Insurance guide
Hail Damage Roof Insurance Claim in Indiana: Step-by-Step
What to photograph, what to repair, what to leave alone and what to ask your insurer, based on Indiana Department of Insurance guidance.
The short answer: If your roof has years left and the damage is in one area, repair it. If shingles are failing across the roof or the same leaks keep returning, a replacement saves money over time. We tell you which one applies, with photos.
The short version
If hail may have damaged your roof, do five things in order: photograph what you can see, protect the house from more water, call your insurance company promptly, keep every receipt, and wait for the insurer’s inspection before any permanent repair. Everything else in this guide explains how to do those steps well and what can go wrong. The advice follows Indiana Department of Insurance guidance on storm claims.
To file a hail damage roof claim in Indiana, document the damage with dated photos, make only temporary repairs to prevent more damage, keep the receipts, notify your insurer as soon as possible, and avoid permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected. Ask for an itemized settlement explanation, and if the claim is denied, ask for the denial in writing with the policy language.
Step 1: Confirm that hail actually fell near you
Hail falls in narrow swaths, so one street can be hit while the next is not. Before you climb a ladder, check whether hail was reported near you. National Weather Service Indianapolis publishes storm summaries. For example, preliminary reports on June 16, 2026 logged hail up to 1.25 inches southeast of Speedway and north of New Palestine, and up to one inch northeast of Avon. On February 19, preliminary reports logged hail up to three-quarters of an inch in Beech Grove and Southport. Preliminary reports can be revised, and a report near your address is a reason to check your roof, not proof that it was damaged.
Step 2: Look for damage safely from the ground
Do not climb onto a roof after a storm. Wet shingles, debris and damaged decking make falls likely. From the ground, look for:
- Dented gutters, downspouts, roof vents and metal flashing
- Granules from shingles collecting in gutters or at the base of downspouts
- Damage to siding, window screens, fences and outdoor furniture, which suggests hail hit the roof with force
- Ceiling stains inside the house after the storm
Hail around one inch and larger is commonly cited as the point where damage to asphalt shingles becomes more likely, but smaller hail can still harm older, brittle shingles. Some damage, such as bruising of the shingle mat, is hard to see from the ground.
Step 3: Photograph everything before you touch anything
The Indiana Department of Insurance advises homeowners to photograph damage before making temporary repairs. Take wide shots of each side of the house and close-ups of dents, cracks and granule loss. Photograph the date and time if your phone records it, and keep the originals. Photograph inside damage too, such as ceiling stains, and note when they appeared.
Step 4: Protect the house from more damage
Your policy likely expects you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. If a shingle is missing or the roof is open, a professional tarp is the usual temporary fix. See our guide to roof tarping in Indianapolis. Keep all receipts for temporary repairs, because they may be reimbursable as part of a covered claim, and do not make permanent repairs before the insurance company has inspected.
Step 5: Call your insurance company promptly
Indiana Department of Insurance guidance is to file as soon as possible. Have your policy number ready, describe the date of the storm and what you found, and ask what the next steps are, including how the adjuster inspection will be scheduled. Write down the date, the name of the person you spoke with and the claim number. Ask what your deductible is and whether your policy has a separate deductible for wind and hail, because some policies do.
Think before you file
Insurers may consider claims activity when renewing a policy, according to the Indiana Department of Insurance. That does not mean you should avoid filing a legitimate claim. It means you should know what you are claiming. An inspection from a roofer can tell you whether there is hail damage worth filing, and whether the damage is likely to exceed your deductible. See our roof inspection page.
Step 6: Get your own roof inspection
You are allowed to get your own inspection, and it helps. An adjuster is looking at your roof on behalf of the insurer. A roofer you trust documents the roof for you. We photograph each slope, count and mark hits in a test area, document dents on soft metals, record the age and condition of the shingles and write a plain summary. If we find damage, we say so. If we do not, we say that too. You can share that documentation with the adjuster. Our hail damage roof repair page explains what we look for.
Step 7: Be present for the adjuster’s inspection
If you can, be there when the adjuster inspects. Walk through what you found, show the photographs and ask questions. If you have a roofer’s inspection report, offer it. You may invite your roofer to meet the adjuster. Take notes about what the adjuster says and sees.
Step 8: Read the settlement carefully
After the inspection, the insurer will make a decision. The Indiana Department of Insurance advises asking for an itemized explanation of the settlement. Compare it to your roofer’s estimate. Look at whether it covers the full roof or only some slopes, how it treats depreciation and your deductible, and whether it includes items such as flashing, vents, drip edge and decking if needed. If something is missing or you disagree, ask the insurer to explain it in writing.
