Hail damage and your roof insurance claim in Minnesota

After the storm: the first 48 hours

Minnesota is hail country. 2022 was the state's costliest storm year on record, and hail claims have grown larger over the past decade. If a storm rolls through, here is what to do first.

• Stay off the roof. Wet shingles are slippery, and hail damage is hard to see from a ladder anyway.
• Look from the ground. Dents in gutters, downspouts, window screens, siding and the hood of your car are good signs the roof was hit too.
• Take photos with dates. Photograph damage you can see from the ground, plus any leaks inside.
• Cover active leaks. A tarp or bucket now can prevent drywall and insulation damage later. Keep receipts.

How a hail claim usually works

1. Inspection. A contractor you trust inspects the roof, siding and gutters and documents what they find with photos.
2. Filing. You file the claim with your insurance company. Check your policy for deadlines.
3. Adjuster visit. The insurer sends an adjuster. It helps to have your contractor there so you're both looking at the same damage. Todd meets adjusters at the home; as one customer put it, "He even helped me out with the insurance company after we filed a claim for hail damage and met the inspector at our home."
4. Scope and estimate. The insurer writes a scope of loss. If damage was missed, your contractor can document it so the scope can be revisited.
5. Repair. Once approved, the work gets scheduled.

Know your policy: ACV vs. replacement cost

Some insurers now pay actual cash value (ACV) on older roofs, which subtracts depreciation, while replacement cost policies pay what it costs to replace the roof (often in two payments). Many insurers have also raised wind and hail deductibles. Read your declarations page or ask your agent before you sign anything.

Minnesota rules that protect you

Under Minnesota Statutes section 325E.66, a contractor may not offer to pay, cover or rebate your insurance deductible, and storm-damage repair contracts must give you the right to cancel if your claim is denied. Be wary of anyone who promises a "free roof", knocks on doors right after a storm, or can't show a Minnesota contractor license number.

How we help

Todd inspects the damage, photographs it, meets your adjuster, and puts the full scope in a free written estimate. See storm and hail repair or ask Todd to take a look.

This guide is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy and your insurer's process decide your claim.