What to do in the first 48 hours after a Denver hailstorm

If you live on the Front Range you've experienced it: hail hits, the sky clears, and within 30 minutes there are six trucks on your block with out-of-state plates. This is the moment most homeowners make their worst decisions. Here's how to handle it.

Step 1: Document everything (first 2 hours)

Before any sales pressure starts, walk around your house and take phone photos of:

• Hail piles in the yard with your foot or a quarter for scale
• Any visible damage to gutters, siding, window screens, AC unit fins
• The driveway with any noticeable dents
• Cars in the driveway if they were hit

Date-stamped photos are gold for your insurance claim. The adjuster wasn't there during the storm — your photos are.

Step 2: Do NOT sign anything from door-knockers (hours 2–48)

The door-knockers will come. They are out-of-state contractors, almost always called "storm chasers" by the industry, who follow weather radar. Their pitches are well-rehearsed:

• "We're already working in your neighborhood"
• "We'll waive your deductible" (illegal in Colorado — felony)
• "Sign here so we can inspect your roof for free" (you just signed a contract)
• "We need to act today before the insurance company"

Do not sign anything. Tell them you're getting multiple quotes from local contractors and you'll be in touch.

Step 3: Call your insurance and your local roofer (first 48 hours)

Call your insurance company to open a claim. They'll assign a public adjuster who will visit. While that's happening, call a local Front Range roofer for an independent inspection. We typically respond to post-storm inspection requests within 24 hours.

Why a local roofer matters: when the adjuster comes, you want a local contractor present who can advocate for what's actually damaged. The adjuster has incentive to minimize the claim. Your contractor has incentive to document everything they'll need to repair properly.

Step 4: Get the adjuster on the roof with us

Whenever possible, we schedule our crew to be on the roof when your insurance adjuster does their inspection. We walk them through every damaged shingle, every dented vent, every soft hail mark. This typically increases claim payout by 30–60% compared to homeowners going it alone.

Step 5: Hold for the supplement check

The first check from insurance is almost never the full amount needed. After we start work, we file supplemental claims for things discovered during tear-off — rotted decking, ice-and-water shield, code-required ventilation upgrades. Most homes have $1,500–4,000 in legitimate supplements.

The single best move you can make after a hailstorm: pick up the phone, not a pen.

We don't pay door-knockers. We don't door-knock. If you call us, you get an inspection and a clear plan — no high-pressure sales.