Storm Documentation
Hail Damage Documentation for Texas Homeowners
Hail damage is often invisible from the ground. Soft-metal impacts on gutters, downspouts, and vents are the first visible indicators. Systematic documentation creates a timestamped record before any contractor or adjuster visit.
Updated June 18, 2026
What to Document After Hail
Start with soft metals. Work outward.
Hail documentation follows a systematic sequence. Gutters and vents first — they dent at lower impact thresholds than shingles and provide the first confirmation of hail size and density.
Soft metals (first check)
Gutters, downspouts, AC fins, vent caps, drip edge, and ridge vents. Photograph each impact with a scale reference. Record location.
Roof surface
Granule displacement, bruising (mat fracture visible under granules), and impact craters. Focus on north-facing slopes and low-pitch areas first.
Perimeter and transitions
Fascia, soffits, chimney caps, and exposed wood trim. Document paint stippling — small circular depressions in painted surfaces confirm hail contact.
Vehicles and ground surfaces
Dents on vehicles parked outside during the event are corroborating evidence of hail size. Photograph before any vehicle is moved.
How is hail size estimated after a storm?
NOAA Storm Prediction Center data captures spotter-confirmed events. On the ground, soft-metal impact diameter correlates to hail size — a 1-inch dent in a gutter corresponds approximately to 1-inch hail. Vehicle dents, air conditioning fins, and aluminum flashing provide consistent measuring surfaces. Documentation of impact diameter on multiple surfaces creates a defensible hail size record.
What is a hail density map and how does it affect my claim?
After significant hail events, insurance companies commission independent weather data reports (from companies like Verisk/Xactware) that map hail size by GPS coordinates. If your address falls outside the mapped hail footprint, a claim may be denied. Independent soft-metal documentation of actual impact on your property — dents, diameter measurements, photo evidence — can be used to challenge footprint-based denials.
Should I accept the first adjuster estimate?
You are not obligated to. If an adjuster estimate does not match the scope of visible damage, you have the right to request a re-inspection, provide independent documentation, or invoke the appraisal clause in your policy. Independent condition documentation produced before the adjuster visit is the strongest tool for challenging a scope dispute.
Hail in Williamson and Travis Counties
One of the most active hail corridors in the US.
Georgetown, Round Rock, and Cedar Park sit in one of the most hail-active corridors in the United States. Georgetown recorded 15 SPC-confirmed ground-level hail events in 2025 alone, with the largest reaching 2.75 inches. Texas led the nation in NOAA SPC hail reports in 2025 with over 800 documented events statewide. Documentation before contractor contact protects you from both missed damage and inflated claims.
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Hail Documentation FAQs
Common questions about hail damage documentation
What is the first thing I should document after hail?
Start with soft metals: gutters, downspouts, drip edge, AC unit tops, and vent caps. These surfaces show consistent, measurable impact patterns that correlate directly to hail size. Soft-metal documentation is the most reliable ground-level hail indicator — and it can be started safely from the ground.
How do I know if my roof has hail damage?
Ground-level indicators — consistent dents in gutters, AC fins, and painted trim — are the first signal. Roof-surface damage requires roof-level access: look for impact bruising (dark spots where granules are displaced), cracked shingles, and mat fracture visible under granule displacement. The Roof Shepherd documents roof-surface conditions safely.
Should I contact my insurance company before getting documentation?
Independent documentation before insurance contact is preferable. Once a claim is filed, any documentation produced afterward can be questioned as motivated. An independent condition record made before claim filing — and before any contractor visit — cannot be questioned on those grounds.
How large does hail need to be to damage a roof?
3/4 inch (penny-sized) hail can dent soft metals. 1 inch (quarter-sized) hail begins to cause measurable impact bruising on standard shingles. 1.5 inches and larger causes visible damage to standard architectural shingles and soft metals that is consistent and documentable at roof level. Class 4 impact-resistant shingles resist damage from larger hail than standard materials.