Hailstorms are a fact of life in northern Illinois. Every spring and summer, Chicagoland homeowners face the aftermath of severe weather – and one of the most vulnerable parts of your home is your roof. If you’ve just been through a hailstorm, here’s exactly what you should do to protect your home and your insurance claim.
Step 1: Don’t Panic – But Don’t Wait
Hail damage isn’t always visible from the ground. While you might notice obvious signs like dented gutters or cracked skylights, the real damage to your shingles is often subtle. Small impacts bruise the shingle mat and displace protective granules – creating entry points for water that get worse over time. Most homeowners insurance policies have a claims deadline, and Illinois storm seasons can be back-to-back. The sooner you act, the better position you’re in.
Step 2: Document Everything
Before anyone gets on your roof, walk around your property and photograph dented gutters and downspouts, damaged window screens or AC units (these are often proof of storm event for adjusters), any visible damage to siding or fascia, and the date and time of the storm via weather report screenshots. This documentation is valuable when your insurance adjuster comes out.
Step 3: Call a Local Roofing Contractor – Before Your Insurance Company
This is the step many homeowners skip, and it costs them. When you call your insurance company first, they send their own adjuster – someone whose job is to minimize the payout. When you call a qualified roofing contractor first, you get an independent inspection that establishes the full scope of damage. At Statewide Restoration, we provide free storm damage inspections and we can be present during the insurance adjuster’s visit to make sure nothing gets missed.
Step 4: Understand Your Coverage
Illinois homeowners insurance typically covers sudden storm damage from hail and wind. Key things to understand: ACV vs. RCV policies, your wind/hail deductible (often 1-2% of insured value), and your right to dispute a low estimate and request a re-inspection or appraisal.
Step 5: Work With a Contractor Who Understands Insurance
The best partner for a storm damage claim is one who has experience with major Illinois carriers, can prepare a detailed Xactimate estimate, will negotiate supplements when necessary, and has access to a licensed Public Adjuster if needed. Statewide Adjusters, a separate affiliated licensed Public Adjuster firm, works exclusively on behalf of property owners – independent from the restoration work Statewide Restoration performs.
Statewide Restoration serves the Chicagoland area including Will, Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Grundy, Kankakee, and Kendall counties. Contact us for a free storm damage inspection.