Home/Storm Damage/Hail and Wind Damage
Hail and wind damage
Storm evidence is property specific.
The inspection should be too.
Hail and wind can affect different materials, elevations and details in different ways. Learn what you can safely observe, what requires professional evaluation and why one visible mark does not define the complete scope.
The short answer
What does hail or wind damage look like?
Wind may lift, crease, loosen or remove exterior materials. Hail may leave dents, fractures, chips or impact marks. The appearance depends on the material, age, storm direction, exposure and surrounding conditions.
Some concerns are visible from the ground. Others require close evaluation by a trained professional. Normal wear, manufacturing characteristics and earlier damage can also resemble storm effects, which is why photographs alone should not determine the recommendation.
Start safely
Observe from the ground. Leave roof access to a professional.
Photograph what you can see safely, including fallen materials, displaced components, damaged screens, dents and interior water indicators. Do not climb onto a wet, steep or potentially damaged roof to search for evidence.
- The storm date and approximate time
- Visible concerns on each side of the home
- Fallen or displaced exterior materials
- New interior staining or water entry
- Every dent requires replacement
- No ground-level damage means no concern
- A neighbor’s outcome determines yours
- A contractor can promise insurance coverage
What CR3 evaluates
Follow the storm across the complete exterior.
Storm effects may be isolated or widespread. CR3 evaluates accessible systems and considers the location, pattern, severity and relationship among observable conditions.
Roofing
Missing, lifted, creased or displaced shingles, exposed fasteners, damaged edges and impact marks that require trained evaluation.
Siding and trim
Cracks, chips, punctures, loosened panels, displaced trim and damage concentrated on particular elevations.
Gutters and metals
Dents, bends, separation, loose downspouts and marks that may help document the direction and intensity of a storm.
Windows and doors
Damaged glass, screens, cladding, trim, seals or operating components around exposed openings.
Interior indicators
New staining, moisture or drafts that may point to an exterior opening but do not identify the source by themselves.
Two different forces
Hail and wind do not leave the same evidence.
Understanding the difference helps homeowners ask better questions, but the final recommendation still depends on the conditions found at the property.
Impact related concerns
Size, hardness, speed, direction and the material struck all influence whether an impact creates cosmetic marking, functional damage or no meaningful change.
Movement and displacement
Wind can act at edges, corners, fasteners and already vulnerable areas, producing lifting, creasing, separation or missing components.
More than one cause
A property may show storm effects alongside age, installation issues, maintenance needs or earlier damage. A responsible scope separates those conditions.
An inspection documents observable conditions. Your insurance carrier determines coverage under the terms, limits and exclusions of your policy.
How the decision develops
Evidence comes before the proposed solution.
The same type of storm does not produce the same result on every home.
Identify the pattern
Consider exposed elevations, adjacent materials and whether concerns form a consistent storm pattern.
Evaluate function
Determine whether the observed condition affects performance, water control, attachment or service life.
Consider repairability
Review access, material availability, matching, manufacturer requirements and whether a durable repair is practical.
Define the scope
Separate appropriate repairs, broader restoration work and unrelated maintenance.
The next guide explains how the extent and repairability of damage shape the repair or replacement recommendation.
After the inspection
Ask for findings you can understand.
A responsible explanation should identify what was observed, where it was found, why it matters and what work is being recommended. Photographs can support the explanation, but they should connect to a defined construction scope.
If restoration is proposed, the contract should describe the affected areas, materials, removal, accessories, allowances, exclusions, price, change authorization and applicable warranties.
Ready when you are
Start with documented conditions,
then choose the appropriate response.
Tell us when the storm occurred and what you have noticed. CR3 will evaluate accessible exterior systems, document observable concerns and explain the construction options.
No guarantee of insurance coverage or claim payment. Services and availability vary by location.