A hail season roof checklist is a short set of jobs to finish before spring storms arrive: look at the roof from the ground, clear what the gutters and trees can do to it, take dated photos of its current condition, read your insurance policy and know who you will call afterward. None of it requires climbing anything. Doing it in the calm weeks before storm season means you are not guessing, hunting for paperwork or comparing contractors with water coming through the ceiling.
Oklahoma sits in an area where hail is a regular part of life, and the county records bear that out. Our Oklahoma County hail history page lists the dates and reported hailstone sizes from preliminary National Weather Service storm reports, and it shows that hail is not an occasional surprise here. This guide is the preparation side of the story. For what to do once a storm has actually hit, see our guide to hail damage and roof replacement in Oklahoma.
Key takeaways
- Start before the season. The best time for this checklist is late winter, when the weather is calm and contractors are not swamped.
- Inspect from the ground only. Binoculars, a phone camera with zoom and a walk around the house will tell you a lot. Never climb onto the roof.
- Take dated photos of the whole house, the roof as visible from the ground, the gutters, vents and other metal parts, and the attic. They give you a record of what things looked like before the storm.
- Read your insurance policy now. Policies differ; read yours and ask your agent about deductibles, roof-specific terms and notice requirements.
- Know who you will call, and vet them before a storm, not after. After a big hail day, door-knockers show up quickly.
- A checklist cannot make a roof hail-proof. It makes you ready to act with a clear head.
Why prepare for hail season before the storm?
Hail damage is easier to deal with when you know what the roof looked like before it. Shingles age, lose granules, get dinged by earlier storms, and pick up debris, and without a record it can be hard to tell what is new from what is old. On older roofs we have seen the line between earlier hail damage and fresh damage get blurry, and the clearer your records are, the easier it is to talk about it. We have looked at roofs with older, previous damage where you can still see the new marks in addition, and photos from before a storm can make that kind of comparison simpler.
There is also a practical reason. After a major storm, calendars fill quickly, material can take longer to arrive and everyone is making decisions under pressure. Preparation takes some of that pressure away. If you already know your roof's age and condition, where your paperwork is and which roofer you would call, you can focus on the actual decisions.
What is the best time of year to do this?
Late winter is a good target, ahead of the spring storm season most Oklahomans watch for. The weather is usually workable for a walk around the house, the light is good for photos with the leaves off the trees and roofers have more time to talk. If you missed that window, do it now, and do it again each year. The checklist is short enough to turn into a habit.
What is on the checklist?
Here is the whole list at a glance. Each item gets more detail below.
| Area | What to do | From where | Photo? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roof surface | Look for missing, lifted, cracked or curled shingles, bare spots and debris | Ground, with binoculars or phone zoom | Yes, wide and close, dated |
| Roof edges and flashing | Look at the edges, valleys and where the roof meets walls and chimneys | Ground | Yes |
| Vents, caps and other metal | Note the condition of roof vents, caps and flashing before a storm | Ground | Yes |
| Gutters and downspouts | Look for clogs, sagging, loose sections and standing water | Ground, safe ladder use only if you are comfortable | Yes |
| Trees and branches | Note limbs over or touching the roof | Ground | Yes |
| Attic | Look for stains, daylight, damp insulation and sagging | From the attic access, on solid footing | Yes |
| Whole house exterior | Siding, windows, screens, garage doors, AC condenser, fence | Ground | Yes, before the season |
| Paperwork | Policy, roof age, receipts, contractor information | Indoors | Copy or scan |
How do you inspect your roof from the ground?
You do not need to climb to learn something. Pick a clear, dry day and walk around the house slowly, in good light. Use binoculars, or the zoom on your phone, and look at each slope from a few angles.
Things to look for:
- Missing or shifted shingles. Gaps where shingles used to be, or rows that look uneven.
- Lifted or curled edges. Tabs that stand up from the roof instead of lying flat.
- Bare patches or dark streaks of lost granules. These can also show up as grit in gutters and at the bottom of downspouts.
