Wind Damage and Hail Damage: What to Look For
Most storm damage in Michigan comes from two sources, wind and hail, and both can be hard to spot from the ground. Catching it matters, because damage left alone shortens your roof's life and can be denied by insurance if you wait too long to file.
Wind Damage
Straight-line wind and gusts over 60 mph lift shingles at the edges, break the seal strips that bond them down, and peel whole sections off in severe storms. Even shingles that look fine can have broken seals that let water in during the next rain.
Signs to Look For
- Missing or lifted shingles
- Shingle debris in the yard
- Granules washing into the gutters
Hail Damage
Hail bruises shingles and knocks off the protective granules, cracking the mat underneath even when there is no obvious hole. This damage is easy to miss from the driveway but shortens the roof's life and often shows up as leaks days or weeks later.
Signs to Look For
- Bruised shingles losing their granules
- Dented gutters, downspouts, and vents
- Leaks appearing days or weeks after the storm
After the recent storm damage to my house they came out quickly and patched till they could fully repair, which then occurred the next week. Very good work and great communication.
The Storm Chaser Problem : Out-of-Town Roofers and Scams
The Better Business Bureau reports that roofing is the most frequently reported type of home improvement fraud , and complaints spike right after severe weather. Here is how the storm chaser operation works, so you can spot it.
A crew arrives in a storm-hit area, often from out of state. Polished salespeople, frequently not roofers at all, canvass door to door, claim they spotted damage from the road, offer a free inspection, and push for a signature that same visit.
They prioritize speed over quality, use whatever crews they can assemble, and then leave town. When the roof leaks in a few years, they are long gone, and so is your warranty.
These are the red flags worth memorizing.
| Red Flag | Why It Is a Problem |
|---|---|
| Knocks on your door after a storm | Legitimate local roofers rarely cold-knock |
| Out-of-state plates or a P.O. box address | They can disappear with no recourse for you |
| Pushes you to sign that same day | Prevents you from getting other bids or checking them |
| Offers to "waive" your deductible | This is insurance fraud, and it puts you at legal risk |
| Promises a "free roof" | The claim gets inflated to cover the deductible they absorbed |
| Wants full payment up front | Legitimate contractors bill in stages |
Why a Local Roofer Matters After a Storm
A roof warranty is only worth something if the company that gave it is still around to honor it. That is the whole case for hiring local. When the next storm tests the repair in three years, we are still here at our Waterford and Commerce Township shops, not unreachable in another state.
Local also means we know Oakland County roofs, we have relationships built on hundreds of honest claims, and our reputation lives or dies on how we treat your neighbors. A storm chaser has no reputation to protect here because they will never be back. We answer to this community every single day.
| Category | Local Roofer (180 Contractors) | Out-of-Town Storm Chaser |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Two Oakland County shops you can visit | P.O. box or out-of-state |
| In 5 Years | Still here to honor the warranty | Gone, warranty worthless |
| Reputation | Hundreds of local reviews | None here, never coming back |
| Your Deductible | Charged honestly, as required | "Waived," which is fraud |
| Reviews You Can Check | 5.0 stars, 258 Google, 617 GuildQuality | Unverifiable or none |
What to Do After a Storm
A few smart steps protect both your home and your claim.
- Look, do not climb Check for missing shingles, debris, and dented gutters from the ground. Stay off the roof.
- Photograph everything Date-stamped photos of damage and any interior leaks strengthen your claim.
- Do not sign with a door-knocker Wait, verify licensing and insurance, and call a local roofer with an established address.
- Get a real inspection before filing Filing too early, before a proper assessment, can lead to a denied claim or worse.
- Never let a stranger inspect unsupervised Some bad actors create damage during a "free inspection" to justify the job.