Storm Damage Isn't Just the Roof. Check These Three Things.

Damage below the roofline is the most commonly missed part of a Dallas storm claim. Homeowners photograph the roof and forget the rest — but dented gutters, cracked siding, and broken window components are covered under the same policy, and they're also the clearest ground-level evidence that hail hit hard enough to damage the roof. Documenting them strengthens the entire claim, not just the line items they represent.

• Dents and dimples on the top face of gutters — the classic hail signature
• Dented or creased downspouts, especially on the storm-facing side of the house
• Granules from the roof accumulating in gutters — evidence of shingle impact
• Sagging or detached sections after high wind
• Bent or torn gutter screens and covers

• Vinyl siding: cracks, chips, and holes — often crescent-shaped from hail impact
• Fiber cement or wood: dents, gouges, and paint chips at impact points
• Metal fascia and soffit: dimpling and creasing
• Wind damage: loose, lifted, or missing panels, usually starting at corners and edges
• Check the storm-facing side first — damage is usually concentrated on one or two elevations

Hail rarely breaks double-pane glass outright, but it commonly damages the parts around it: pitted or torn window screens, cracked glazing beads, dented aluminum frames, and chipped brick mould. A failed seal from impact can show up weeks later as fogging between panes. Screens are the most reliable indicator — soft aluminum mesh records even moderate hail, so photograph every screen on the storm-facing side before removing or replacing any.

1. Walk all four sides of the house and photograph every elevation, then close-ups of each damage point
2. Include a coin or tape measure in close-ups for scale
3. Note which direction the storm came from — damage concentration should match
4. Photograph gutters from above if safely possible (from a window or ladder held by someone else)
5. Don't discard damaged screens, siding pieces, or gutter sections until the adjuster has seen them
6. Get a professional inspection so roof and below-roofline damage are documented together in one report