Hail and wind damage roof repair in Madison

The storm track, and who gets hit first

Dane County's damaging storms come from the southwest. They build over Iowa County in the afternoon, cross the Wisconsin River, and hit Verona and Fitchburg first, then the west side of Madison, then the isthmus, then Sun Prairie and DeForest on the way out. Hail is worst in May and June; straight-line wind runs through July and into August. The subdivisions with the most exposed west-facing slope — Hawks Landing, the newer parts of Verona, the open ground around Sun Prairie — lose shingles first.

Storm damage roof repair in Madison: the first week

For storm damage roof repair, Madison's first week usually goes like this.

The night of the storm. Stay off the roof. Wet shingles on a two-story after dark are how people get hurt. If water is coming in, move the furniture, put a bucket under it, and photograph everything with a time stamp. The night of the storm, the only roofing job is a tarp.

The next morning. Walk the yard. Shingles on the grass, granules piled at the downspout outlets, dents in the gutters, the mailbox, the AC condenser fins. Call a roofer for a tarp ($300–$700 on most roofs) and a written repair estimate.

Days two to seven. Call your insurer with the photos and get the claim number and the adjuster's name. This is also the week the out-of-state trucks appear. Don't sign anything yet.

Weeks two to six. The adjuster visits and decides what's covered. You can ask your roofer to be there to point out damage, but in Wisconsin only a public adjuster licensed by the Office of the Commissioner of Insurance can negotiate a claim for a homeowner. Then the repair or replacement gets scheduled; after a big storm, expect a wait of three to six weeks for anything that isn't leaking.

Hail or wind: what the damage looks like

Photograph every slope you can see from the ground and every dented gutter, downspout and vent cap. For hail damage roof repair, Madison, WI policies vary in what they cover and how, so read yours before the adjuster comes.

Storm contracts and your deductible

Be wary of any roofer who offers to cover, waive or rebate your deductible — Wisconsin restricts it, and it can put your claim at risk. A "free roof" offer is an invoice about to be inflated. Wisconsin also gives homeowners cancellation rights on some home-solicited and insurance-contingent roofing contracts; check the current rules with the Wisconsin DATCP or an attorney before you sign.

Also read your declarations page. Some policies carry a separate wind/hail deductible, often a percentage of dwelling coverage. For example, 1–2% on a $400,000 house would be $4,000–$8,000. Get a written repair price and compare it with your deductible; your agent can explain how a claim would work on your policy.

The trucks with magnetic signs

Within days of hail, crews work the doors along Highway 151 in Sun Prairie, Highway 14 through Fitchburg and Oregon, and the cul-de-sacs off Mineral Point Road. Some are legitimate. Some will be gone in two years, with nobody to call. Before signing an assignment of benefits or a contingency agreement, check the contractor's Wisconsin credentials with the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) and your city's permit office, and run through our list of questions to ask Madison roofing contractors. Whoever you hire, ask to see their certificate of insurance before work starts.

Comparing storm estimates

After a big storm you may end up with two or three written prices for the same roof. Lay them side by side and check the same lines on each: which slopes are being replaced, whether the gutters, vent caps and ridge cap are on the list, whether the underlayment and ice barrier match what a regular replacement would get, and how decking is priced. An estimate that is far lower usually leaves out a slope or the soft metals. One that's far higher should be explained by something you can see.

Ask each roofer how the price would change if you only replace the slopes your claim covers. A good one will tell you plainly what that amount buys and what it doesn't, and leave the coverage questions to you and your insurer.

Common mistakes after a storm

• Climbing a wet ladder to look for yourself.
• Cleaning up the yard and the gutters before taking photos.
• Signing a "free inspection" form that turns out to be a contract.
• Waiting until fall to report hail you noticed in June.
• Assuming a neighbor's claim result tells you anything about your own roof.

Questions to ask before you sign a storm contract

• Where is your office, and who answers the phone after the storm crews leave?
• What Wisconsin credential do you hold, and who pulls the permit?
• Will you put the workmanship warranty in years, in writing?
• What's on this contract besides the price — any assignment, contingency or cancellation terms?

After the check arrives

If the roof was 20 years old and hail got every slope, the payout may cover a full replacement, and Class 4 impact-rated shingles are worth pricing while you're at it. Some insurers discount for Class 4 shingles; ask your agent for the amount before you order. If only one slope was hit, a good roofer will tell you whether the money is better spent on a repair. The storm damage checklist walks you through the morning after, and the roof inspection page explains what a roof inspection includes. Whatever the claim pays, the new roof should get the same underlayment, ice barrier and nailing as any other.