First, check with your insurance company to determine your deductible – the amount you will have to pay out of pocket.

Look on the inter net or in your local phone book for roofing companies or a contractor that offers roof inspections free of charge. Most roof inspections are free.

Set up an appointment for the inspection. Verify that the inspector will take photos of the roof so that you can prove the damage to your homeowner insurance company. You must have proof that damage exists.

If hail damage is present, it looks like small pings or little dots in the roof shingles. The surface of the shingles can also be worn away by repeated hail storms. Wind damage looks like loose shingles, gaps in the shingles, upturned edges, or edges of the shingles that have detached from the roof surface.

The roofing contractor will be able to tell you if your roof is damaged based on these conditions. If damage is found, call your homeowner insurance company and file a claim for your roof.

Your homeowner insurance company want more details. They will ask you questions about the damage and send an adjuster to your home. Often, the adjusters won’t climb on the roof, so have those photos ready! Be prepared to argue your case.