What to Do After Storm Damage
Follow this timeline to protect your home and maximize your insurance claim.
Stay Safe & Document
Do not climb on your roof. Photograph any visible damage from the ground — missing shingles, dented gutters, fallen debris. Check inside for water stains on ceilings and walls. Save everything for your insurance claim.
Call Your Insurance Company
Report the damage within 48 hours. Ask about your deductible, whether your policy is ACV or RCV, and the timeline for sending an adjuster. Do not authorize permanent repairs until the adjuster inspects.
Get a Professional Inspection
Have a licensed contractor inspect your roof. A drone inspection catches damage an adjuster might miss — hail strikes, cracked flashing, compromised underlayment. Get a written damage report and detailed estimate.
Review Estimate & Repair
Compare the contractor’s scope with your insurance estimate. If there’s a gap, your contractor should submit a supplement. Once approved, schedule the repair and make sure it comes with a manufacturer warranty.
Signs of Storm Damage
Missing or Cracked Shingles
Wind lifts and breaks shingles. Look for bare spots or pieces in the yard.
Dented Gutters & Vents
Hail dents metal. Check gutters, downspouts, vents, and AC units.
Granule Loss in Gutters
Black granules in gutters mean shingles are losing their protective coating.
Water Stains Inside
Brown spots on ceilings or walls mean water is already getting through.
Dented Siding or Cracked Chimney
If siding and chimney are hit, the roof almost certainly took damage too.
Understanding Insurance Claims
The difference between ACV and RCV can mean thousands of dollars. Here’s what you need to know.
RCV — Replacement Cost Value
Pays the full cost to replace your roof with equivalent materials and labor, minus your deductible. The best policy type for homeowners — you recover the depreciation once repairs are complete.
Recommended
ACV — Actual Cash Value
Pays replacement cost minus depreciation. On a 15-year-old roof, this could mean insurance only covers 40–50% of the total cost. You pay the difference out of pocket.
Check Your Policy
Alamo Handles the Hard Part
We’ve navigated hundreds of storm claims. Here’s what we do that most contractors don’t.
Free Drone Documentation
Our commercial drones capture every square foot of your roof in high resolution. We produce a professional damage report with annotated photos that your insurance company takes seriously. This is included free on every storm inspection.
Adjuster Meeting & Supplements
We meet your insurance adjuster on-site, walk them through every documented item, and make sure nothing gets missed. If the initial estimate falls short, we prepare and submit supplemental claims — something most contractors won’t do.
GAF Warranty Repair
Your storm repair is installed to GAF Master Elite standards and eligible for a Golden Pledge warranty — 50-year materials, 25-year workmanship, backed by North America’s largest manufacturer. Not just a patch job.
Watch Out for Storm Chasers
After every major storm, out-of-state contractors descend on affected areas. Many are unlicensed, uninsured, and will disappear before your warranty matters. Offering to “waive your deductible” is insurance fraud — and it puts you at legal risk. Watch for these red flags:
