Hail hit your street. What to check before you call anyone.

After a hail storm in Eastern Idaho, phones ring and trucks start knocking on doors. Before you talk to anyone, spend ten minutes walking around your house. Everything below can be done from the ground.

1. Look at the soft metal first

Gutters, downspouts, window wraps and the metal vents on the roof dent more easily than shingles. Round dents, or spots where paint has been knocked off, tell you how big the hail was. No dents on any soft metal usually means the shingles are fine too.

2. Check the downspout outlets

Hail knocks the protective granules off shingles. A fresh pile of dark, sand-like granules at the bottom of a downspout after a storm is worth a photo.

3. Walk the yard and the siding

Look for shingle pieces on the ground, split siding on the side facing the storm, and dented outdoor AC fins. Storms move in one direction, so the damage is usually heaviest on one side.

4. Take dated photos

Photograph everything you found, with something in the frame for scale. Phones save the date automatically. Those photos help if you file a claim later.

5. Decide whether you need an inspection

If you found dents in soft metal, granules in the downspouts or pieces of shingle, book a roof inspection. If you found nothing at all, your roof is probably fine, but an inspection is still cheap peace of mind on an older roof.

What not to do

• Don't climb onto the roof yourself. Wet, damaged shingles are slippery.
• Don't sign anything that assigns your insurance claim to a contractor.
• Don't wait months. Many policies set a time limit for reporting storm damage.

Ready for a professional look? Our hail and wind inspection comes with a dated photo report you can share with your insurer.