Storm damage roof repair in Schaumburg: hail, wind and ice

The storms that damage roofs here

Hail. Northern Illinois sits in the spring hail belt. April through June, cells coming across from the Fox Valley drop pea-to-golf-ball hail on the northwest suburbs a few times a year, and every few years a storm is bad enough to damage whole neighborhoods. Hail bruises the shingle mat and knocks granules off in circles; it does not usually leak right away. It leaks a year later, when the bruised spots crack.

Straight-line wind. Summer thunderstorms and the occasional derecho — the August 2020 one crossed the whole northwest suburban area — put 60–80 mph gusts on roofs. Tabs lift, seal strips break, shingles crease at the nail line and end up in the yard. Creased shingles are damaged even if they are lying flat again. Wind damage on a roof in Illinois is often one or two slopes, the ones facing the storm.

Ice. Whether an ice dam that causes interior damage is covered depends on your policy — check your declarations page or ask your agent. The roof side of the fix is on the repair page.

Hail usually affects every slope, so hail damage is more often a replacement than a repair; wind damage is more often a one-slope repair. A roofer's written estimate tells you the scope of the work; your insurer decides coverage.

After a storm: the first steps

1. Photograph it yourself. Wide shots of each side of the house, close-ups of anything in the yard, the gutters, siding, window wraps and AC fins, and any stain inside. Date them.
2. Tarp if water is coming in. Keep the receipt and ask your insurer what is covered.
3. Call your insurer and ask how the claim process and your deductible work.
4. Get a written estimate from a licensed roofer. It should describe the damage and the repair or replacement, slope by slope.
5. If you disagree with the adjuster, ask about a licensed public adjuster or talk to an attorney.

Questions to ask before you sign after a storm

In Illinois, only a public adjuster licensed by the Illinois Department of Insurance can negotiate a claim on a homeowner's behalf. This guide doesn't document, scope or negotiate claims, and it doesn't meet adjusters; the roofer's job is the estimate and the work. Be wary of any roofer who offers to waive, cover or rebate your deductible — it can put your claim at risk. Ask your insurer or an attorney. Illinois has consumer rules for home-repair contracts, including cancellation rights on some contracts — check the current rules with the Illinois Attorney General's office or an attorney before you sign anything that depends on your claim. Read the Illinois Department of Insurance guidance on storm claims before you sign anything with anyone.

Storm chasers

The week after a hailstorm, trucks with out-of-state plates often work the streets of Weathersfield and the Hoffman Estates parcels knocking on doors. Some are legitimate; some are not. Illinois licenses roofing contractors through the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Ask for the roofer's state license number and look it up on the IDFPR license search — it shows whether the license is active and any discipline. We only use roofers licensed by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation — ask for their state license number. Ask where the crew will be in February when the roof leaks. The storm damage checklist covers what to do in the first 48 hours and what to ask a roofer covers the rest. That vetting is the heart of storm damage roof repair in Illinois: the work is ordinary roofing, and the risk is in who you hire.

Is it a claim or not

Not every storm is a claim. A roof with three creased shingles on one slope is a $400 repair, and filing a claim for it may cost you more over time than the repair. A roof with hail bruising on every slope is a different conversation. Your agent can explain how a claim affects your premium; a roofer's estimate tells you the repair cost; you decide.

What a storm repair usually involves

1. Inspection. A roofer walks each slope that is safe to stand on, checks the soft metals and goes into the attic. On a steep roof, part of it is done from a ladder.
2. A written estimate by slope. It should say which slopes are damaged, what is being replaced and what is being left alone.
3. Matching. On a wind repair, the roofer looks for the closest shingle line and color. On an older roof the patch may show from the street; ask before work starts.
4. The repair itself. Damaged shingles come off, new ones are nailed in and hand-sealed if it is cold. Ridge cap and flashing that moved get reset or replaced.
5. A final look. Ask for photos of the finished work and the receipt, and keep them with your own storm photos.

Mistakes homeowners make after a storm

• Waiting for a leak before anyone looks at the roof. Hail bruises can take months to leak.
• Climbing a wet ladder to check. The yard, the gutters and the attic tell you most of it.
• Signing with the first person at the door before getting a second estimate.
• Throwing away the shingles and tabs found in the yard. Keep one or two and photograph the rest.
• Forgetting the siding, screens, window wraps and fence, which the same storm often hits.

After the repair

Storm damage roof repair: Schaumburg roofs should get the same ice-and-water shield at the eaves, new flashing and proper ventilation as any other replacement — storm damage roof restoration is not a reason to cut corners. If tear-off reveals more damage, such as rotten decking, ask your roofer to document it and tell your insurer. The replacement page describes what should go on the house.