Hail season in Minnesota runs roughly from late spring through summer, and a single storm can leave damage across an entire neighborhood in minutes. The roof gets most of the attention, but hail claims are often won or lost on the details: a dented downspout, a torn window screen, flattened air-conditioner fins. This checklist walks through what to document, in what order, and why each item matters when the adjuster writes the estimate.
Right after the storm
Start while the evidence is fresh.
- Note the date and time. Write down when the storm hit and how long it lasted.
- Photograph hailstones next to a coin or ruler, if you can do so safely.
- Look for spatter marks on decks, fences, mailboxes and driveways. Fresh hail often leaves clean spots on oxidized or dirty surfaces.
- Save local reports. News coverage or neighbor photos help establish that hail fell in your area on that date.
Do not climb onto the roof. Ground-level photos and a professional inspection are safer and more useful.
Roof checklist
A roofer or appraiser will inspect each slope, but you can help by knowing what they are looking for:
- Bruises or soft spots in asphalt shingles where the mat has fractured
- Granule loss exposing the black mat, often in circular patterns
- Cracked or split shingles, especially on older roofs
- Dented metal vents, flashing, drip edge and ridge caps
- Damaged skylights or skylight flashing
Measure what matters
Roof claims are priced by the square, so measurements drive the dollars. Pitch also matters, because steeper roofs need more labor and safety equipment. Our roof area and pitch calculator gives a rough, illustrative estimate you can compare against the adjuster’s numbers.
Siding and exterior checklist
Many Minnesota homes have painted steel or aluminum siding, which dents easily and is notoriously hard to match. Vinyl can crack, especially in cooler weather.
- Dents in steel or aluminum siding, best seen with low-angle light
- Cracks or holes in vinyl siding
- Chipped paint on wood trim, window frames and doors
- Dented garage doors and storm doors
- Damage on all elevations, not just the side facing the storm
Gutters, screens and mechanicals
These “soft metals” are often the best evidence of hail size and direction. They also add up in the estimate.
- Dented gutters and downspouts, including the backs of downspouts
- Torn or dented window screens
- Bent fins on air-conditioner condensers and heat pumps
- Dented roof vents, chimney caps and exhaust hoods
- Damage to outdoor lighting, satellite dishes and solar equipment
AC fin damage is a common sticking point. Some carriers pay for fin combing; others accept that the coil needs replacement. Photos of the fins before anyone straightens them are valuable.
Matching: the Minnesota sticking point
Matching disputes are frequent in hail claims here. If hail damages two walls of discontinued steel siding, can the house be repaired so it looks reasonably uniform with only those walls replaced? Or does the siding on undamaged walls need replacement too? The same question comes up with shingles that have been discontinued or have weathered to a different color.
Policy language and claim handling standards affect how matching is treated, so read your policy. From a valuation standpoint, document the problem clearly:
- Get a letter from a supplier or manufacturer if the product is discontinued
- Photograph any test piece held against existing siding
- Note sight lines, where a mismatch would be visible from one viewpoint
Keep a simple claim log
A one-page log saves headaches later. Record the claim number, the adjuster’s name and contact details, each inspection date and who attended, every document you sent and when, and each payment received. If the claim later goes to estimate review or appraisal, that log lets everyone reconstruct the file quickly. Store photos in folders by elevation (north, south, east, west, roof, interior) so the person reviewing them can find any item in seconds.
Interior and other structures
Hail can break windows and skylights and lead to interior water damage. Check ceilings beneath skylights and vents. Also inspect detached garages, sheds and fences, which fall under other structures coverage and are easy to forget.
Reviewing the estimate
When the adjuster’s estimate arrives, compare it against your checklist. Common gaps include missing elevations of siding, gutters priced as repairs instead of replacement, no allowance for drip edge or ice and water shield required by code, overhead and profit left off a multi-trade job, and AC damage omitted entirely. A claim estimate review can flag these before you decide on next steps.
If the gap won’t close
If the insurer accepts the claim but the numbers remain far apart after a supplement, appraisal may be appropriate. Minnesota Insurance Appraiser handles hail and roof appraisal statewide. For a sense of whether the gap justifies the cost, try the claim gap fee estimator, which uses illustrative assumptions you can adjust.