Expert Hail Damage Assessment & Repairs for St. Louis Homeowners — We Work Directly with Your Insurance Company
No cost inspection • Insurance claim specialists • Fast repairs
St. Louis sits squarely in "Hail Alley"—the region of the United States most prone to damaging hailstorms. Missouri ranks among the top 10 states for hail claims, and the St. Louis metropolitan area experiences significant hailstorms multiple times per year, particularly during spring (March through May) when severe weather systems move through the region. These storms can produce hailstones ranging from pea-sized to golf ball-sized or larger, causing extensive damage to roofs, siding, vehicles, and outdoor structures.
The challenge with hail damage is that it's often not immediately obvious to homeowners. Unlike wind damage where you can see missing shingles from the ground, or a leak that drips into your living room, hail damage may not cause immediate leaks. However, hail impacts compromise the protective granule layer on asphalt shingles, bruise and crack the shingle material, and shorten your roof's lifespan significantly. What looks like minor cosmetic damage from the ground may actually be serious structural compromise that will lead to leaks within months or years.
At STL Roofing Pros, we've inspected and repaired hundreds of hail-damaged roofs throughout Arnold, Fenton, Ballwin, Chesterfield, Kirkwood, Webster Groves, Oakville, and across the St. Louis metro area. We know exactly what insurance adjusters look for when assessing hail damage, how to properly document damage to support your claim, and how to restore your roof to full protective integrity. If you've experienced a hailstorm in your area—even if you don't see obvious damage—you should have your roof professionally inspected.
The St. Louis area has experienced several significant hailstorms in recent years that damaged thousands of roofs:
If your home was in the path of any of these storms, you may have covered damage even if you haven't noticed leaks yet.
Even if your roof isn't leaking right now, hail damage requires prompt attention:
Don't wait for leaks to appear. Hail damage may be covered by insurance, but you must act within your policy's time limits.
Hail damage to asphalt shingles manifests in several ways. Understanding these signs helps you recognize when professional inspection is needed:
Hail impacts create soft, bruised areas on shingles that feel spongy when pressed. These compromised areas lose their waterproofing and will eventually crack and leak.
Hailstones knock protective granules off shingles, exposing the underlying asphalt mat. These dark spots lose UV protection and deteriorate rapidly in St. Louis sun.
Large hailstones crack shingles on impact. These cracks may be hairline or obvious, but all allow water penetration and will expand during freeze-thaw cycles.
Fresh hail hits appear as shiny black circles where the impact crushed shingle granules into the asphalt mat—a clear sign of recent hail damage.
Check metal roof vents, flashing, gutters, downspouts, and AC units. If these have hail dents, your shingles almost certainly have damage too.
Hail creates random damage patterns across the roof, unlike uniform aging. Damage is often worst on slopes facing the storm direction.
We've helped hundreds of St. Louis homeowners navigate the hail damage insurance claims process. Here's how we make it easy:
We thoroughly inspect your entire roof from the surface, document all hail damage with detailed photos, check metal components for impact evidence, and assess whether you have sufficient damage to file an insurance claim. This inspection is completely free with no obligation.
We tell you honestly whether you should file a claim. Not all hail damage qualifies for insurance coverage—it must meet minimum thresholds. We never pressure homeowners to file unnecessary claims. If damage is minor, we'll tell you, and you can decide whether to pay out-of-pocket for repairs.
If we determine you have covered damage, we guide you through filing your insurance claim. You contact your insurance company to open the claim, and they assign an adjuster. We provide you with our documentation to support your claim from the beginning.
We meet the insurance adjuster on-site during their inspection, point out all damage we've documented, ensure nothing is missed, and advocate for proper coverage. Our experience with claims means we know exactly what adjusters look for and how to demonstrate covered damage.
Once your insurance company provides a settlement estimate, we review it with you to ensure it covers all necessary repairs and matches actual costs. If the settlement is insufficient, we help you negotiate or file a supplement for additional damage discovered during repairs.
Once your claim is approved, we schedule your roof repair or replacement at your convenience. We handle all work according to manufacturer specifications and local building codes, provide regular updates, and ensure you're completely satisfied with the finished result.
