| There have been many homes damaged by the | | | | Your patio or lawn furniture is a great place to locate |
| recent hail storms. From Georgia to California the | | | | hail damage. Most patio or lawn furniture is made |
| insurance companies have been overwhelmed with | | | | from soft metals. These soft metals will show dings |
| the amount of claims. The insurance companies have | | | | and dents if it was stuck by hail stones. The material |
| been requesting that homeowners evaluate their | | | | for your umbrella or the seats may have damaged |
| property for hail damage. If you suspect that your | | | | material with holes present. Your grill will have dents |
| home may have damage, there are a few key | | | | or splatter marks from the impact of hail stones if it |
| inspections that may confirm your suspicions. | | | | was out in the open. |
| The size of the hail will have an impact on the | | | | The best place to locate the most damage is on |
| amount of damage you may find to your home. The | | | | your roof system. This can be extremely dangerous |
| air conditioning unit is the easiest place to locate | | | | so I must advise against scaling a ladder unless you |
| damage. The metal coils will have dents that are | | | | are experienced. The shingles will have divots that |
| circular in appearance. It may appear that the unit | | | | are clear to see. It will appear that someone has |
| was struck by hundreds of golf balls. | | | | been teeing off golf balls on your roof. The roof tiles |
| Locate the downspouts that extend down from your | | | | will have round circles present where the granules |
| gutter system. There may be large amounts of | | | | have been disrupted from the hail. Also, there will be |
| ceramic granules in the drain that have washed off | | | | more damage noted on the north elevation due to |
| of your roof system. If you find more than a handful | | | | the Jet Stream. Be sure to check the soft metals on |
| of granules, then the integrity of your roof system | | | | the roof structure for dents or dings. |
| has been compromised. Be sure to keep the granules | | | | Finally, NOAA's National Weather Service keeps an |
| in a zip lock bag to show the insurance adjuster | | | | archive on their website of all the major storms that |
| when he or she arrives to inspect your home. | | | | hit the United States. You can enter your address |
| All homes usually have screens on their windows. The | | | | and it will display the date, time, and type of storm |
| screens are considered an excellent source for | | | | that hit your area. You can call your insurance agent |
| locating hail damage. There will be dents in the | | | | and they will have a free map showing the areas hit |
| screens and a torn place or two may be present as | | | | the hardest in your area. If you have found any |
| well. The larger the hail the bigger the dents will be | | | | damage to your home, you will need to notify your |
| on the screen mesh. The metal frame that holds the | | | | insurance company first and foremost. |
| screen in place is likely to have dings and dents visible. | | | | |