What to Do After a Colorado Hail Storm: A Homeowner's First 48 Hours

Quick Answer: In the first 48 hours after a Colorado hail storm, do four things in order. Photograph everything from the ground and check your interior for leaks. Call your insurance company to ask about your policy, not to file blind. Schedule an independent roof inspection from a licensed local roofer. Avoid signing anything with a door-knocking contractor until your claim path is clear. Acting fast protects your roof and your claim, but you do not have to rush into a contract.

Colorado sits in the heart of "Hail Alley," the stretch where Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming meet. The National Weather Service reports the region averages seven to nine hail days per year, and the Rocky Mountain Insurance Information Association notes the Front Range typically sees three or four catastrophic hailstorms each season. If hail just hit your home in Denver, Aurora, Castle Rock, or out on the Western Slope near Grand Junction, the first two days matter. Here is exactly what to do.

Hour 0 to 6: Stay Safe and Look for Active Leaks

Before anything else, make sure the storm has passed and it is safe to move around your property.

1. Check your ceilings and attic for water. Hail rarely punches straight through a roof, but it can crack pipe boots, dent vents, and bruise shingles enough to let water in during the next rain. Look for fresh stains near bathrooms, kitchens, and light fixtures.
2. Place buckets and move valuables if you see active dripping. Photograph the leak before you clean it up.
3. Do not climb on your roof. Wet hail and steep pitches are dangerous. Inspect from the ground or an attic, not the roof surface. Ladder falls send hundreds of thousands of people to the emergency room every year.

Hour 6 to 24: Document Everything

Insurance adjusters reward documentation. The more evidence you gather while damage is fresh, the stronger your position.

• Photograph the whole property. Roof (from the ground, with a zoom lens or phone zoom), gutters, downspouts, window screens, siding, AC condenser fins, fences, and any soft metal surfaces. Dented gutters and bent vent caps are some of the clearest proof a hail event occurred.
• Record the storm date. Note the date and rough time. You can later confirm it through NOAA's Storm Prediction Center storm reports, which adjusters and roofers use to verify a qualifying event hit your address.
• Photograph any interior damage and keep receipts for emergency repairs like tarping.
• Walk your neighborhood. Hail does not skip individual houses. If roofers are working nearby or your neighbors have visible damage, your roof was likely hit by the same storm.

Hour 24 to 48: Make the Right Calls in the Right Order

This is where many homeowners go wrong. The order matters.

Step 1: Call your insurance company to understand your policy

Before you formally file, ask your insurer or agent three questions:

• What is my wind and hail deductible? Many newer Colorado policies have moved from flat dollar deductibles to percentage-based deductibles, often 1 to 2 percent of the home's insured value. On a $500,000 home, a 2 percent deductible is $10,000. Know this number before you decide whether to file.
• Is my roof covered at Replacement Cost Value (RCV) or Actual Cash Value (ACV)? RCV pays to replace the roof with materials of like kind and quality. ACV pays that amount minus depreciation, which on an older roof can mean 30 to 50 percent less.
• What is my claim filing deadline? Colorado's general statute of limitations for a property damage lawsuit is two years from the date of loss, but your policy almost always has a shorter internal deadline, sometimes as little as a year. Confirm yours and do not wait.

Step 2: Get an independent inspection from a licensed local roofer

Schedule a free inspection from an established, locally based roofing contractor before the insurance adjuster visits. A qualified roofer documents the damage with photos and a measured scope, then can be present when the adjuster inspects so nothing is missed or written off as "pre-existing." This is exactly the kind of work Commercial Roofing Contractor handles every hail season. We specialize in residential and commercial roof replacements and in managing the insurance claim alongside you, so you are not negotiating scope on your own.

The National Roofing Contractors Association and most reputable contractors recommend a professional inspection because hail damage is often invisible from the ground. Bruised shingles, fractured mats, and granule loss are easy to overlook without training. Commercial Roofing Contractor's inspectors hold Haag residential and commercial roof certifications, the inspection credential most recognized by insurance carriers, which you can verify on our certifications page.

Step 3: Do not sign with a door-knocking contractor yet

After every major Front Range storm, out-of-state "storm chaser" crews flood neighborhoods. Some are legitimate. Many are not. The biggest red flags are below.

Storm-Chaser Red Flags Every Colorado Homeowner Should Know

A locally established contractor with a physical Colorado office, verifiable manufacturer certifications, and real project history is the safer choice. Commercial Roofing Contractor fits that description, with a Denver office covering the Denver Metro and Front Range, and a Grand Junction office covering Fruita, Palisade, Clifton, and the surrounding Western Slope. We handle the inspection, the documentation, and the claim from start to finish.

Request a free roof inspection: call our Denver office at (720) 893-7663, our Grand Junction office at (970) 877-7663, or request an inspection online.

A Note on the "Matching" Question

If only part of your roof, siding, or windows is damaged, you may wonder whether your insurer must replace undamaged sections so everything matches. Colorado does not have a statute that requires cosmetic matching. Whether matching is owed depends on your specific policy language and how courts have read "like kind and quality" provisions. A 2024 federal court decision in Colorado (Bertisen v. Travelers) found one policy's language did require matching, but results turn on the exact wording. Have your roofer and, if needed, an attorney review your policy before assuming matching is covered.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Colorado's general statute of limitations for property damage is two years from the date of the storm, but that applies to lawsuits, not claim filing. Your policy usually sets a shorter internal deadline, sometimes as short as one year, so read your policy and file promptly.

Will filing a hail claim raise my insurance premium?

It depends on your insurer and claims history. A single hail claim in a hail-prone state like Colorado often has less rate impact than multiple claims in a short period, but rate decisions are made by your carrier. Ask your agent directly rather than assuming.

Can I get on my roof to check for hail damage myself?

It is not recommended. Hail damage is hard to identify without training, and roof falls are a serious injury risk. Inspect from the ground or attic and let a licensed roofer do the on-roof assessment.

What if I missed the storm and only notice damage months later?

The clock generally starts on the storm date, not the date you discovered the damage. You may still have a valid claim if you can tie the damage to a documented storm using NOAA storm reports, but file as soon as you confirm damage because delay makes causation harder to prove.

Is it illegal for a roofer to pay my deductible in Colorado?

Yes. Under Senate Bill 38, a roofing contractor cannot pay, waive, or rebate your insurance deductible, and renaming the payment to disguise it is still a violation.

Do I need a public adjuster?

Not always. For straightforward claims, a documented inspection from a reputable contractor is often enough. For denied, underpaid, or complex claims, a licensed public adjuster or attorney may help. Note that your roofer cannot legally act as your public adjuster unless they are licensed as one.

Get a Free, Documented Hail Inspection

Do not let a storm chaser pressure you into a contract before you understand your damage or your policy. Commercial Roofing Contractor specializes in residential and commercial roof replacements and in managing the insurance claim from inspection through final payment, so you are not navigating the process alone.

Call our Denver office at (720) 893-7663 or our Grand Junction office at (970) 877-7663, or request your free roof inspection.

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