What to Do Immediately After a Hailstorm in Denver?

What to Do Immediately After a Hailstorm in Denver?

Denver is no stranger to hailstorms. Colorado's Front Range sits squarely in "Hail Alley" — one of the most hail-prone regions in the entire country — and the Denver metro area takes a direct hit several times every year. When those storms roll through, the damage can be swift, severe, and expensive. Hailstones the size of golf balls or larger can destroy a roof in minutes, shatter siding, dent gutters, and leave your property vulnerable to water intrusion that only gets worse over time.

The hours and days immediately following a hailstorm are critical. What you do — and don't do — right after a storm can make a significant difference in how quickly your home is protected, how smoothly your insurance claim goes, and how much comes out of your own pocket. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you act fast and act smart.

1. Wait Until It's Safe to Go Outside

Before anything else, make sure the storm has fully passed. Hailstorms in Denver can move quickly, but some linger or are followed by a second wave. Stay inside until skies clear and you're confident the threat has ended. Once outside, watch for:

• Slippery walkways covered in ice and hail

• Downed tree branches or power lines

• Broken glass from damaged windows or skylights

Your safety comes before any inspection. Don't rush it.

2. Do a Walk-Around of Your Property

Once it's safe, take a careful walk around the exterior of your home and note anything that looks damaged. You're not expected to climb on your roof — in fact, you shouldn't. But a ground-level inspection can give you an early read on the extent of the damage.

Look for:

• Roof: Missing shingles, visible granule loss, or debris piled in gutters

• Gutters and downspouts: Dents, dings, or gutters pulled away from the fascia

• Siding: Dents, cracks, holes, or chipped paint

• Windows and screens: Cracked glass, torn screens, damaged frames

• Fencing: Broken boards, split rails, or panels knocked out of alignment

• AC unit and other exterior fixtures: Bent fins, dented covers, or damaged components

• Vehicles: Dents, cracked glass, or damaged mirrors (relevant for your auto insurance claim)

Take mental notes and, more importantly, take photos — lots of them.

3. Document Everything with Photos and Video

This step is one of the most important things you can do to protect your insurance claim. Before any cleanup or repairs begin, thoroughly document all visible damage with your smartphone camera. Shoot from multiple angles and distances. Key tips:

• Photograph every damaged area — gutters, siding, window frames, fencing, garage doors, and any exterior fixtures

• Capture hail size evidence — photograph hail on the ground next to a common object like a coin or ruler for scale

• Record video — a slow walk-around video captures context that still photos sometimes miss

• Timestamp your photos — most smartphones do this automatically, but double-check

• Document interior damage too — if water has entered through the roof or windows, photograph wet ceilings, walls, or flooring

Keep all of this organized in a dedicated folder on your phone or cloud storage. You'll be sharing it with your insurance adjuster.

4. Make Emergency Repairs to Prevent Further Damage

If water is actively entering your home, you have an obligation to prevent additional damage — and most insurance policies require it. This doesn't mean a full repair; it means temporary measures to stop the situation from getting worse. Common emergency actions include:

• Placing buckets or towels under active leaks

• Covering broken windows with plastic sheeting or boards

• Covering a damaged area of roof with a tarp (only if it can be done safely from the ground level or by a professional — do NOT climb on a wet or damaged roof yourself)

If you do make any emergency repairs, document them with photos and save all receipts. Your insurance company may reimburse you for reasonable emergency mitigation costs.

5. Contact Your Insurance Company

As soon as you've assessed the damage and gathered your documentation, call your homeowner's insurance company to report the claim. Don't delay — most insurers have a claim filing window, and waiting can complicate your case. When you call:

• Have your policy number ready

• Describe the date, time, and nature of the storm

• Summarize the damage you observed

• Ask for the name and contact information of the adjuster assigned to your claim

• Ask about the timeline for inspection and claim resolution

After filing, your insurer will schedule an adjuster to come inspect your property. This is where things get important — and where having a trusted contractor in your corner pays off.

6. Call a Trusted Local Roofing Contractor — Before the Adjuster Arrives

Here's a step many homeowners skip — and later regret. Insurance adjusters work for the insurance company. Their job is to assess damage, but they're also working within the constraints of the insurer's interests. Having your own professional contractor inspect the damage before or during the adjuster's visit ensures that nothing gets missed.

