Spring and early summer bring some of the most intense hailstorms in the country to Fort Worth and Tarrant County. When the storm passes, most homeowners look up at the roof, see nothing obviously wrong, and assume they got lucky. Often they didn't. Here's what we recommend doing in the first 48 hours after hail.
1. Stay safe and stay off the roof. Wet shingles are slippery, and storm-damaged roofs can have weak spots. Leave the climbing to a professional.
2. Check the ground-level clues. Look for dents in gutters, downspouts, and window screens, dings on your car, damaged patio furniture, and granules from shingles collecting at the bottom of downspouts. If hail left marks on those, it almost certainly hit your roof too.
3. Look for leaks inside. Check ceilings and the attic for water stains or dripping. If you find an active leak, put a bucket under it and call a roofer about emergency tarping.
4. Take photos. Photograph any visible damage with the date and time. Photos taken close to the storm are valuable when you talk to your insurance company.
5. Get a professional inspection before filing a claim. A qualified roofer can tell you whether there is real, claim-worthy damage. That protects you from filing a claim for nothing — and from missing damage that shows up as leaks a year later.
6. Beware of storm chasers. After a big storm, out-of-town crews knock on doors across the area. Choose a local contractor with a real address who will still be here if you ever need warranty work.
K Ranch Roofing and Construction is based in River Oaks and offers free storm damage inspections across Fort Worth and the surrounding area. Call (817) 829-7103 to schedule yours.