Hail and storm damage roof repair in Los Angeles, CA: claims, costs and deadlines

Hail is uncommon here. Roofers Hotline places Los Angeles in the Low hail band among the towns Roofers Hotline tracks it serves, and the county record in NOAA's Storm Events database shows 8 hail events of one inch or larger since 2015, with the largest at 1.75 inches. Wind and tornadoes are the better reasons to look at your roof.

The county logged 51 thunderstorm-wind reports in that period, 5 of them at 65 knots or more. Six tornadoes have touched down within 25 km of the city since 2000, the strongest rated EF1, and the latest came on May 4, 2023. If a storm has passed through, call for a roof inspection and ask for the written estimate.

After a storm, start from the ground. Look for shingles or tiles that have slipped, flashing that has lifted, and debris on the roof or in the yard. Inside, check ceilings and the attic for damp spots or daylight. Stay off the roof yourself, because wet surfaces and loose material make it a bad place to climb.

Here is one situation to follow through. Winds pass overnight and you find three tiles in the driveway. You photograph them from the ground, put a bucket under any drip, and call Roofers Hotline that day. The inspection looks at the exposed area, and you receive a written estimate before any work starts. Los Angeles gets 14.2 inches of precipitation a year by the 1991 to 2020 climate normals at the downtown weather station (USC campus), so an open spot can take on water at the next rain. Call to book the inspection.

Good records make every later step easier. Take wide photos of each side of the house, then close-ups of missing, cracked or lifted roofing and of any marks on gutters, vents and flashing. Note the date and time of the storm and keep any debris that came off the roof.

Inside, photograph stains, drips and any wet insulation you can see from the attic hatch. About 71 percent of homes in Los Angeles were built before 1980 by Census estimates for 2019 to 2023, and the median home dates to 1964, so older materials and past patch repairs are common. Mention them when you call. The inspection report and written estimate then describe what is storm damage and what is age. Have your photos ready when you call.

Insurance rules vary by policy, so read yours for the deductible, the roof terms and any deadline for reporting storm damage. Deductibles are never waived or rebated, which means the amount on your policy is the amount you owe on a covered loss.

Before you decide anything, get the facts about your roof. Roofers Hotline books the inspection and gives you a written estimate that lists the damaged areas and the repair needed, and you can compare that estimate with your deductible. Federal records show 22 disaster declarations that include the county from 1969 to date, the latest being Severe Winter Storms, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides on April 13, 2024. Call for the inspection and keep the written estimate with your photos.

After a storm, people knock on doors offering roof work. Be cautious about anyone who asks for full payment up front, will not put the scope in writing, or pushes you to sign on the spot. A real estimate names the damaged areas, the materials and the work.

California requires roofing contractors to hold a CSLB license, usually the C-39 Roofing classification. Look up any license at CSLB before you agree to anything. Severe hail is rare here, so be wary of anyone who claims large hail damage after an ordinary wind event. Call Roofers Hotline for roof repair in Los Angeles and ask for the written estimate before any work starts.