This guide is general information for Alberta homeowners, not legal or insurance advice. Your policy wording always decides what is covered, so keep a copy handy and ask your broker when in doubt.
Before you call: three things to have ready
- The storm date. Your insurer will ask for the date of loss first. If you are not sure, check our Calgary hail storm history or storm updates.
- Photos. Dated ground-level photos of dented vents, gutters, downspouts, siding, screens and any interior water stains.
- Your policy number and, ideally, the declarations page showing your deductible and whether there is a separate wind or hail deductible.
Step 1: Make the house safe and stop further damage
If water is coming in, deal with it first. Move belongings, put buckets under drips, and arrange a temporary tarp. Most policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. The cost of an emergency tarp is usually part of the claim, so keep the invoice.
Do not climb onto a hail-damaged roof. It is slippery, and broken shingles can give way.
Step 2: Photograph everything from the ground
Walk around the house and take photos of:
- metal roof vents, the furnace and hot water exhaust caps, and any satellite dish
- eavestroughs, downspouts and the ground below them, where granules collect
- siding, especially on the west and north faces
- window screens, window wraps and skylights
- your vehicles, deck railings, fence caps and patio furniture
- any water stains, wet insulation or ceiling damage inside
Turn on your phone’s date stamp or keep the original files, which hold the date and location.
Step 3: Get the roof inspected
Most roof hail damage cannot be seen from the ground. A roofer’s inspection tells you whether the damage justifies a claim. That matters: if the repair would cost less than your deductible, filing may not be worth it.
A good inspection includes test squares on each slope, photos of each hit with a scale reference, and notes on soft metals, flashing and siding. Ours is free.
Step 4: Report the claim
Call your insurer’s claims line or your broker. Tell them:
- the storm date and approximate time
- what you have seen (dents, leaks, broken shingles, siding damage)
- whether there is water getting in
Write down the claim number, the adjuster’s name, and how to reach them. Ask whether your policy has a separate wind or hail deductible.
Under Alberta rules, your insurer must also give you written notice of the limitation period that applies to your claim within set timelines. Keep that letter.
Step 5: Meet the adjuster
After a big storm, adjusters may be brought in from across Canada and can be stretched thin. Be there for the inspection, and invite your roofer. A roofer on site can point out damage already marked and photographed, so the adjuster does not have to find every hit alone.
Ask the adjuster which slopes they consider damaged and whether they are recommending repair or replacement.
Step 6: Read the estimate line by line
The adjuster will send a scope of loss, usually a multi-page estimate. Compare it with your roofer’s findings. Common gaps on Calgary hail claims:
| Often missing | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Roof vents, vent boots, exhaust caps | These take the hardest hail hits |
| Drip edge | Usually dented; replaced with the roof |
| Ice and water shield | Needed at eaves and valleys in Calgary |
| Starter strip and ridge cap | Separate products from field shingles |
| Steep-pitch or two-storey labour | Real extra cost on many Calgary homes |
| Extra layers to remove | Older roofs often have two layers |
| Eavestroughs, siding, screens | Often on the same claim |
Step 7: Ask for a review if something is missing
Send the adjuster your roofer’s photos and measurements and ask, in writing, for the items to be reviewed. Keep it factual and keep copies.
If you still disagree:
- Ask for the insurer’s internal complaint or escalation process.
- Contact the General Insurance OmbudService if the complaint is not resolved.
- Check whether your policy has an appraisal clause for disputes about the amount of loss.
A roofer can provide evidence. In Alberta, acting as an adjuster on someone else’s claim requires a licence, so roofers cannot negotiate your settlement for you.
Step 8: Choose a contractor and schedule the work
Before you sign:
- confirm the contractor’s Service Alberta prepaid contracting licence if they ask for any deposit
- ask for a WCB clearance letter and proof of liability insurance
- make sure the contract matches the insurer’s scope, plus any upgrades you choose to pay for
- never sign over your insurance cheque or sign a contract at the door during the first visit
Your policy requires you to pay your deductible. A contractor who offers to waive or cover it is a red flag. Insurers warn that it can mean the estimate is being inflated. See our storm-chaser checklist.
Step 9: Close out the claim
When the work is done, send your insurer the completion photos and final invoice. Many replacement-cost policies pay in stages, with part of the money held back until the work is complete. Check your file is closed and keep all documents with your house records.
How long does it take?
Simple claims can go from inspection to finished roof in a few weeks. After a major storm, adjusters, contractors and materials are all in short supply and it can take months. After the 2020 Calgary hailstorm, insurers had closed about 90% of claims within a year and 96% within two years. Report early and send complete evidence to keep your claim moving.