Hail Damage Claim Help — Tampa Bay

Hail damage is proven with a HAAG-certified inspection: the inspector marks chalk-tested test squares (typically 10'x10') on each roof slope, documents the density and pattern of impacts, and photographs granule loss, mat bruising, and collateral damage to soft metals like vents, gutters, and AC fins. That objective evidence — paired with NOAA hail-event data for your ZIP and date of loss — defeats the 'no damage found' and 'cosmetic only' denials Florida carriers rely on.

Usually yes. 'Cosmetic damage' means the hail didn't impair the roof's ability to shed water; 'functional damage' means it did. Carriers apply the cosmetic label aggressively to avoid paying for hail roof replacements. A proper test-square inspection frequently proves functional damage — bruised mats, fractured shingles, and compromised seals — that requires full replacement under your policy.

Yes. Hail is a covered peril under virtually every standard Florida homeowners (HO-3/HO-5) policy. The dispute is almost never about coverage — it's about scope and valuation: whether the carrier acknowledges the damage, pays ACV vs. RCV, and covers a full replacement vs. a partial repair. That's exactly where a public adjuster changes the outcome.

Under Fla. Stat. § 627.70132, you generally have up to 1 year from the date of loss to file a new property insurance claim and 18 months to file a supplemental or reopened claim. Because hail damage is often discovered later, act quickly — and if you already have an underpaid or denied hail claim, send us the file for a free review.