps, and flashing, along with circular bruising patterns on the shingle surface where the fiberglass mat has fractured beneath the granules. That bruising is the real damage, and it is nearly impossible to see from the driveway.

There is one sign you can spot from the ground: if the granules, the little rocks that coat your shingles, are washing out of your gutters and downspouts, that is often an indicator of hail damage.

We always offer free inspections and will document everything with close-up photos for you and your insurance company.

My Insurance Company Denied My Roofing Claim. Now What?

Do not assume that denial is final.

We help reverse denied roofing claims all the time, and we have a disciplined process that works. Depending on the situation, that may include requesting a reinspection with additional documentation, engineering reports, additional claim estimating, or pursuing an insurance appraisal or public adjusting when it is warranted. We have those resources available.

Our current success rate is about 96% approval on previously denied roofing claims.

So if your claim was denied and you believe the damage is real, call us. We will inspect the roof, review the denial, and walk you through your options. The inspection is free.

How Long Do I Have to File a Claim After a Storm in Colorado?

Speaking from experience as a roofing contractor, most Colorado homeowner insurance policies require you to file within one year of the storm event, though it varies widely by carrier and your specific policy.

Earlier is always better. Damage can worsen over time, and your documentation is fresher when the roof is inspected sooner. We recommend scheduling an inspection within the first few weeks after a significant hailstorm. If damage is confirmed, file your claim promptly and then let us handle the process from there.

And yes, we work directly with your insurance company. We will even meet the adjuster on site when necessary and handle the supplement process, so the paperwork burden is off of you.

What Does It Actually Cost Me Out of Pocket to File a Claim?

The inspection is free. If your insurance claim is approved, your out-of-pocket cost is typically limited to your insurance deductible, which is commonly around $2,500 to $5,000 for wind and hail in Colorado, although we still see some $1,000 deductibles.

The remainder of the approved scope of work, everything above your deductible, is covered by your insurance carrier. We bill the insurance company directly for that covered work, and there is no upfront cost for the inspection, documentation, or claims assistance.

You do not pay us until the work is done and the insurance company has paid.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is hail damage always visible from the ground?

No. Most hail damage cannot be seen from the ground. The telltale bruising happens on the shingle surface where the mat fractures beneath the granules. One ground-level clue is granules washing out of your gutters and downspouts.

Can a denied roofing claim be reversed?

Often, yes. A denial is not necessarily final. Through reinspections, additional documentation, engineering reports, appraisal, or public adjusting, we reverse denied claims regularly, with about a 96% success rate on previously denied roofing claims.

How long do I have to file a hail claim in Colorado?

Most Colorado policies require filing within one year of the storm, but it varies by carrier and policy. Sooner is always better, both because damage worsens and because documentation is fresher.

What will a roof claim cost me out of pocket?

Usually just your deductible, commonly $2,500 to $5,000 for wind and hail in Colorado, though some policies still have $1,000 deductibles. Your carrier covers the approved scope above the deductible, and we bill them directly.

Do I have to pay for the inspection?

No. Our inspections are free, including documentation and claims assistance, and you do not pay for the work until it is complete and your insurance has paid.