After hail hits your neighbourhood, the best plan is a steady one: stay safe and take photos today, find out what the storm really did to your roof over the next few days, read your policy before you decide anything, and hire carefully. Most of the costly mistakes after a Calgary hailstorm come from rushing, not from waiting a few days to get the facts.
This guide breaks the week into seven small jobs. It is general information, not insurance advice, and policies vary, so treat your own policy and your insurer as the final word.
Day 1: Safety and first photos
On the first day, your job is to stay safe and capture evidence while it is still fresh. Hail melts fast, and the details you record now are hard to recreate later.
Stay off the roof
Do not climb up to look, even if the sun is out. Shingles stay slick after a storm, loose granules act like ball bearings underfoot, and walking on bruised shingles can make damage worse. Ladders on wet grass are their own hazard.
Photograph the hail itself
If hailstones are still on the ground, set a few next to something everyone recognizes, such as a coin, a golf ball or a tape measure, and take a clear photo. Your phone stores the date and time automatically, but it helps to write them down too, along with roughly how long the hail lasted.
Photograph what hail hit at ground level
Walk around the house and photograph:
- Dents in metal roof vents or other roof fixtures you can see from the yard
- Chips, cracks or spatter marks on siding and window screens
- Dents on cars, sheds, fences, patio furniture and barbecue lids
- Shredded plants and piles of granules near the roof edge
These objects record hail size and direction.
Check inside
Look at upstairs ceilings, the tops of walls and around skylights for fresh stains or drips. If water is coming in, protect the room first with buckets and plastic, then photograph it.
Day 2: Look from the ground and inside
On day two, look again with fresh eyes, still from the ground and from inside, and write down what you notice. You are not diagnosing the roof; you are building a list of questions for a professional.
From the yard or across the street, binoculars help. Note any shingles that look darker in patches, pieces lying on the lawn, or flashing that looks bent. Inside, check the same ceilings again, because some leaks only show up a day later once water works its way through insulation. If your attic hatch is easy to reach, look from the opening with a flashlight for damp spots, without crawling in.
You will probably see trucks and ladders on neighbouring houses. That is not proof your roof is damaged, and a quiet street is not proof it is fine. Hail falls in uneven bands, and roof age and slope change how much a storm marks it. For a closer look at the signs roofers look for, see our page on hail damage roof repair.
Day 3: Get a roofer’s assessment before filing
On day three, book a roofer’s assessment before you open a claim. Knowing whether the damage is real and how widespread it is helps you decide whether a claim makes sense at all.
A proper assessment gives you an honest opinion on whether the damage is minor, repairable or bad enough to consider replacement, so you neither file for something small nor overlook real damage.
How to avoid feeling pressured
- Ask for photos of any damage the roofer says they found.
- Do not sign anything during the first visit. An assessment is not a contract.
- Ask for findings in writing so you can compare opinions.
- Be wary of anyone who says you must decide today.
A good roofer explains what they saw and leaves the decision with you.
Day 4: Read your policy
On day four, sit down with your home insurance policy and find the parts that matter for a roof.
Look for four things:
- Your deductible. Some policies use a separate deductible for hail or wind, so check which one applies.
- How the roof is valued. Some policies pay replacement cost, others actual cash value, and many use a roof schedule based on age.
- Roof-age terms. As a general pattern, a roof under 15 years old may be paid as a full replacement minus the deductible, a roof between 15 and 25 years is typically depreciated by 50–80%, and a roof over 25 years may be paid at actual cash value only or denied. Your policy may differ.
- Reporting requirements. Insurers set their own conditions on how and when damage must be reported. Check yours rather than assuming.
If something is unclear, call your broker or insurer and ask. Our guide to roof insurance claims in Calgary explains how these terms play out once a claim is open.
Day 5: Decide whether to file
On day five, weigh what the roofer found against what your policy says. Filing is a decision, not a reflex, and the right answer depends on your situation.
Factors most homeowners consider:
- Extent of damage versus your deductible. A few bruised shingles may cost less to repair than the deductible.
- Roof age. An older roof may be heavily depreciated, which changes what a claim is worth.
- Prior claims. Your claim history can matter to your insurer, so ask your broker how they view it.
- Hidden damage. Hail that seems minor can shorten a roof’s life, so do not dismiss a professional finding just because nothing is leaking yet.
Every policy is different, so if you are torn, a conversation with your broker is worth having before you decide. If you do go ahead, the step-by-step process is laid out on our roof insurance claim page.
Day 6: Protect the house while you wait
On day six, make sure the house is protected from more damage while claims, adjusters and crews line up. Most policies expect reasonable steps to prevent further harm.
- Keep buckets and plastic in place under any drips.
- Have a roofer install temporary protection over any opening rather than doing it yourself.
- Run a fan or dehumidifier in damp rooms.
- Keep every receipt for temporary work and supplies, stored with your photos.
Do not make permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the damage. Replacing shingles or drywall too early can make it hard to show what the storm did. Temporary fixes are fine; lasting ones wait.
Day 7: Plan the repair or replacement
On day seven, start planning the actual work, because crews fill up quickly after a Calgary hailstorm. In summer, backlogs of four to six weeks are common even without a storm, and a widespread hail event adds to that.
Book early, but not blindly
Getting on a reputable roofer’s schedule early is smart. Signing with the first crew that knocks is not. You can book an assessment and a spot in line without committing to the job.
Consider impact-resistant shingles
If the roof is being replaced, ask about Class 4 shingles, the top impact rating under the UL 2218 standard. In the hail belt, they are a sensible choice for many homes.
Get a written, itemized scope
Ask each roofer for a written scope that lists materials, layers, flashing, ventilation and cleanup. Itemized scopes make quotes comparable and make it easier to line the work up with what your insurer approves.
Watch the calendar
Asphalt shingle sealant needs temperatures around 5°C to bond properly, and snow can arrive in Calgary as early as the third week of September. If hail hits late in the season, plan the job before the weather turns.
Storm chasers after Calgary hailstorms
Within days of a big storm, door knockers often work the hardest-hit streets. Some are legitimate local roofers, but others are out-of-town crews that follow hail across the prairies, do fast work and are gone by the time a problem shows up.
How to check who you hire
- Ask for a local business address and a phone number that is answered.
- Ask for proof of liability coverage and workers’ compensation coverage, and confirm it is current.
- Get the full scope and price in writing before any work starts.
- Ask who will actually be on your roof and who you call if something goes wrong next year.
A roofer who will still be in Calgary next season is the one who can answer for the work.
Your one-week hail checklist
Print this or save it to your phone and tick off each day.
| Day | Task | Done |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stay off the roof; photograph hail next to a common object, dented vents, siding, cars and any interior leaks | ☐ |
| 2 | Look again from the ground and inside; write down what you see | ☐ |
| 3 | Book a roofer’s assessment; sign nothing on the first visit | ☐ |
| 4 | Read your policy: deductible, roof valuation, roof-age terms, reporting requirements | ☐ |
| 5 | Decide whether to file, with your broker if unsure | ☐ |
| 6 | Arrange temporary protection; keep receipts; no permanent repairs yet | ☐ |
| 7 | Plan the work; ask about Class 4 shingles; get itemized written scopes | ☐ |
If you would like a clear answer about your roof before you decide anything, book a free inspection or contact us with your questions.