Why hail claims turn into disputes
Hail damage is easy to argue about. A bruise in a shingle is hard to photograph. Granule loss may be blamed on age. A dent in a steel roof may be labeled cosmetic. And because many South Dakota roofs have seen more than one storm, carriers sometimes point to “prior damage” to limit what they owe.
The state’s hail history is no small thing. The largest hailstone on record in the United States fell near Vivian, in Lyman County, in July 2010. Most storms are far smaller, of course, but even one-inch hail driven by strong wind can damage shingles, siding and gutters across an entire neighborhood.
How we document a hail roof
- Slope-by-slope inspection with marked test areas, photo scales and notes on hit counts and fractures.
- Collateral evidence from soft metals, window wraps, vents, mailboxes and fences, which helps tie damage to a specific storm date.
- Accurate measurements for squares, pitch, ridge, hip, valley, starter and drip edge, so quantities are not shorted.
- Product research on discontinued shingles and siding profiles when repair would leave a visible mismatch.
- Steel roof assessment. Agricultural and residential steel roofs are common here; we look closely at panel seams, fasteners and coating damage, and at any cosmetic-damage exclusion in the policy.
Pricing that fits your area
After a major storm, roofing labor and material prices in the affected area can climb quickly. Our estimates use current local pricing and include the steep, high-roof and two-story charges your roof actually needs, rather than defaulting to a walkable one-story price.
Frequently asked questions
The carrier says my roof damage is from an old storm. What now?
Date-of-loss arguments are common. Weather data, collateral damage and the condition of the hits all help. Whether earlier damage is excluded is a coverage question, while the cost of the current damage can be valued in appraisal.
How many hits per test square mean replacement?
There is no universal number. Carriers often use internal guidelines, and the answer depends on the roof type, the damage pattern and whether repairs can be made without causing more damage.
Do you appraise metal roofs on farm buildings?
Yes. Steel roofs on shops, barns and machine sheds are a big part of rural hail claims here.