If the claim is denied
Ask for the denial in writing with the specific policy language that supports it. Read the language, compare it to your roofer’s findings and ask questions. You may be able to provide more documentation, ask for a re-inspection or contact the Indiana Department of Insurance for help. The department’s consumer line can explain your options.
Step 9: Choose a roofer carefully
After a hail storm, out-of-town crews often canvass neighborhoods. Some do good work and many do not stay around to honor a warranty. Be careful with anyone who asks for full payment up front, pressures you to sign immediately, offers to waive your deductible or cannot give you a local address, proof of insurance and references. Be cautious with an assignment of benefits agreement, which can hand control of your claim to a contractor, and which the National Association of Insurance Commissioners warns consumers about. Read anything before you sign. Indiana’s Home Improvement Contracts Act requires a written contract for residential home improvement work over 150 dollars. See how to choose a roofer in Indianapolis.
Step 10: Repair or replace once you have approval
After the insurer inspects and you reach a settlement or decision, schedule the permanent work. For a few damaged shingles, a repair may be enough. When damage is widespread, replacement may be the answer. See roof replacement in Indianapolis and roof replacement cost for what drives the price. Get a written estimate that itemizes materials, decking, flashing, ventilation, disposal and permits.
Mistakes that hurt hail claims
- Waiting too long to report, which can make it harder to show the damage came from a specific storm
- Making permanent repairs before the insurer inspects
- Throwing away receipts for temporary repairs
- Signing a contract or assignment of benefits before reading it
- Not photographing the damage before temporary repairs
- Accepting a first offer without an itemized explanation
- Letting a contractor talk to the insurer for you without knowing what is being said
What a roofer can and cannot do
A good roofer can inspect the roof, document the damage, write an estimate and answer questions. A roofer cannot guarantee that the insurer will approve a claim, and a roofer who promises that should make you cautious. The decision belongs to the insurance company and is based on your policy. Our role is to give you honest, documented information so you can make decisions with the facts.
Related guides
For a deeper walk through the process, read our roof insurance claim guide. If water is coming in right now, see emergency roof repair. For other storm damage, see storm damage roof repair. To see a documented hail inspection in your area, check the pages for Avon and Speedway.
Sources
Claims advice comes from Indiana Department of Insurance guidance on storm claims. Warnings about assignment of benefits agreements come from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Hail reports come from preliminary National Weather Service Indianapolis storm summaries and can be revised. Indiana’s contract requirement comes from the Indiana Home Improvement Contracts Act.
Hail claim questions, answered
How soon should I file a hail damage claim in Indiana?
The Indiana Department of Insurance advises filing as soon as possible. Check your policy for any deadlines and report promptly.
Should I make repairs before the adjuster comes?
Only temporary repairs to prevent more damage, such as tarping. Photograph the damage first, keep receipts and avoid permanent repairs until the insurer has inspected.
Does my policy have a separate hail deductible?
Some policies have a separate wind and hail deductible. Ask your insurer what your deductible is and how it applies.
Can I get my own roof inspection?
Yes. An independent inspection documents the roof for you and can help you decide whether to file. Share the documentation with the adjuster.
Will filing a claim raise my premiums?
The Indiana Department of Insurance says insurers may consider claims activity at renewal. Know what you are claiming before you file.
What if my claim is denied?
Ask for the denial in writing with the policy language. You may be able to provide more documentation, request a re-inspection or contact the Indiana Department of Insurance.
Is an assignment of benefits agreement a good idea?
Be cautious. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners warns about these agreements because they can transfer control of your claim to a contractor. Read anything before you sign.
Can a roofer guarantee my claim will be approved?
No. Only the insurer decides, based on your policy. Be cautious about anyone who guarantees approval.
How do I tell hail damage from normal wear?
Hail usually shows as random impacts with bruised or fractured shingle mats and matching dents on soft metals. Wear shows as widespread, uniform granule loss and curling. An inspection can tell the difference.
Does R&R Roofing offer hail inspections?
Yes. We inspect, photograph and document hail damage and give you a written summary. See our hail damage roof repair page.
Related:
Roof trouble in Indianapolis? Get a written estimate.
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R&R Roofing
Roofing contractor serving Indianapolis, Indiana and the surrounding suburbs.
(317) 555-0142
123 Main Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204
License #RR-2019-4821, fully insured
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