Had a storm in Bolingbrook? How to check for hail damage, file an insurance claim, and get your roof replaced.
After a hail storm in Bolingbrook, the damage to a roof is often invisible from the ground. This guide explains what to look for, how hail affects the kinds of roofs found in Bolingbrook, and how the insurance process works.
Bolingbrook homes at a glance
Bolingbrook was incorporated in 1965 and its first subdivisions, Westbury and Colonial Village, date from that decade. The village kept building through the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, so the housing runs from compact 1960s ranches to large newer two-story homes.
The older Bolingbrook ranches have low-slope roofs with long eaves. Low slopes shed water slowly, so underlayment and ice barrier matter more here than on a steep roof.
How hail affects different Bolingbrook roofs
In Westbury, Colonial Village and the other original 1960s neighborhoods, low-pitched roofs take hail almost straight on, which is the worst angle. These roofs are easy to walk and inspect, so there is no reason to guess.
In the subdivisions added through the 1970s and 1980s, look closely at ridge caps and at the shingles around vents and skylights, which fail first. Aluminum soffit, fascia and old gutters on these homes show dents clearly and help prove the size of the hail.
In the newer neighborhoods built in the 1990s and 2000s, many still have the original builder shingle, which is thin and now brittle with age. Hail that a new roof would shrug off can end the life of a 20-year-old one. With many slopes facing different directions, at least one usually took the storm directly.
What to check first on a Bolingbrook home
The low-pitched roofs on Bolingbrook's original ranches take hail nearly head-on, and their aluminum siding and awnings record every strike. If the siding is freshly dimpled, the roof was hit. On the newer two-story homes the roof is too steep to judge from the yard, so start with the gutters and downspouts.
What to check from the ground
- Dents in soft metal. Gutters, downspouts, roof vents, mailbox, the fins on the air conditioner.
- Torn window screens and chipped paint on the side the storm came from.
- Granules washed into the gutters and piled at the bottom of downspouts.
- Dings or cracks in siding, especially vinyl.
If you see two or more of these, the roof needs to be looked at up close. Please do not climb up yourself.
What hail damage looks like on shingles
A hail strike knocks granules off and bruises the mat underneath. The spot looks like a dark, round mark and feels soft when pressed, like a bruise on an apple. It may not leak right away. Over the following seasons the exposed asphalt dries out and cracks, and that is when the leaks begin, often after the claim deadline has passed.
How the insurance claim works
- Get an inspection. We inspect for free and photograph every slope.
- File the claim. You call your insurer and report the storm date. Many policies set a deadline for filing, often one year from the storm, so check yours.
- Adjuster meeting. We meet the adjuster on your roof and walk through what we documented.
- Scope and approval. We review the insurer's estimate so it includes everything the roof needs to be replaced properly.
- Replacement. On an approved claim your cost is normally your deductible plus any upgrades you choose.
Be careful with out-of-town crews that knock on doors after a storm. Our post on storm chasers vs local contractors explains what to watch for.
Permits in Bolingbrook
Permit rules are set by the Village of Bolingbrook. We check what your project needs and pull the permit when one is required. See our Bolingbrook page for this service, or the same guide for Naperville, or the same guide for Romeoville.
Common questions
Call (331) 250-3726 or request a free consultation in Bolingbrook.