Key numbers
May is the peak month for U.S. hail loss claims, with 621,945 claims over 2017-2019, followed by June (586,749) (National Insurance Crime Bureau, 2017-2019).
| More than $3.8 billion | State Farm paid more than $3.8 billion for hail-damaged home repairs and over $1.2 billion for auto repairs in 2024. Source: State Farm (newsroom), 2024 |
|---|---|
| Nearly $2,000 | State Farm's average hail claim rose by nearly $2,000 from 2021 to 2022, its largest year-over-year increase to date. Source: State Farm (newsroom), 2022 |
Before a roofing company replaces a roof that might have storm damage, it should tell you whether you have a legitimate insurance claim, document the damage with photos, and leave the damaged roof in place until your insurer’s adjuster has seen it. Only emergency work to stop leaks should happen first. A roofer who skips those steps can leave you paying for the whole roof yourself instead of just your deductible.
The call that started this article
A homeowner called us after a July hailstorm in southern Colorado. She had two leaks, called a roofer, got a price and had the roof replaced right away. The new roof was fine. The problem came months later, when she learned the hail damage had been a valid insurance claim. Had she filed, she would have paid her deductible instead of the full price. Her roofer had not mentioned insurance, would not return her calls, and had no photos of the damage before tear-off. Even a reputable insurer cannot approve damage it never had the chance to inspect.
What a good roofer does, in order
- Stops the water. Tarping or a temporary patch to prevent more damage is expected. The Texas Department of Insurance notes your policy may pay for temporary repairs, and the Colorado Division of Insurance also tells homeowners to limit further damage. Keep the receipt.
- Photographs everything before anything is removed: the roof, flashing, vents, gutters, screens and paint.
- Tells you honestly whether the damage is storm damage worth a claim or wear that is not. See should you call your insurer or a roofer first.
- Waits for the adjuster before permanent replacement, and can be on the roof during the inspection if you want, so nothing gets missed in the scope.
- Writes a contract that follows the law. In Colorado, C.R.S. 6-22-103 requires a written contract with scope, dates, costs, contact details and insurer information, a 72-hour cancellation right, and the deductible statement.
- Pulls the permit. In El Paso County, roof replacement needs a Pikes Peak Regional Building Department permit, and a homeowner may buy one only if the homeowner is doing the work.
Our hail claim timeline for Colorado and Texas covers the same steps from your side.
The roofer’s own insurance
“Roofing companies and insurance” has a second meaning: the contractor’s own coverage. A fall, a dropped bundle or a fire during tear-off is the contractor’s liability, not yours, only if the contractor actually carries insurance. Colorado’s roofing contract must identify the contractor’s liability insurer and any surety (C.R.S. 6-22-103). Ask for a certificate of insurance and call the agent on it.
What a roofer may not do
- Pay or waive your deductible. Illegal in Colorado (C.R.S. 6-22-105) and in Texas. Watch for the pitch described in free roof scams.
- Act as your public adjuster. Colorado and Texas both bar it. A Colorado roofer with a valid contract may discuss the scope with your insurer on your behalf, but the claim stays yours. See public adjuster vs roofer in Colorado for what a licensed adjuster can do instead.
- Ask you to pull the permit. In El Paso County, a homeowner permit is only for homeowners doing their own work.
On a claim with several trades, ask how the job will be coordinated and whether general contractor overhead and profit was considered.
Get it done in the right order
We inspect first, document the damage, tell you honestly whether you have a claim, and only then schedule the work. Integrity Roofing and Painting is veteran-owned and family-run since 1990, an Owens Corning Platinum Preferred contractor with 650+ Google reviews. Book a free inspection in Colorado Springs at (719) 488-2800, Denver at (303) 209-0152, or Austin at (512) 610-5897, or read about emergency roof repair in Colorado Springs.
Sources: C.R.S. 6-22-103 and 6-22-105 (unofficial reproduction); PPRBD, Hail & Disaster Information; Colorado Division of Insurance, hail consumer advisory (May 22, 2024); TDI, Hail damage to your home or car?; TDI, Roofing and insurance: know the law.
