A roof leak after a hail storm needs action in a specific order: protect the inside of the house, get the opening covered, document everything, then book an inspection and start your insurance claim. Handling it in that sequence limits water damage and keeps your claim clean. Here is exactly how to work through the first two days.
Water coming through the ceiling right now? Call Cannon Roofing at (940) 627-1045. We are open 24/7 for emergency roofing across Wise County and North Texas. If it can wait until morning, use our contact page.
Hour one: protect the inside of your home
Before you think about the roof, stop the water from spreading indoors.
- Put buckets, trash cans or storage tubs under drips. Lay towels around them to catch splash.
- Move furniture, rugs, electronics and anything valuable out of the wet area.
- If a ceiling is bulging with water, keep people and pets away. A roofer or restoration pro can release it safely; a sagging drywall panel full of water is heavy.
- If water is near light fixtures, outlets or a ceiling fan, turn off that circuit at the breaker panel.
Do not go on the roof. Hail leaves ice, loose granules and wet shingles, and storms in North Texas often bring more lightning and wind behind the first cell.
Getting the roof covered
An open leak needs a temporary cover until permanent repairs are possible.
Emergency tarping
A properly installed tarp is secured over the ridge and fastened with battens so wind cannot get under it. A tarp tossed over the damage and weighed down with bricks usually blows off in the next gust. Our guide to emergency roof tarping explains what a correct installation looks like.
Why emergency steps matter to your claim
Most homeowners policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage after a loss. Temporary protection like tarping is usually part of that. Keep any invoice or receipt for emergency work and hand it to your adjuster.
If you cannot reach anyone that night
Keep containers in place, keep the area ventilated with fans, and take photos every few hours showing that you were managing the water. That record shows you acted promptly.
Documenting the hail damage
Good records make everything after this faster. Start before anything is cleaned up.
Inside the house
Photograph and video every stain, drip, wet floor and damaged item. Include wide shots that show the room and close-ups of the damage. Note the time the leak started.
Outside, from the ground
Photograph hail on the ground next to a coin or ruler if you can do it safely. Then look for collateral damage: dented gutters and downspouts, dinged AC fins, cracked window screens, marked patio furniture and spatter marks on painted surfaces. Adjusters look at these clues to confirm hail size and direction. Our checklist on photos for a roof claim lists what to capture.
What not to do
Skip the ladder, skip the roofing cement from the hardware store, and be wary of anyone who knocks on your door the next morning offering to handle everything. Storm chasers follow hail across Texas, and a hurried contract signed on the porch is hard to unwind. Take a day, check who you are dealing with, and use a local contractor with a physical address you can visit.
Write down the storm details
Record the date, approximate time and anything unusual, such as strong wind from one direction. It is easy to forget once the calls and paperwork start.
Booking a professional inspection
A leak tells you water got in, but not how much of the roof is damaged. Hail rarely hits just one spot. A roofer inspects each slope, marks and photographs hits on shingles, checks flashing, vents and ridge caps, and looks in the attic for wet decking and insulation.
Cannon Roofing has been doing this since 1994 in Decatur, Bridgeport, Boyd, Chico and across North Texas. Every crew member holds the Technician Seal of Safety: background checked, drug tested, factory trained and insured. We offer a free roof inspection, and you get photo documentation you can share with your insurer. When the leak is stopped and the damage is scoped, our roof repair team handles the permanent fix, or the replacement if the roof is beyond repair.
Filing a claim for a roof leak after a hail storm
With the house protected and photos in hand, call your insurer or file online. Have your policy number, storm date, photos and any emergency invoices ready. The insurer will assign an adjuster to inspect.
- Ask what your deductible is for wind and hail, since it may differ from your other deductible.
- Ask about deadlines for filing and for completing repairs.
- Keep a log of every call: date, name and what was said.
Our insurance claims help is there if you want a contractor who knows how storm claims work to walk you through the roofing side. We document and explain the damage; you stay in control of your claim.
Frequently asked questions
Can hail cause a leak weeks after the storm?
Yes. Bruised shingles and cracked seals may hold for a while and then let water in during the next heavy or wind-driven rain. That is why an inspection is worth it even if the ceiling looks dry.
Should I get the roof repaired before the adjuster comes?
Do temporary protection like tarping right away, but hold off on permanent repairs until the adjuster has seen the damage, unless your insurer tells you otherwise.
Will my insurance pay for the ceiling as well as the roof?
Interior water damage from a covered storm is often covered along with the roof, subject to your policy and deductible. Your adjuster will confirm.
When hail opens up your roof, call Cannon Roofing first at (940) 627-1045, any hour. We will get the leak covered, inspect the full roof at no charge and give you the photos and scope you need. You can also message us on our contact page.