Common questions about hail damage, inspections, and insurance claims in the St. Louis area.
From the ground, hail damage may not be obvious. Look for these visible indicators: dents or dings on metal roof components (vents, flashing, gutters, AC units), damage to siding or outdoor furniture, and shingle granules collecting in downspouts or landscaping. However, the most reliable way to determine hail damage is a professional roof inspection.
We inspect from the roof surface itself, checking for soft spots, bruising, granule loss, cracks, and impact patterns that indicate hail. These signs are often invisible from the ground but can significantly compromise your roof's protective ability. If you experienced a hailstorm in your neighborhood—especially one that damaged vehicles or broke windows—you should have your roof inspected even if you don't see obvious damage.
Usually not immediately. This is what makes hail damage deceptive and why many homeowners miss their insurance claim window. Hail impacts bruise and crack shingles, knock off protective granules, and compromise the shingle's waterproof seal—but water infiltration often doesn't become apparent for months or even years.
However, the damage accelerates aging dramatically. What would have been a 25-year roof might only last 5-10 more years after significant hail damage. Additionally, once damaged shingles start to leak, you may have interior damage to insulation, drywall, and personal property—none of which will be covered by insurance if you're outside your claim window. That's why it's critical to inspect and file claims promptly after Missouri hailstorms.
For most standard asphalt shingles, hailstones of 1 inch diameter (quarter-sized) or larger can cause damage. However, several factors affect damage severity: hailstone size and density, wind speed during the storm (wind-driven hail hits harder), roof age and shingle condition (older shingles bruise more easily), roof pitch (steeper roofs sustain less direct impact), and shingle quality (premium impact-resistant shingles withstand larger hail). Golf ball-sized hail (1.75 inches) almost always damages standard asphalt shingles. Baseball-sized hail (2.75 inches) can be catastrophic to roofs, siding, and vehicles. Even smaller hail can damage older or lower-quality shingles. If your area experienced any hail, inspection is worthwhile.
Yes, absolutely—if you have verifiable hail damage that meets insurance coverage thresholds. Insurance policies cover damage when it occurs, not when it starts leaking. Waiting for leaks means you're allowing covered damage to worsen and potentially cause interior damage that won't be covered if you're outside your policy's time limits.
Most insurance policies require claims within 12-24 months of the damage date (the date of the hailstorm, not when you discover damage). If you wait 3 years until leaks appear, your insurance company will likely deny the claim because you filed too late. Our free inspection determines whether your damage meets claim thresholds—we never encourage unnecessary claims, but if you have covered damage, you should file promptly.
If hail damage is widespread across your roof, yes—insurance typically covers complete roof replacement. Most insurance companies use a threshold of 8-10 "test squares" (10x10 foot sections). If 8 or more test squares show sufficient hail damage (typically 8-10 impacts per square), they approve full replacement rather than spot repairs. This makes sense because patching a heavily damaged roof isn't effective—the entire roof system has been compromised. The extent of coverage depends on your policy type. "Replacement cost" policies pay to replace your roof with new materials of similar quality. "Actual cash value" policies depreciate based on your roof's age, paying less for older roofs. We help document damage thoroughly to support your claim for the coverage you deserve.
First, document the storm if possible—take photos of hailstones (place a coin or ruler next to them for size reference), note the date and time, and photograph any obvious damage to vehicles, siding, or outdoor items. Don't climb on your roof yourself—hail-damaged shingles can be slippery and fragile. Instead, do a visual inspection from the ground looking for obvious damage signs. Check gutters and downspouts for fresh granule accumulation. Schedule a professional roof inspection as soon as possible—we typically have high demand after major storms, so calling within a few days is wise. Don't file an insurance claim yet—wait until after professional inspection confirms you have covered damage. Many St. Louis storms produce hail that doesn't reach damage thresholds. Be wary of door-to-door storm chasers who appear immediately after storms—work with established local contractors with proper licensing and insurance.
Free inspection, honest assessment, and expert insurance claim assistance for St. Louis homeowners.