What does a hail damage insurance claim cover on a house?
A walkaround checklist
- Roof: shingles, ridge cap, box vents, pipe boot collars, skylights, chimney caps.
- Gutters and downspouts: dents along the top lip and face, crushed downspout elbows.
- Siding: cracked or holed vinyl, dented aluminum, chipped fiber cement, spatter marks on painted wood.
- Windows: torn screens, cracked glass, dented aluminum wraps and frames.
- Air conditioner: flattened condenser fins. Adjusters debate whether fin damage affects function, so a technician's note helps.
- Other: garage door panels, light fixtures, mailbox, decks, fences, sheds and outdoor furniture.
Why the small items matter
Dented soft metals do two jobs. They are damage in their own right, and they are evidence: the size and spacing of dents on a gutter or vent tell the adjuster how big the hail was at your address and which direction it came from. Spatter marks, the clean spots hail knocks into dirt or oxidation, fade within weeks, so photograph them early. Our guide to what adjusters look for explains how they use them.
One claim, one deductible
Everything damaged in the same storm generally goes on one claim with one deductible. Adding gutters, screens and siding can push a borderline claim above a percentage deductible, and it keeps you from paying a second deductible later. When several trades are needed, ask whether overhead and profit applies; see overhead and profit.
Inside the house
If hail broke a skylight or opened the roof, water damage to ceilings, insulation and belongings also belongs on the claim.