Colorado Hail Claims — Homeowner Education Guide

How to Maximize Your Insurance Settlement
for Hail Damage in Colorado

Colorado insurers routinely issue initial settlements that miss 20–40% of legitimate hail damage. Here’s the step-by-step process to document your claim, work your adjuster meeting, and protect your full settlement — from a contractor who has attended hundreds of these meetings.

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Step 1: Document Everything Before the Adjuster Arrives

Your claim lives or dies on documentation. The moment a hail storm passes, photograph every surface before any cleanup. Adjusters are trained to minimize claims — your job is to show them exactly what the storm did. Here’s what to capture:

• All roof slopes — close-ups of granule loss, bruising, and dents on soft metals (ridge cap, drip edge, step flashing)
• Every wall of siding — document dents, cracks, and penetrations in vinyl or fiber cement
• All windows and screens — cracked frames, broken glass, torn screens
• HVAC unit, gutters, downspouts, and any fencing
• Interior ceiling water stains if present
• Hail size reference — a ruler in the photo if hail is still present

Step 2: Get a Contractor Inspection Before Your Adjuster Meeting

Never let an insurance adjuster be the first professional on your roof. A licensed contractor’s inspection gives you an independent damage assessment that you can present at the adjuster meeting. Josh Brooks Construction provides written inspection reports with photographic documentation — at no charge — before every adjuster meeting we attend.

Why does this matter? Adjusters are trained assessors for insurance companies. Having a contractor present shifts the dynamic — we speak the same technical language, point out items adjusters often overlook (soft metal hits, flashing damage, underlayment compromise), and ensure the full scope of damage is in the initial scope of loss.

Step 3: Understand What Your Policy Actually Covers

Step 4: If You’re Underpaid — Your Options

If the initial settlement doesn’t cover the scope of damage, you have three options: (1) Request a re-inspection with your contractor present. (2) Hire a public adjuster who works for you, not the insurance company (expect to pay 10–15% of the additional settlement). (3) Invoke the appraisal clause in your policy, which allows both parties to hire an independent appraiser with a neutral umpire resolving differences. Josh Brooks Construction has helped dozens of Longmont homeowners successfully appeal underpaid claims.