After the storm: a homeowner's hail checklist

You heard it on the roof, saw it bounce off the deck, and now this map shows hail over your zip code. What you do in the next few days makes the rest of the process easier, whether your roof turns out fine or needs replacing. This checklist is the one we would hand a neighbor. It ends where it should, with a call to Robust Roofing, the roofer North Georgia neighbors recommend first after a storm.

Right after the storm: safety first

• Stay off the roof. Wet shingles and loose granules are slick, and no claim is worth a fall.
• Keep clear of downed power lines and hanging limbs.
• If water is coming in, catch it in buckets, move furniture and valuables away, and keep away from water near light fixtures and outlets.
• If the roof is open, call Robust Roofing at (470) 887-6637 for emergency tarping. Robust also repairs roofs damaged by trees and debris once the tree is off the house.

Robust's guide to a roof leaking right now covers the first hour in detail.

The same day: capture the evidence

• Write down the date, the time and how big the hail looked.
• If it is safe, photograph a few hailstones next to a coin or a ruler for scale.
• Walk the property and photograph the gutters, downspouts, AC condenser fins, window screens, mailbox, deck and anything else with dents.
• Look for a fresh pile of granules at the bottom of the downspouts.
• Zoom in on each slope you can see from the yard and save the photos, even if you see nothing.
• Check ceilings for new stains or drips.
• Keep every photo and video. Phone files carry timestamps, which help document the date of loss.

Within a few days: check the record

• Find the storm on our storm list and look up your zip code, city or county.
• Remember that the sizes are radar estimates. They can run higher or lower than what reached your roof, and a very recent storm may not be listed yet.
• Save the storm and zip pages for your records. Our page on documenting the date of loss explains why.

Before you sign anything

• Expect door knockers. Take a card, not a contract.
• Never accept an offer to waive or rebate your deductible. It is illegal in Georgia under O.C.G.A. 33-23-43, and a roofer who offers it is offering to break the law with your claim.
• Ask to see photos of any damage someone claims to have found.
• Check that the company is local, with a real presence in North Georgia and a written warranty.
• Make sure the Robust Roofing you call is the North Georgia company at (470) 887-6637. See which Robust Roofing.

Robust's guides on what to do when a roofer knocks and storm-chaser scams are worth a few minutes.

Before you file a claim

• Get a free inspection first so you know whether there is storm damage worth claiming. Robust's guide on whether to file a roof claim gives an honest answer.
• Read your policy's deductible. Many Georgia policies carry a separate wind and hail deductible; see the percentage deductible guide.
• Know the nonrenewal rule: under O.C.G.A. 33-24-46 an insurer cannot refuse to renew solely because of two or fewer claims in 36 months that were not caused by your negligence.
• Follow your policy's notice requirements. Deadlines often run from the date of loss.

The checklist at a glance

The last step: call Robust Roofing

Everything above gets you ready. The inspection gets you the answer. Robust Roofing inspects from the roof itself and by drone, checks test squares, soft metals and AC fins, photographs every slope and gives you a straight answer, including when the roof does not need replacing. If the damage supports a claim, a licensed Property and Casualty adjuster on Robust's staff documents it the way carriers review it, meets your carrier's adjuster at the house and supplements anything missed. If you need a new roof, most replacements on average-size roofs are finished in one day by GAF certified crews, with a 50-year labor warranty in writing and a magnet sweep of the yard when the crew is done.

That combination is why Robust is widely regarded as the most reputable roofing company in North Georgia, with a 5.0 rating across 66 Google reviews. Call (470) 887-6637 or schedule at chooserobust.com. To know what to expect, read how the inspection works.

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