Short answer: After a hailstorm, have a licensed local contractor inspect your roof before you file an insurance claim. A free, honest inspection tells you whether you actually have storm damage worth a claim — so you don’t burn a claim on damage that’s below your deductible, and you walk into the adjuster meeting already knowing your roof’s real condition.
That order matters more on the Front Range than almost anywhere else in the country. Colorado sits in the heart of “hail alley,” and a single storm can drop damaging hail on one street and skip the next entirely. Whether your roof took real damage is a technical question — and it’s worth answering before you commit to a claim.
Why inspect before you file a claim?
Filing an insurance claim is not free, even when the repair would be. Here’s what a contractor inspection settles before you pick up the phone with your carrier:
- Whether you have damage at all. Hail can leave a roof looking fine from the ground while bruising shingles, cracking mats, and knocking granules loose up top. It can also leave a roof completely untouched. You want to know which before you file.
- Whether the damage exceeds your deductible. If your roof took minor damage that costs less to fix than your deductible, filing a claim gains you nothing — you’d pay out of pocket anyway.
- What “the whole picture” looks like. Hail rarely hits only the roof. Gutters, downspouts, window screens, soft metals, siding, and AC fins often tell the story. A good inspection documents all of it.
There’s a practical reason to be deliberate, too: insurance claims can follow the property. Even claims that are denied or withdrawn may be recorded and can factor into future premiums or insurability. Knowing you have a legitimate, above-deductible claim before you file protects you from spending one on nothing.
What does a real contractor inspection actually cover?
A proper post-hail inspection isn’t a five-minute glance from the driveway. It should include:
- A walk of the actual roof surface, checking each slope for hail bruising, granule loss, and mat cracks
- Photos and measurements documenting hit density and impact size
- A check of the “soft” evidence — gutters, downspouts, flashing, vents, screens, and any painted metal that dents easily
- A straight answer about scope: repair, partial replacement, or full replacement — and whether it clears your deductible
An honest inspector will sometimes tell you that you don’t have a claim. That’s not a bad outcome — it’s the inspection doing its job and saving you a claim you didn’t need.
Should my contractor meet the insurance adjuster?
Yes, when the timing works. Having your contractor on the roof at the same time as the adjuster helps make sure legitimate storm damage is seen and documented consistently by both sides. The adjuster is assessing your loss; your contractor knows what the repair actually requires. When they walk the same roof together, there’s far less back-and-forth later over what’s covered.
To be clear: this is about documenting real damage accurately — not inflating it. A licensed local contractor’s reputation depends on standing behind honest work, not on padding claims.
Why “licensed and local” beats “first to knock”
After a big storm, out-of-town crews flood a hail-hit neighborhood knocking doors, often within hours. The trouble is that many of them will be three states away by the time your roof leaks or your warranty question comes up.
Choosing a licensed local contractor to inspect first protects you in ways a storm chaser can’t:
- Accountability. A local contractor pulls permits, is still in town next year, and answers the phone when you call about the work.
- Colorado consumer protection. Under Colorado’s residential roofing law (SB 38), roofing contractors must provide a written contract, hold your funds appropriately, and cannot legally pay, waive, or rebate your insurance deductible. Any contractor offering to “eat your deductible” is offering to break state law — treat it as the red flag it is.
- Real licensing. Josh Brooks Construction and Renovation Inc. is a licensed general contractor (Boulder County CON-24-0152, Class C) serving Longmont and 46+ Front Range cities. That license is on record, not on a yard sign.
That’s the whole idea behind our positioning: Licensed. Local. Not a storm chaser.
How soon should I act after a hailstorm?
Sooner is better, for three reasons. First, most insurance policies have deadlines for reporting storm damage, and those windows are shorter than people expect. Second, unaddressed hail damage tends to get worse — a bruised shingle becomes a leak once the next snow melt or rainstorm finds it. Third, documenting the damage close to the storm date makes it easier to tie it to a specific event.
You don’t have to decide everything on day one. But getting a licensed contractor on the roof early gives you the facts you need to make a good call — before a claim is on your record.
The bottom line
Call a licensed local contractor first for a free, honest inspection. If you have real, above-deductible damage, you’ll go into your claim informed and documented. If you don’t, you’ll have saved yourself a claim you didn’t need — and you’ll know your roof is sound.
Storm damage in Longmont or anywhere on the Front Range? Get a free, no-pressure roof inspection.
Call 720-828-7997 | Text 720-453-5095
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I call a contractor or my insurance company first after a hailstorm?
Have a licensed local contractor inspect your roof before you file an insurance claim. A free inspection tells you whether you actually have storm damage worth a claim, so you don’t file for damage below your deductible, and you go into the adjuster meeting knowing your roof’s real condition.
Why should I get a roof inspection before filing an insurance claim?
An inspection confirms whether real hail damage exists and whether it exceeds your deductible. Filing a claim for minor damage below your deductible gains you nothing, and claims can be recorded and affect future premiums or insurability, so it pays to confirm you have a legitimate claim first.
Should my contractor be present when the insurance adjuster inspects my roof?
Yes, when timing allows. Having your contractor on the roof at the same time as the adjuster helps ensure legitimate storm damage is documented consistently by both sides, which reduces disputes later over what the covered repair actually requires.
Can a roofing contractor pay or waive my insurance deductible in Colorado?
No. Under Colorado’s residential roofing law (SB 38), a roofing contractor cannot legally pay, waive, or rebate your insurance deductible. Any contractor offering to cover your deductible is offering to violate state law, which is a warning sign to avoid them.
How soon after a hailstorm should I have my roof inspected?
As soon as reasonably possible. Insurance policies have reporting deadlines, unaddressed hail damage tends to worsen with the next rain or snowmelt, and documenting damage close to the storm date makes it easier to connect it to a specific event.
Sources
- Colorado General Assembly — Senate Bill 12-038, Consumer Protection / Residential Roofs
- Colorado Division of Insurance (DOI) — homeowner storm-claim guidance
- National Weather Service (NWS) — Front Range severe hail reports
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) — Storm Events Database
- Boulder County Building & Safety and Front Range county building departments — roofing permit requirements
