Blog: Storm Damage & Insurance

Yes, if any of this sounds familiar: the adjuster's visit felt rushed, the estimate came back noticeably lower than your own contractor's inspection found, or damage you documented beforehand wasn't reflected in the report.

An insurance adjuster inspecting storm damage is primarily checking whether damage is functional (affecting the roof's performance) versus cosmetic, whether the pattern and extent of damage is consistent with the storm being claimed, and whether it meets the specific threshold their insurer uses to approve a claim. Understanding what they're

There isn't one single answer, and any source that gives you one flat number without context is oversimplifying.

Many Illinois homeowners policies now carry a separate wind and hail deductible, distinct from your standard deductible — and increasingly, it's calculated as a percentage of your home's insured value (commonly 1% to 2%) rather than a flat dollar amount.

Before an insurance adjuster ever sees your roof, take dated photos and video of every angle of visible damage, keep a written log of when you noticed it and what's changed since, and hold onto physical evidence like fallen shingles or hailstones where you reasonably can.

In the first 24 hours after a storm, prioritize safety first, then document everything before any cleanup begins, apply temporary protection only if it's safe to do so, and contact your insurance company and a roofing contractor — roughly in that order.

If your home was anywhere near the path of the July 27, 2026 storm, check your gutters and soft metal for dents and granule loss before assuming your roof is fine — hail damage is often invisible from the ground, and even a "minor" hit can shorten a roof's remaining life.