Claiming hail damage on your roof is something most Minnesota homeowners do just once or twice. It usually happens under stress, with a deadline ticking. This guide walks you through it in plain words, step by step. That way you can make a calm, smart choice.

One thing to know up front: you own your claim. At Right Away Construction, our job is simple. We inspect your roof, write down what we find, and explain your choices. We can also stand on the roof with your adjuster when that helps. But we don't file the claim for you, and we never act as your representative or public adjuster. The choices stay yours. We just make sure you have the facts to make them.

Claiming hail damage on a roof: find out what is up there first

Storm chasers skip this step. It's the most important one. Whether to file is your decision, and it goes better when you know what is actually on the roof before you make it.

So here is the honest order: inspection first, decision second. A good inspection tells you what the storm did to your roof, slope by slope, in writing. Not sure what that damage looks like? Start with our guide to spotting hail damage on your shingles.

The point isn't "never file," and it isn't "always file." It's that the decision is yours, and it should rest on what is actually up there. Whether a particular loss is worth claiming under your policy is a question for you, your agent and your carrier. Minnesota law does not let a roofing company answer it for you (Minn. Stat. §325E.66).

Date of loss and Minnesota's deadlines

Your date of loss is the day the storm hit. It is not the day you spot the damage. And it is not the day the roof starts to leak. Was your home in the June 19, 2026 north-metro storm? Then your date of loss is June 19, 2026. Every deadline counts from that day.

Here's what many homeowners miss. There are two different clocks, and both are written in your policy. The first is how soon you have to tell your insurer about a loss. Minnesota's standard fire policy form, Minn. Stat. §65A.01, subd. 3, says the insured shall give immediate written notice of any loss, and your policy sets out its own version in the section on what you must do after a loss. The second is how long you have to bring a lawsuit over a claim. Minn. Stat. §65A.26 says a hail policy must state one year after the loss, and §65A.01, subd. 3 says two years after inception of the loss. Which one governs your policy is a legal question about your policy form, and it is not one a roofing company is permitted to answer for you. Winter makes every window tighter. Roofers can't inspect much from November through April, so your real window is shorter in working months than it looks on a calendar.

Don't guess. Look it up. Read the section of your policy on what you must do after a loss, and the clause titled "Suit Against Us" or "Legal Action Against Us." If the answer matters to a decision, call your agent or an attorney. When in doubt, move sooner.

Your policy terms are between you and your carrier

Two terms you will run into are replacement cost value (RCV) and actual cash value (ACV), along with your deductible. Your declarations page and your agent can tell you which one your roof is on and what your deductible is. What those terms mean for your claim is a question about your policy, and it is not one a roofing company is permitted to answer for you (Minn. Stat. §325E.66). We will tell you what is on the roof and what it costs to fix correctly. The policy side is yours and your agent's.

The deductible-"waiving" red flag

Some contractors offer to "cover," "eat," or "waive" your deductible. Others promise to make it "disappear" by padding the estimate. Walk away. In Minnesota, it's against the law for a contractor to pay or hide your deductible. And if a contractor breaks that law, your insurer does not have to consider that contractor's estimate (Minn. Stat. §325E.66, subd. 1(b)). The violation lands on your claim, not on theirs. A good roofer won't play that game.

The adjuster visit, and where a roofer helps

After you file, your insurer sends an adjuster. They inspect the roof and write an estimate. This is where a roofing expert helps, not by arguing for you, but by making sure everyone sees the same proof.

Here's how we do it. First, we get on the roof and photograph every slope and every elevation, and we write up what we find. When the adjuster comes, we like to be on the roof too. Together we walk the same slopes and point out what we found: bruising, lost granules, and cracked mat. We also show the dents on gutters, vents, siding, and soft metals. Adjusters check a lot of roofs fast. A second trained set of eyes means nothing real gets missed. You stay in charge of the claim. We talk to your adjuster about two things: what is damaged, and what it costs to fix. We do not represent you, adjust your claim, or negotiate on your behalf.

What if the adjuster's notes don't match ours? Say they see "no damage" where we found clear hits. You can ask for a reinspection. Good proof makes that talk easier: dated photos of every slope, a written record of what was found, and roof damage kept apart from gutter and siding damage. We hand over that proof and explain what it shows. The choice stays yours.

What a good inspection report includes

File or not, a good inspection should leave you with a record you can use:

• Photos of every slope and every elevation that can be safely reached
• The storm's date of loss
• Roof damage listed apart from gutter, vent, and siding damage
• A plain description of what was found, including when the answer is that the roof came through fine

Before you sign anything

After a storm, paper moves fast and pressure runs high. Slow down. Don't sign anything until you understand it. Be extra careful with forms that hand your insurance money to a contractor. Watch out for deals that lock you in no matter what the adjuster finds. Ask three simple questions first: What am I agreeing to? What happens if the adjuster finds no damage? Can I walk away? A good contractor will answer all three with ease. They'll also give you a written proposal, not a hard sell.

Claiming hail damage on your roof: the honest bottom line

Claiming hail damage on a roof in Minnesota rewards homeowners who move with care. Get a real inspection. Read your policy, both clocks included. Make the decision on what is actually up there. And keep good records the whole way. Roofs can't be inspected properly through a Minnesota winter, so the window is shorter than it looks. Either way, aim for the right call for your home, made with clear eyes.

Want to know what is on your roof before you call your insurer? Book a Complimentary Exterior Assessment. We photograph every slope and every elevation we can safely reach, write up what we find, and the file is yours whether or not you file a claim and whether or not you hire us. If you do file, we meet your adjuster on the roof and talk about what is damaged and what it costs to fix. The claim stays yours.

Call 612-255-9605 or book your assessment. We're local, licensed (MN #BC630708), and on Twin Cities roofs for three decades. Done the right way. Right away.

New to all this? Start with Hail Damage to Your Roof: How to Spot It, Document It, and What to Do Next. In the June 19 storm path? Read Hailstorm in Saint Anthony: Here's What Really Happened.

This article is general information, not legal or insurance advice. Always read your own policy and confirm deadlines and terms with your insurer.

Sources: Minn. Stat. §65A.01 (the standard fire policy form: notice of loss, and the two-year suit provision), Minn. Stat. §65A.26 (hail policies: one year), Minn. Stat. §325E.66 (what a residential contractor may not do on an insurance claim).