A major hailstorm just rolled through your neighborhood. The noise was alarming, the ground is covered in ice, and you are wondering whether your roof took damage — and what you are supposed to do now.
In Colorado Springs, this is a familiar scenario. We sit in the heart of “Hail Alley,” and damaging hailstorms are a regular part of life along the Front Range. What you do in the first 48 hours after a storm can make a real difference, both in protecting your home from further damage and in setting up a smooth, well-documented insurance claim if one is warranted.
This is your step-by-step action plan. Follow it in order, stay safe, and you will be in a strong position no matter what the inspection turns up.
First: Stay Safe
Before anything else, prioritize safety:
- Stay off the roof. This cannot be overstated. Wet, hail-littered roofs are extremely slippery, and aged or freshly damaged shingles can give way. Roof inspection is a job for a trained professional with proper equipment. Do not climb up to “take a look.”
- Watch for downed power lines and other storm hazards around your property.
- Wait until conditions are safe before going outside to assess anything. Hailstorms can be followed by additional weather.
Everything else on this list can be done safely from the ground or inside your home.
Step 1: Document the Storm Itself
While the evidence is fresh, capture proof that a significant hail event occurred at your address:
- Photograph the hailstones next to something for scale — a coin, a ruler, your hand. Hail size is meaningful evidence.
- Note the date and time of the storm.
- Save any local weather alerts or news coverage of the storm in your area. Insurance companies verify storm dates, and having your own record helps.
This step takes only a few minutes but creates a useful foundation for any claim.
Step 2: Inspect What You Can From the Ground
You can spot a lot of hail evidence without ever leaving the ground. Walk your property and look for:
- Dents on metal surfaces — gutters, downspouts, roof vents, flashing, garage doors, and even your car. Metal damage is one of the clearest indicators that hail was large enough to harm your roof.
- Granules in gutters and at downspout outlets — a sudden buildup of coarse, sand-like granules suggests your shingles took impacts.
- Damaged outdoor items — dented AC unit fins, torn screens, battered patio furniture, or damaged plants all corroborate a significant hail event.
- Visible roof damage — from the ground or an upper window, look for obvious displaced or torn shingles, though much hail damage is not visible this way.
Photograph everything you find. More documentation is always better.
Step 3: Check the Interior
Head inside and look for any signs that water may already be intruding:
- Water stains on ceilings or walls
- Damp spots, drips, or active leaks
- Daylight or moisture in the attic (if you can check it safely)
If you find active water intrusion, move to temporary protection in the next step. If you find nothing inside, that is good news, but it does not rule out roof damage — many hail-damaged roofs do not leak immediately. The damage accelerates deterioration that leads to leaks later, which is exactly why a professional inspection matters.
Step 4: Prevent Further Damage (Temporary Measures)
If you have an active leak or visible opening, take reasonable temporary steps to limit further damage — insurance policies generally expect homeowners to mitigate ongoing damage:
- Place buckets and move or cover belongings away from interior leaks.
- If safe and accessible from the ground or a window, a tarp can provide temporary protection — but never attempt risky roof work yourself. This is a good time to call a professional for emergency temporary protection.
- Keep receipts for any emergency materials or services; these may be reimbursable.
Do not make permanent repairs yet. Permanent work should wait until after the damage is documented and your claim (if any) is underway.
Step 5: Schedule a Professional Roof Inspection
This is the most important step. A professional roof inspection determines whether you actually have hail damage and, if so, documents it properly. Because hail damage is frequently invisible from the ground, this is the only reliable way to know what you are dealing with.
A qualified local roofer will safely inspect the roof, identify hail bruising, granule loss, and impact marks, and provide documentation — photos and a written assessment — that supports an insurance claim if damage is present.
A scheduling tip specific to Colorado Springs: after a major storm, demand for inspections spikes, and so does the arrival of out-of-town “storm chasers.” Calling an established local roofer promptly gets you on the schedule and keeps you away from fly-by-night operators. Aim to have your inspection done within the first week or two; while Colorado generally allows a window to file hail claims, acting promptly keeps everything cleaner and easier to verify.
