What to Do After a Hailstorm in Colorado
Just got hit by hail? Here's exactly what to do in the next 48 hours — from an Aurora-based storm restoration specialist with 18 years on Colorado roofs.
Hilltop Contracting is a TAMKO Pro Certified, BBB A+ Accredited roofing contractor headquartered in Aurora, CO. Led by Jason Beasley — 29 years of roofing experience, 18 in storm restoration. Fully Colorado licensed and insured. 31 five-star Google reviews.
What to Do in the Next 48 Hours
The hours and days immediately after a hail storm are the most important for protecting both your home and your insurance claim. Here's the order Hilltop recommends:
- 1
Stay off the roof
Wet shingles, dented flashing, and post-storm debris make roofs dangerous. Wait for a licensed inspector. No selfie, photo, or shingle inspection is worth a fall.
- 2
Document damage from the ground
Take wide-angle photos of every side of your home, plus close-ups of obvious damage (dented gutters, dings in your AC unit, broken window screens, dented mailbox, hail on the ground if visible). Date-stamp matters.
- 3
Call a contractor before calling your insurance
Get a professional inspection first — you want to know whether you have a claim before filing. A no-cost inspection from Hilltop tells you the scope of damage and whether the claim is worth filing relative to your deductible.
- 4
File your claim with the documented damage
Colorado typically gives you 1 year from the date of loss to file (some carriers 2). Once filed, your insurer will assign an adjuster. We recommend having your contractor present at the adjuster meeting — it's your right, and it ensures nothing gets missed.
- 5
Don't sign anything until you understand it
Avoid "contingency agreements" that lock you into a contractor before you've received an estimate. Don't endorse insurance checks over to anyone before the work is contracted. Read every document. When in doubt, ask Hilltop — we'll explain it for free.
What Hail Damage Actually Looks Like
Most hail damage isn't visible from the ground. Here's what an experienced storm inspector looks for on each part of your exterior:
Asphalt shingles
Dark circular bruises where granules are missing, exposing the asphalt mat. Soft spots when pressed. Granules in downspouts.
Metal flashing & vents
Round dents on metal pipe boots, valleys, chimney flashing, and roof vents. Cracked or split rubber gaskets on pipe boots.
Gutters & downspouts
Dents, dings, or compressed sections of aluminum gutters and downspouts. Heavy granule accumulation in downspout outlets.
Siding
Dents or cracks on vinyl, aluminum, or composite siding — especially on the storm-facing side. Chipped paint on wood trim and fascia.
Windows & screens
Cracked panes, broken or punched-through screens, dented frames, damaged sills on the storm-facing side.
Skylights & AC units
Dented metal housings, cracked plastic dome covers, dented condenser fins (you can see them visibly compressed).
Important:Damage often doesn't leak immediately. A hail-damaged roof can look fine from the ground and start leaking weeks or months later — well after the claim window has closed. If a storm dropped 1-inch or larger hail in your area, get inspected even if your roof looks fine.
We Work With Every Major Colorado Carrier
18 years of storm restoration experience navigating claims with every major insurer in Colorado. We meet your adjuster on-site, document damage to claim standards, and supplement when carriers miss damage. You choose Hilltop — not your insurance company.
We Work With Your Insurance Carrier
Our team has 18 years navigating Colorado hail claims with every major carrier. We know how each company handles storm claims — and we fight for every dollar you deserve.
Hail & Storm Response FAQ
Hail damage is often invisible from the ground. Look for dimpled or bruised shingles, dents in metal flashing or gutters, granule loss in downspouts, cracked vent boots, and damaged window screens or siding. The only reliable way to know is a professional inspection — Hilltop offers free, no-obligation inspections throughout Denver Metro.
Colorado homeowner's policies typically allow up to 1 year from the date of loss to file a hail damage claim, though some carriers extend to 2 years. Filing sooner is always better — adjusters can match damage to a specific storm event, and contractors can document conditions before further weathering occurs.
A single weather-related (act-of-God) claim typically does NOT raise your individual premium in Colorado, because the storm affected everyone in your area — rate adjustments happen at the regional level, not the policyholder level. Multiple claims within a short window can affect renewability. Always confirm specifics with your agent.
No. Colorado law gives you the right to choose your own contractor. Carrier-preferred-program contractors are paid by the insurance company, not by you — their incentives don't always align with getting your roof properly repaired. Hilltop works for you, documents the full scope of damage, and supplements claims when needed.
Hail starts visibly damaging asphalt shingles at roughly 1-inch (quarter-sized) and above. Stones 1.5" and larger almost always cause functional damage requiring replacement. Front Range storms regularly produce 1.75"–2.75" hail. Even smaller hail (0.75"–1") can damage softer materials like skylights, vents, and aluminum siding.
As an Aurora-based storm restoration specialist, we prioritize Front Range storm response. Most homeowners are inspected within 24–48 hours of a significant hail event. After major regional storms, call us first — schedules fill quickly when an entire neighborhood is hit at once.
Yes — no charge, no obligation, no high-pressure pitch. If we find damage, we document it with photos and a written report and explain your options. If we don't, you get peace of mind and an honest assessment. We make our money on the work, not on the inspection.
We Respond Across Denver Metro
Hilltop dispatches free inspections to every city on the Front Range. We prioritize zips hit hardest by recent storm events.
AuroraHQ
80010, 80011, 80012…
Denver
80201, 80202, 80203…
Centennial
80015, 80016, 80112…
Parker
80134, 80138
Highlands Ranch
80126, 80129, 80130
Littleton
80120, 80121, 80123…
Lakewood
80214, 80215, 80226…
Arvada
80002, 80003, 80004…
Thornton
80229, 80233, 80241…
Westminster
80003, 80020, 80021…
Castle Rock
80104, 80108, 80109
Brighton
80601, 80602, 80603
Commerce City
80022, 80037
Englewood
80110, 80111, 80113
Wheat Ridge
80033, 80034
Broomfield
80020, 80021, 80023…
Lone Tree
80124
Erie
80516
Lafayette
80026
Louisville
80027
Northglenn
80233, 80234
Greenwood Village
80111, 80121
Cherry Hills Village
80110, 80113
Golden
80401, 80403
Edgewater
80214
Storm-Damaged Roof? Get a Free Inspection Today
No charge. No pressure. Just a written report from a 29-year roofing veteran.
Response within 1 business hour · Serving Denver Metro & Front Range