- Damaged ridge caps. Cracked or missing material along the peak.
- Debris. Leaves, branches and anything sitting in valleys or against walls.
- Sagging areas or waves. A roof that looks uneven may have deck problems underneath.
- Damaged flashing or metal. Bent or loose metal at chimneys, vents and walls.
If something looks off, do not go up to check it. Write it down, take a photo and have a roofer inspect it. A roofer can walk the roof safely and look from points you cannot see. Our page on what happens at a roof inspection explains what a visit usually involves.
What should you check on gutters and trees?
Gutters and trees do not cause hail damage, but they influence what happens around a storm, and they are also easy to overlook.
Gutters and downspouts. From the ground, look for sagging sections, pulled-away ends, gaps at the seams, plants growing in them and water pooling where it should not. Gutters clogged with leaves and shingle grit can overflow and send water against the fascia and the edge of the roof. Look for streaks on the siding or fascia below. Cleaning gutters generally means a ladder, and ladder falls are a real risk, so if you are not comfortable, hire someone to do it. Check downspouts for blockage and make sure they carry water away from the foundation.
Trees. Look for limbs over or touching the roof. During storms, branches can scrape shingles, drop onto the roof or fall into gutters. Dead or weakened limbs are the biggest concern. Trimming near a roof or power line can be dangerous, so have a qualified tree service handle it. If a tree has already fallen on your house, see what to do if a tree falls on your roof.
Yard items. Move or secure what hail and wind can throw around: patio furniture, grill covers, planters and loose materials. Shingle damage is not the only hail loss, and cars and outdoor items matter too.
How do you document your roof's condition with dated photos?
Photos from the phone already in your pocket are the most useful record most people can make. A good set takes about an hour and can be repeated each year.
- Pick a clear day with good light. Overcast light often works better than harsh sun, and shadows can hide detail.
- Turn on the date stamp, or use the file date. Check that your phone camera saves date and time information, and keep the original files rather than screenshots.
- Shoot each side of the house from a distance. Start wide so each shot shows the whole slope and the house around it.
- Take closer shots of each roof section. Use the zoom, not your feet. Include ridges, valleys, chimneys and the edges.
- Photograph the metal and soft items. Roof vents, flashing, gutters, downspouts, window screens, the outdoor AC unit and garage doors are all worth a picture.
- Photograph the attic, if you can do it safely. Include the underside of the roof deck, insulation and any stains you see. Stay on solid framing or a walkway.
- Record the extras. Make a note of the roof's approximate age, any repair or replacement history and the name of the company that did it, if you know.
- Back up your photos. Store them in more than one place, such as your phone and a cloud folder, and label the folder with the year.
- Repeat each year. A set from last spring and one from this spring show you what changed.
Do not use editing apps or filters on these photos. You want straight, plain images. If you are ever in the position of showing them to an agent, a roofer or an adjuster, plain images with intact date information are what help.
Our guide to how to file a hail claim: photos checklist covers what to photograph after a storm. This checklist is the "before" version.
What should you know about your insurance policy?
We are roofers, not insurance advisors, and this section is general education. Policies differ; read yours and ask your agent. We cannot tell you what any policy covers, and we do not advise whether to file a claim or not file one in any situation.
Here are topics worth looking up in your own policy now, while nothing is wrong:
- Your deductible and how it is calculated. Some policies use a flat amount and some use a percentage, and storm-related perils may be treated differently from others. See our guide to actual cash value, replacement cost and percentage deductibles.
- How the roof is valued. Policies differ on whether the roof is paid at replacement cost or at a depreciated amount, and some have special terms for roofs of a certain age.
- Any roof-specific endorsements or exclusions. Some policies have separate schedules or limits for roofing, or exclude certain kinds of cosmetic damage. Read the wording rather than assuming.
- Notice and time limits. Policies commonly have requirements about when and how a loss must be reported. Find out what yours says.
