Hail is a covered peril on nearly every Florida homeowner policy, yet hail claims get denied more often than wind claims. The reason is documentation: hail damage is subtle, it is often found late, and by then the carrier argues it is wear. Here is the process that gets a hail claim approved.
Step 1: Get on the Roof Within Days, Not Months
Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 627.70132) gives you one year from the date of loss to report a new claim. The practical deadline is much shorter: the sooner an inspection documents fresh strikes with the storm date, the harder it is to call them wear. Sunny Roofing’s hail damage inspection is free and produces the report the adjuster needs.
Step 2: Document the Way Adjusters Do
- Test squares: a 10-by-10-foot area marked on each slope with every strike circled and counted
- Soft metals: dents on gutters, downspouts, vents, flashing and AC fins, which prove hail size and direction
- Close-up photos of bruising, granule loss and cracked mats
- The storm date and, where available, weather-service hail reports for your area
- Photos of collateral damage: screens, siding, windows, cars
Step 3: File the Claim
Call your carrier or file online. Give the date of loss and say the roof was inspected and hail damage was documented. You will receive a claim number and an adjuster appointment. Do not sign any document from a contractor that assigns your claim benefits to them.
Step 4: The Adjuster Visit
Have your roofer’s report in hand and, if possible, have the roofer present. The adjuster will mark their own test squares. Strike density per square is what decides repair vs replacement; carriers commonly use a threshold per test square, and the threshold varies by carrier and policy. If your roofer’s count and the adjuster’s count differ, that is resolved in writing, not on the roof.
Step 5: Repair or Replacement
Isolated strikes on one slope are a repair. Widespread bruising is a replacement. Two Florida rules help here: the matching statute (Fla. Stat. § 626.9744) can require the carrier to replace undamaged slopes if new shingles would not reasonably match, and the 25 percent rule (Fla. Stat. § 553.844) can force a full-section replacement on roofs built before the 2007 code. Sunny Roofing writes the scope so both are addressed.
Step 6: Payment and Work
The carrier pays the approved amount less your deductible; on replacement-cost policies, part is held back until the work is complete. Sunny Roofing schedules the roof once the scope is approved and handles the final documentation for the holdback. If the deductible is a stretch, financing can cover it.
You Cannot Be Dropped for a Hail Claim
Fla. Stat. § 627.4133(3) prohibits an insurer from cancelling or non-renewing a policy because of a claim caused by an act of God, which includes hailstorms. More on the insurance claim assistance page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the adjuster says it is not hail?
Ask for the denial in writing with the reason, then request a re-inspection with your roofer present. A licensed public adjuster or attorney can help if the carrier will not move.
Does hail damage get worse if I wait?
Yes. Bruised shingles lose granules and crack over the following seasons, and the claim window closes one year from the storm.
Can I keep the insurance money and not fix the roof?
On a replacement-cost policy, the carrier holds back part of the payment until the work is done. Not repairing also creates problems on your next renewal and any future claim.
Talk to Sunny Roofing
Sunny Roofing is a veteran-owned, BBB A+ accredited, Florida-certified roofing contractor (CCC1333142) serving Orlando and Central Florida since 2018. Every job gets a dedicated project manager, a 15-year workmanship warranty and a cleanup guarantee. Book a free inspection online or call (561) 650-1355.