The storm has passed. The hail stopped, the wind died down, and now you are looking at your house wondering how bad it is. Before you panic or assume everything is fine, work through this systematic inspection checklist. It covers everything you should check after a significant Colorado storm.
Important safety note: do not climb on your roof after a storm. Wet, damaged, or debris-covered roofs are dangerous. The ground-level and interior checks in this list will tell you whether you need a professional inspection.
Immediate Safety Check
Before inspecting anything, check for immediate hazards. Look for downed power lines near your home or in your yard. Do not touch them. Call your utility company immediately if you see downed lines. Check for broken tree branches that are hung up and could fall. Look for structural damage to the home, cracked walls, sagging roofline, or leaning chimney. If you see any of these, evacuate and call 911 if necessary.
Ground-Level Exterior Inspection
Walk the perimeter of your home and check the following items from the ground.
Gutters and downspouts. Look for dents from hail. Hail dents on aluminum gutters are one of the most reliable indicators that your roof also sustained hail damage. Check for bent, detached, or crushed gutter sections and downspouts.
Shingle debris. Look for shingle pieces, granules, or fragments on the ground around your home. Check your driveway, sidewalks, and yard. A significant amount of granule runoff in downspout splash areas after a hailstorm indicates shingle damage above.
Siding. Check for hail dents, cracks, or holes in siding materials. Vinyl siding cracks from hail impact. Aluminum and steel siding dents. Fiber cement can crack or chip. Damage to siding at the same elevation as your roof confirms hail was hitting surfaces at that height.
Windows and screens. Check window glass for cracks or breaks. Check window screens for dents, tears, or holes. Window screen damage is another strong indicator of hail size and intensity.
Paint and trim. Look for chipped paint, dented trim, and impacts on painted wood or metal surfaces.
Air conditioning unit. HVAC condensers are an excellent hail indicator. The thin aluminum fins dent easily and visibly from hail impact. Check the top and the side that faces the direction the storm came from.
Fences, deck, and outdoor furniture. Check for dents, cracks, or damage. These items confirm storm severity.
Interior Inspection
Go inside and check for signs of water infiltration.
Attic inspection. If you have safe attic access, look for daylight visible through the roof deck (indicating missing or damaged shingles), wet spots on the underside of the roof deck, water stains or dripping on insulation, and musty odors that indicate moisture presence.
Ceiling check. Walk through every room and look up. Check for new water stains, discoloration, bulging, or dripping. Check around ceiling fixtures, vents, and any area directly below a roof penetration.
Wall check. Look for new water stains on walls, especially near the ceiling line and around windows.
Window check. Check around window frames for moisture or leakage from above roof repair services.
Documentation
Thorough documentation strengthens your insurance claim. Here is what to capture.
Photograph everything. Take clear, well-lit photos of all damage you find, including gutters, siding, windows, HVAC units, and any ground-level debris. Photograph from multiple angles.
Measure and compare hailstones. If the storm just ended and hailstones are still on the ground, place a coin, ruler, or other common object next to them for scale. Photograph them. This documents the hail size for your claim.
Note the date and time. Record when the storm occurred and when you conducted your inspection.
Save weather reports. Screenshot or save local weather reports, storm warnings, and any radar data showing the storm. These corroborate your timeline insurance claim assistance.
When to Call a Professional
You should call a roofing contractor for a professional inspection if you see any of the following: hail dents on gutters, siding, or HVAC units (these almost always mean the roof was hit too), shingle fragments or heavy granule accumulation on the ground, any sign of water inside the home, visible damage to shingles when viewed from the ground (missing shingles, lifted edges, exposed underlayment), and your neighborhood was in the storm's path based on weather radar.
Even if you do not see obvious damage from the ground, a professional inspection is worthwhile after any storm that produced hail 1 inch or larger. Hail damage to shingles is often not visible from the ground and requires close inspection on the roof surface storm damage services.
What Not to Do
Do not climb on your roof. Leave that to professionals with proper safety equipment.
Do not make permanent repairs before the insurance inspection. Temporary measures to stop active leaks (tarps, buckets) are fine. Permanent repairs before the adjuster sees the damage can complicate your claim.
Do not sign a contract with the first person who knocks on your door. After major storms, storm chasers blanket affected neighborhoods. Take your time, verify credentials, and choose a contractor you trust.
Do not wait too long. Most policies require timely reporting of damage. File your claim within a few days of the storm, not weeks or months later.
Gates Enterprises Post-Storm Inspections
Gates Enterprises provides free post-storm inspections for Colorado Front Range homeowners. We inspect every component of your roof system, document damage with detailed photos and measurements, and provide a written report you can use for your insurance claim.
Call (720) 766-3377 or contact us online after any significant storm for a free professional inspection.