After hail, the first goal is to make the home safe and document what happened. The permanent contractor decision should come after you understand the damage, insurance path and written scope.
Start with safety and documentation
Alberta warns that hail can cause significant damage to homes and property. After the storm has passed, photograph what you can safely see from the ground: damaged siding, gutters, downspouts, window trim, vents, debris and any active water entry.
Do not climb onto a wet or damaged roof to create evidence. Interior photos of leaks or ceiling staining can also help establish what changed after the storm.
Contact the insurer before assuming the repair path
Alberta’s disaster-insurance guidance tells homeowners to understand their coverage and specifically raises questions about hail-damage limits. Insurance Bureau of Canada says standard home policies generally cover hail and wind damage, subject to the actual policy terms and exclusions.
Ask your insurer about deductible, emergency repairs, inspection process, contractor choice, depreciation or settlement terms and what documentation they need before permanent work starts.
Temporary protection and permanent replacement are different decisions
If water is entering the home, temporary tarping or emergency work may be necessary. Keep invoices and document the condition before and after emergency work when safe to do so.
A permanent replacement is a larger decision. Ask whether the contractor believes damage is functional, cosmetic or unrelated to the storm, and request photographs or an inspection explanation rather than accepting a blanket 'your roof is totaled' statement.
Be cautious with urgency-driven sales
Major hail events attract contractors from inside and outside the region. Alberta’s hiring guidance warns consumers about door-to-door pitches claiming a special price because the contractor is already working nearby.
That does not mean every storm contractor is illegitimate. It means the normal checks still matter: business identity, written estimate, insurance, WCB, references, contract terms and any prepaid-contractor licensing that applies.
Compare the contractor scope with the insurance scope
The insurer and roofer may describe the project differently. Compare slopes, roofing material, underlayment, vents, flashing, gutters, disposal, taxes and any code- or product-related upgrades line by line.
If the contractor identifies work that is not in the insurer estimate, ask for documentation and send it through the insurer’s supplement or review process rather than assuming the homeowner must simply absorb the difference.
Do not let a claim choose the material automatically
An insurance claim may restore damaged property according to the policy; it does not automatically decide whether you should upgrade from asphalt to metal or choose a premium product. If you are considering an upgrade, separate the covered restoration scope from your elective improvement cost.
For future hail exposure, ask for the exact product specification and warranty language rather than relying on a generic 'hail-proof' claim.
Red flags after a large storm
Be cautious when a salesperson demands an immediate signature, refuses to leave a detailed written estimate, tells you to ignore your deductible, cannot explain the business or WCB status, or wants a large payment before materials and scheduling are clear.
Storm work is not automatically suspicious, and many legitimate roofers respond to hail events. The point is to keep the normal hiring standards in place precisely when neighbourhood-wide damage makes everyone feel rushed.
Keep the insurer’s decision separate from the contractor’s sales decision
An adjuster may decide what the policy covers; a contractor decides what work they propose to perform. Those roles overlap around the roof, but they are not the same. Ask each party to document measurements, affected slopes and the reason for replacement or repair.
If the scopes disagree, do not sign a large change based only on verbal assurances that “insurance will pay.” Ask how supplements are submitted and who is responsible if the insurer does not approve the additional work.
Keep a simple claim file
Save storm photos, the claim number, adjuster correspondence, contractor estimates, supplements, invoices, product information and warranty records in one place. If more than one building component is damaged, keep roof, siding, window and gutter scopes organized separately.
A clean paper trail makes it easier to see what was approved, what changed and which costs were elective upgrades rather than covered restoration.
Sources and verification
Official and industry sources checked September 15, 2026. Always confirm the current requirement for your specific project.
Use this with the Alberta roofing planner
HomeSelect’s Alberta calculator is an independent planning tool, not a quote. Use it to set a broad range, then request one local roofer only if you want a contractor conversation and coverage is available in your area.