How to Document Hail Damage Before Your Adjuster Arrives
The window right after a hailstorm matters more than most homeowners realize. Hail bruising on a shingle is a soft, granule-stripped spot that's easy to miss even up close, and it gets harder to prove the longer it sits, exposed to sun and the next rain. What you document in the first day or two, before the insurance adjuster's visit, often decides how much of your roof actually gets covered.
Here's what to do, and just as important, what to leave to professionals like Emmendorfer Exteriors.
Start on the ground, not on the ladder
Climbing onto a storm-damaged roof yourself is not worth the risk it carries, and it isn't necessary for the documentation that actually helps your claim. A roof surface that just took hail and wind can hide loose shingles, weakened decking, and slick spots you won't see until you're already on them.
The damage that matters most for a hail claim, granule loss and shingle bruising, is also genuinely difficult to assess accurately from a photo you took yourself standing on a pitched roof; it's a soft-spot test done by feel, which is exactly why contractors get on the roof and homeowners generally shouldn't. Your job in the first hours after a storm is to document everything visible from the ground and from safe vantage points, and then get a professional inspection scheduled before you file.
What to photograph and record right away
Time-stamp everything. Turn on your phone's location and date stamp, or simply photograph a local news broadcast, weather app screen, or a dated newspaper alongside your damage photos. Insurers need a specific date of loss, and pinning your damage to the correct storm date is one of the most common points of dispute in a claim.
Gutters and downspouts. Granule loss from hail-damaged shingles washes into the gutter system and collects at downspout outlets and splash blocks. A pile of asphalt granules in your gutter is strong corroborating evidence of shingle damage even before anyone gets on the roof, and it's easy and safe to photograph from a stepladder at the gutter line or from the ground with a zoom lens.
Soft metal: vents, flashing, downspouts, AC unit fins. Hail dents soft metal before it visibly damages shingles, so dented roof vents, gutter aprons, downspouts, and even the fins on an outdoor air conditioning unit are useful, unambiguous proof that hail of a damaging size actually hit your property.
Siding and window screens. Impact marks on vinyl or fiber-cement siding, and torn or dented window screens, tell the same story as the roof damage above them and require no ladder at all.
Vehicles and outdoor property. If your car, deck furniture, or grill show hail dents, photograph those too. They corroborate hailstone size, which matters if a carrier later disputes whether the storm was severe enough to damage asphalt shingles, generally accepted to require hail around one inch in diameter or larger.
Interior signs. A ceiling stain, a damp spot in the attic, or daylight visible at a roof seam from inside the attic all indicate water intrusion has already started. Photograph these and note when you first noticed them, since a claim can sometimes trace back to a storm date weeks or months earlier than when the interior damage became visible.
A written, dated log. Keep a simple note, even just in your phone, of the storm date, what you noticed and when, and every phone call you make from that point forward, including who you spoke with and what was discussed.
What comes next: get a professional roof inspection before you call your insurer
This is the step that changes outcomes. A written, photographed inspection from a roofing contractor, done on the actual roof surface, creates independent evidence of the full damage scope before an adjuster forms an opinion of their own. Adjusters working a busy route after a widespread storm event are moving fast, and hail bruising that requires kneeling on a shingle to feel is exactly the kind of damage that gets missed or written off from a quick pass.
Missouri homeowners also have the right to have their own contractor present when the insurance adjuster inspects the roof. That inspection is effectively the one moment the full scope of damage gets set, so having someone on the roof who works for you, not for the carrier, matters more than almost any other single step in the process.
Filing timeline: you likely have more time than you think
Most Missouri homeowner policies require a claim to be filed within roughly one year of the date of loss, which is more forgiving than most people assume. A homeowner who first notices a ceiling stain months after a spring hailstorm often still has a window to file, provided the damage can be tied to the correct storm date. That's exactly why time-stamped documentation matters as much right after the storm as it does months later if a slower leak develops.
A quick reference: what to document and how
| What to check | How to document it safely | Why it matters to your claim |
|---|---|---|
| Gutters and downspouts | Photograph granule piles from a stepladder or zoom lens | Corroborates shingle damage before roof inspection |
| Roof vents and flashing | Photograph dents from ground level or upper windows | Proves hail size without climbing the roof |
| Siding and screens | Photograph impact marks at eye level | Independent evidence, no ladder needed |
| Vehicles and outdoor items | Photograph dents same day | Corroborates hailstone size for the claim |
| Attic and ceilings | Photograph stains, damp spots, daylight at seams | Establishes water intrusion timeline |
| Storm date and time | Screenshot weather app or news broadcast | Ties damage to the correct date of loss |
| Every call and conversation | Keep a dated written log | Protects you if adjusters or reps change |
| The roof surface itself | Leave to a licensed contractor | Accurate hail bruising assessment; avoids fall risk |
Frequently asked questions
Should I get on my own roof to check for hail damage?
No. Hail bruising is difficult to assess accurately even for a trained eye, and a storm-damaged roof can hide loose shingles and weakened decking that create a real fall risk. Document everything visible from the ground and schedule a professional inspection for the roof surface itself.
What does hail damage actually look like on a shingle?
The most common sign is bruising, a soft, granule-stripped spot on the shingle surface that's often invisible from a distance and has to be checked by feel. Other signs include granule accumulation in gutters, creased or wind-lifted shingles, and dented soft metal like vents and flashing.
Should I call my insurance company or a roofer first after a storm?
Call a contractor for an inspection first. A documented, photographed report from a roofer creates independent evidence of the full damage scope before an adjuster forms an opinion, which strengthens your position once you do file.
How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in Missouri?
Most Missouri homeowner policies require filing within roughly one year of the date of loss. Damage discovered months after a storm, such as a ceiling stain from a slow leak, can often still be claimed if it's tied to the correct storm date.
Can I have my contractor present when the insurance adjuster inspects my roof?
Yes. Missouri homeowners have the right to have their roofing contractor present at the adjuster inspection, and it's one of the most effective steps in the entire claims process, since that visit is typically when the dollar scope of the claim gets set.
What if my documentation and the adjuster's assessment don't match?
That's common, and it's exactly what a supplement is for. If the approved scope misses damage your contractor documented, your contractor can send photos and a written comparison back to the carrier and request the scope be revised. This back-and-forth is a normal part of the process, not a sign your claim failed.
If a storm just hit your roof
Emmendorfer Exteriors handles this exact process for homeowners across Franklin County. Tom Emmendorfer gets on the actual roof, documents every bruised shingle and soft spot with photos, files the claim, and meets your adjuster on site to make sure nothing gets missed. See our full Missouri roof insurance claim guide, or check our Franklin County hail and wind storm history to confirm whether a specific storm date matches your damage. For a free inspection, request your estimate.
A real Emmendorfer walks your actual roof and gives you a firm written price. Family-owned since 1990.