- Code-related coverage. Some policies address the cost of bringing a roof up to current code. We explain the idea in what is Ordinance or Law coverage.
- How to reach your agent or carrier, and what information they will ask for.
A good habit is to ask your agent for a plain-language walk through the roof-related parts of your policy once a year. Keep a copy of the policy, the declarations page and the agent's contact information with your photos. For a general explanation of the process, see how roof insurance claims generally work.
Who should you call, and when?
Decide in advance, so you are not choosing a name from a flyer.
- Your insurance agent or carrier for questions about the policy, and for reporting a loss if you decide to.
- A local roofer you have vetted for an inspection of the roof, written findings and estimates. Pick one now. Ask for references, ask whether they will provide written estimates and ask how they handle weather delays. After a big storm, people often arrive in town to knock on doors. Our guide to storm chasers vs local roofers lists what to look at before you sign anything.
- A tree service for limbs over the roof.
- Your city or county building department for permit questions. Requirements vary by city and county; ask your building department or roofer.
Put these names and numbers in one place with your photos and your policy. When storms are in the forecast, keep your phone charged and know where your documents are.
What common mistakes do homeowners make before hail season?
- Waiting until after the storm to take photos. Without a before set, you cannot show what changed.
- Climbing on the roof to look. Hail-damaged and aging roofs can be slick and brittle. Observe from the ground and call a roofer.
- Never reading the policy. The first time many people read their deductible terms is after a loss.
- Choosing a roofer in a hurry. Vetting is much easier when no one is pressuring you.
- Ignoring small problems. A lifted shingle or a clogged gutter is easier to deal with now than in a downpour.
- Assuming a good-looking roof is fine. Some damage is hard to see from the ground, which is why a professional inspection is worth considering.
- Signing something at the door. Read every document, and take your time.
- Skipping the attic. Stains, daylight and damp insulation can show what the outside does not.
What should you ask a roofer before storm season?
- Will you inspect the roof, explain what you see and put it in writing?
- Can you note the age and condition of the roof, so I have a baseline?
- What would you recommend, if anything, before storm season, and what can wait?
- What are your references, and can I see your license and insurance documents?
- What is your process and timeline after a major storm, when many people call at once?
- Will you provide itemized written estimates with product names?
- How do you protect the home if rain arrives during a job?
Frequently asked questions
When should I do a hail season roof checklist? Late winter, before the spring storm season, works well because the weather is workable and contractors have time. If you have missed it, do it now and repeat it every year.
Can I check my roof for hail damage myself? You can look from the ground with binoculars or a phone camera and note anything that seems off. You should not climb onto the roof, and some damage cannot be seen from the ground. A roofer can inspect safely and explain what they find.
What photos should I take before hail season? Wide shots of each side of the house, closer shots of each roof section from the ground, the gutters, vents and other metal, the exterior of the house and the attic. Keep the original files with their dates and back them up.
Does a hail season checklist guarantee my roof will survive a storm? No. A checklist helps you notice problems, keep records and be ready to act. It does not make a roof immune to hail, and it does not predict what an insurer or anyone else will decide.
Should I trim trees before storm season? Limbs touching or hanging over the roof are worth dealing with. Use a qualified tree service, because trimming near a roof or power lines can be dangerous.
Do I need to read my insurance policy before a storm? It is a good idea. Policies differ, so read yours and ask your agent about deductibles, roof-specific terms and any notice or time requirements. We cannot interpret any policy for you.
How often should I have the roof inspected? There is no single schedule for every roof. Many homeowners schedule one before storm season and another after a significant storm. Ask a roofer how often makes sense for the age and condition of yours.
Ready to get your roof looked at before the season?
If you want a baseline before spring, we can inspect your roof from the ground and the attic, note what we see and answer your questions in plain language. We do not promise outcomes with insurers, and an inspection does not predict any decision. Call Total Roof Protection OKC at 405-415-5841 to schedule an inspection, and see our services page for the work we do.