Step 6: Understand Your Insurance Options
If the inspection confirms hail damage, you have a likely insurance claim. Here is the key thing to understand: if your claim is approved, your out-of-pocket cost is typically limited to your deductible — not the full cost of the roof.
A few important points:
- Get a professional inspection before contacting your insurer when possible, so you have expert documentation to support the claim from the start.
- Beware of “free roof” and “we’ll waive your deductible” pitches. In Colorado, waiving a homeowner’s deductible is illegal, and contractors who offer it are a major red flag.
- You choose your contractor, not the insurance company. You are free to select an established local roofer you trust to do the work.
We cover the full claim process in detail in our step-by-step guide to filing a roofing insurance claim in Colorado, and we explain how to avoid storm-chasing scams in our piece on storm chasers versus local roofers.
Your 48-Hour Checklist at a Glance
- Stay safe — stay off the roof, watch for hazards.
- Document the storm — photograph hailstones, note date and time.
- Inspect from the ground — dents, granules, damaged outdoor items.
- Check the interior — stains, drips, attic moisture.
- Prevent further damage — temporary measures only, keep receipts.
- Schedule a professional inspection — the essential step.
- Understand your insurance options — deductible, documentation, your choice of contractor.
We’re Here When the Storm Passes
After a hailstorm, you want a roofer who is local, established, and straight with you — not someone who showed up in your neighborhood the day after the storm. Cornerstone Roofing & Restoration provides free, no-obligation storm damage inspections across Colorado Springs and El Paso County, with thorough documentation to support your insurance claim and honest guidance every step of the way.
📞 Call for a free storm damage inspection: (719) 600-7852
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do immediately after a hailstorm in Colorado Springs? Stay safe and off the roof first. Then document the storm by photographing hailstones with something for scale and noting the date and time. Inspect from the ground for dents on metal surfaces and granules in gutters, check the interior for leaks, take temporary measures if water is intruding, and schedule a professional roof inspection — which is the only reliable way to confirm hail damage.
How soon should I get my roof inspected after hail? Promptly — ideally within the first week or two. Colorado generally allows a window to file hail damage claims, but acting quickly gets you ahead of the post-storm rush, keeps the storm date easy to verify, and helps you avoid out-of-town storm chasers. An established local roofer can usually get you scheduled quickly.
Will my insurance cover hail damage to my roof? Often, yes. If a professional inspection confirms hail damage and your claim is approved, your out-of-pocket cost is typically limited to your deductible. Getting a professional inspection before contacting your insurer gives you expert documentation to support the claim.
Should I get on my roof to check for damage myself? No. Wet, hail-littered roofs are dangerous, and you can injure yourself or damage already-compromised shingles. Inspect what you can from the ground and from inside, and leave the on-roof inspection to a trained professional with proper safety equipment.
Why should I avoid contractors who knock on my door after a storm? After major Colorado Springs hailstorms, out-of-town “storm chasers” flood neighborhoods with high-pressure pitches, sometimes offering to waive deductibles — which is illegal in Colorado. They often do substandard work and disappear before warranty issues surface. An established local roofer with a physical presence and verifiable references is a far safer choice.
Internal & External Resources
| Anchor Text | Link To |
|---|---|
| free storm damage inspection | https://csrr-co.com/services/inspections/ |
| filing a roofing insurance claim in Colorado | https://csrr-co.com/blog/how-to-file-roofing-insurance-claim-colorado/ |
| storm chasers versus local roofers | https://csrr-co.com/blog/storm-chasers-vs-local-roofers-colorado-springs/ |
| roof repairs | https://csrr-co.com/services/roof-repairs/ |
| hail damage roof repair | https://csrr-co.com/blog/hail-damage-roof-repair-colorado-springs/ |
| Colorado Division of Insurance consumer guidance | https://doi.colorado.gov/ |
| National Weather Service Pueblo (Colorado Springs forecast office) |