An experienced hail damage contractor will:

• Conduct a full inspection of your roof, gutters, siding, and exterior

• Identify damage that may not be visible to the untrained eye

• Provide a professional assessment that can be presented to your adjuster

• Advocate on your behalf if the insurer's estimate is lower than the actual cost of repair

• Walk you through the claims process so you're not navigating it alone

At All In One Contractors, we specialize in exactly this. We've helped hundreds of Denver homeowners navigate hail damage insurance claims, and we offer free, no-obligation inspections following any hailstorm. We're not storm chasers from out of state — we're your neighbors, and we'll be here long after the storm moves on.

📞 Call us today: 303-663-5615

7. Beware of Storm Chasers and Fly-By-Night Contractors

After every major Denver hailstorm, your neighborhood will likely be flooded with door-to-door contractors offering quick fixes and too-good-to-be-true deals. Many of these are out-of-state storm chasers who follow the damage trail, collect deposits, do subpar work (or none at all), and disappear before you realize something is wrong.

Red flags to watch for:

• Asking for a large upfront deposit before any work begins

• Offering to waive your insurance deductible (this is actually insurance fraud in Colorado)

• Pressuring you to sign a contract on the spot

• Unable to provide local references, a physical business address, or proof of Colorado licensing and insurance

• Unmarked trucks, no logo, no business cards

Protect yourself by working with established, locally rooted contractors who have a verifiable track record in the Denver community.

8. Understand Your Insurance Policy

Not all policies are the same. Before your adjuster visit, it helps to understand key terms in your homeowner's policy:

• ACV (Actual Cash Value): Pays for the depreciated value of your roof — meaning the older your roof, the less you'll receive

• RCV (Replacement Cost Value): Pays for the full cost to replace your roof with materials of like kind and quality, minus your deductible — this is what you want

• Deductible: The amount you pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in

• Hail/Wind Deductible: Some policies have a separate, higher deductible specifically for hail and wind damage — check your policy carefully

If you're unsure what your policy covers, your contractor can help you interpret the details or recommend a public adjuster if your claim becomes complex.

9. Keep Records of Everything

From the moment the storm hits until your repairs are complete, keep a paper trail. This includes:

• All photos and videos taken of the damage

• A written log of every conversation with your insurer (dates, names, what was discussed)

• Copies of all estimates and contracts

• Receipts for any emergency repairs or materials

• Copies of your insurance adjuster's report

Organized documentation makes the entire claims process faster and smoother — and protects you if any disputes arise.

10. Schedule Your Repairs Promptly

Once your claim is approved, don't sit on it. Hail damage — especially to a roof — can worsen quickly. A small area of missing shingles can allow water infiltration that leads to decking rot, mold growth, insulation damage, and eventually interior water damage. All of that compounds cost and complexity.

Work with your contractor to get on the repair schedule as soon as your claim is settled. The best contractors book up fast after a major storm event, so acting quickly gives you first access to quality crews and materials.

Denver's Hail Season: What You Should Know

Denver's peak hail season runs from May through September, with June and July historically being the most active months. Storms can develop rapidly along the Front Range in the afternoon and evening hours.

The best time to prepare is before a storm hits:

• Have your roof inspected annually

• Know your insurance policy inside and out

• Keep the contact information for a trusted contractor saved in your phone

That last point matters more than you might think. In the frantic hours after a storm, the last thing you want to be doing is searching for a reliable contractor from scratch.

We're Here When You Need Us

When hail hits Denver, All In One Contractors is ready to respond. We handle roofing, siding, gutters, fencing, windows, and the full insurance claims process — from free initial inspection through final repair. We're a locally owned Denver company with deep roots in the community, and we treat every homeowner the way we'd want our own families treated.

Don't wait until small damage becomes a big problem.

📞 Call All In One Contractors: 303-663-5615 

Serving Denver and the surrounding Front Range communities.

All In One Contractors | Roofing • Exteriors • Fencing • Hail Damage Insurance Claims Denver, CO