What we check on a hail inspection
We look at the whole exterior, because that is what your adjuster will do. A proper hail inspection covers:
- Every slope of the roof. We mark a 10 ft × 10 ft test square on each slope and count hits inside it. Insurers use counts like this to decide between repair and replacement.
- Soft metals. Roof vents, ridge vents, flashing, chimney caps and satellite dishes dent easily and show hail size and direction. They are the first evidence an adjuster looks for.
- Shingle bruising. Hail often cracks the fibreglass mat under the granules without leaving a visible hole. We press each suspect spot. A soft, spongy feel means the mat is fractured and the shingle will fail early.
- Granule loss. Fresh dark spots where granules were knocked off, and granules piled in eavestroughs and at downspout outlets.
- Gutters, downspouts and fascia. Dents, splits and pulled hangers.
- Siding, window wraps and screens. Torn screens and cracked vinyl siding back up the roof findings.
- Attic, if there are leak signs. Wet sheathing or stained insulation means the problem is already past the shingles.
What you get afterwards
You get a photo report the same day or the next morning. Every photo has a chalk mark and a scale reference, so the size of each hit is clear. The report ends with one of three plain answers:
- No significant damage. No claim needed. Keep the report on file.
- Repairable damage. A few broken shingles, a dented vent or a lifted flashing. We quote the repair. It may cost less than your deductible.
- Damage that supports a claim. Enough hits per test square on enough slopes that a replacement is likely. We explain how to open a claim and offer to meet your adjuster.
If you already have a claim number, add it to the form and we will put it on the report.
Why inspect even if the roof looks fine
Hail damage is usually invisible from the street. A shingle with a cracked mat can look normal for a year, then start losing granules and letting water through. By then it may be hard to connect the damage to a specific storm, and your insurer may argue it is wear.
Calgary also gets hit often. If your house was in the path of the August 5, 2024 storm or the July 13, 2025 storm and nobody has been on the roof since, an inspection now creates a dated record before the next season.
Safe ways to check from the ground first
You do not need to climb onto the roof. Walk around the house and look at:
- the tops of metal roof vents and the furnace exhaust cap
- the eavestroughs and the bottom of each downspout
- window screens and the window wraps on the sunny side of the house
- your car, deck railings, patio furniture and fence caps
If you see fresh dents or splatter marks on any of those, hail was big enough to damage shingles. Our signs of hail damage guide has photos of each.
Who does the inspection
Every inspection is done by a Calgary Hail Roof Repair estimator, not a subcontracted canvasser. The same person writes your report, answers your questions and, if you want, meets your adjuster. We carry liability insurance and our crew is covered by WCB Alberta (account [WCB ALBERTA ACCOUNT #]), so nobody on your roof is your liability.
What’s in the photo report
Your report is built to be useful whether or not you file a claim:
- Roof overview with each slope labelled (front, rear, left, right, garage)
- Test-square photos for each slope, with hits circled and counted
- Close-ups of bruised shingles, dented vents, damaged flashing, gutters and siding, each with a coin or tape measure for scale
- Other findings such as worn vent boots, poor ventilation or installation defects, labelled separately so they aren’t confused with hail damage
- Our recommendation: no claim, repair, or replacement, in one sentence
You can forward it to your insurer, your broker, or another roofer for a second opinion.
Inspections when buying or selling a home
North Calgary, Airdrie and Strathmore have had several major hailstorms since 2020, and a general home inspection often doesn’t get onto the roof. If you are buying, a roof-specific inspection tells you whether hail damage was repaired, ignored, or never claimed. That can affect your offer and whether the seller should file a claim before closing.
If you are selling, a recent clean report, or proof of a recent insurer-approved replacement, answers a question buyers in these areas now routinely ask.
Booking during storm season
After a large storm, inspection requests spike for weeks. To get the earliest slot, book online with your address and storm date, and add photos of anything you can see from the ground. We group inspections by neighbourhood so we can see more roofs each day.
Ready to book? Use the form on this page or call [403-XXX-XXXX]. During storm season we try to inspect within 48 hours of your call.