Short answer. Photograph every side of the house wide, then close up on dents with a coin or tape measure for scale, crushed downspouts and elbows, and any section pulled from the fascia, all before anything is moved or cleaned up. Light dents on a run that still drains may be cosmetic; crushed, torn or water-holding sections are functional damage.
Photograph before anything moves
Adjusters work from evidence. The best evidence is taken right after the storm, before debris is swept up or a neighbor helpfully bends a downspout back. Use your phone and work around the house in order:
- A wide shot of each side of the house showing the whole gutter run.
- Close-ups of dents along the front lip, with a coin or tape measure for scale.
- Every crushed downspout and elbow.
- Any section pulled away from the fascia or hanging loose.
- Hail stones on the ground, if any remain, next to a ruler or coin.
- The date and time, either in the photos or written down.
Cosmetic dents and functional damage
Not every dent means a gutter has to be replaced. The useful question is whether the damage changes how the gutter works.
| Usually cosmetic | Usually functional | |
|---|---|---|
| Dents | Light dents, run still drains | Trough crushed or holding water |
| Joints | Sealed and tight | Torn or leaking at corners and outlets |
| Downspouts | Small dings | Flattened elbows, blocked flow |
| Attachment | Run sits tight to the fascia | Section pulled loose or sagging |
How a carrier treats each case depends on your policy, which is between you and your insurer. Our job is to show clearly what the damage is.
Gutter dents are a clue about the roof
Soft metal like gutters and downspouts shows hail hits that are harder to see on shingles from the ground. If your gutters are dented, the roof above them took the same storm, and it is worth having a roofer inspect it before deciding anything about the gutters.
How big North Texas hail gets
Hail here can be severe. On April 11, 2016 a supercell affected about 80 percent of homes in Wylie, caused over $300 million in damage and set a 5.25 inch hailstone record for the NWS Fort Worth forecast area. It was the third hailstorm to hit North Texas that spring, landing on communities that had already been hit. FEMA's National Risk Index rates Dallas County Very High overall, with hail among its top hazards.
Repair now, or wait for the roof?
If the roof is being replaced, there is little point hanging new gutters first. The gutters usually come off for the reroof anyway. The order that works is: document everything, make loose or hanging sections safe, let the roof go on, then rehang or replace the gutters on the new edge.
Loose runs that could fall should be secured right away, whatever the claim timeline. A hanging gutter is a safety issue first.
Our part in a hail claim
We photograph and measure the damage, write up a scope of the gutter and downspout work, make loose runs safe and do the repairs. Negotiating the claim stays between you and your insurer, so our role stays simple: an accurate record of the damage and good work to fix it.
Quick safety steps after the photos
- Keep people, pets and cars away from any gutter hanging loose.
- Do not climb a ladder in wind or rain to wrestle with a damaged run.
- Clear crushed downspout elbows at ground level only if it is safe, so water can drain.
- Call to have hanging sections secured or taken down.
Storm services we provide
Hail damage questions
Yes. We can photograph and measure the damage before anything is moved.
Not always. Light dents on a run that still drains may be cosmetic.
After, or at the same time. They usually come off for the reroof anyway.
No. We provide documentation and a scope; the claim is between you and your carrier.
Sources for this guide
- April 11, 2016 hail event, NWS Fort Worth
- Storms slam North Texas with massive hail, KSAT
- Dallas County risk profile, ESI Nationwide
Figures are national or regional planning numbers from the sources above, not a quote for your home.