The short version
If a storm system drops hail 1" or larger on your roof, your homeowner's policy almost always covers a **full replacement** — not a repair — as long as you document it properly and file within Georgia's one-year statute of limitations on weather claims.The catch: most homeowners leave a perfectly valid claim on the table because of three avoidable mistakes.
1. Don't wait for a "big one"
Georgia doesn't require one catastrophic event. A series of medium hailstorms across a season produces the same shingle bruising, granule loss, and fiberglass mat cracking — and the same coverage trigger — as a single headline storm. We inspect for free after every NWS report above 0.75" within 5 miles of your address.2. "Cosmetic exclusion" riders are narrower than insurers imply
If your carrier added a cosmetic-only hail exclusion at renewal (more common since 2022 in Georgia), read it carefully. Most exclude *painted metal surfaces* and *gutter cover panels* — **not the shingle field**. You still have functional coverage on the roof plane itself.3. Photograph the first sign of a leak
A stain the size of a coffee mug on your drywall is your strongest piece of evidence. Photograph it with the date visible and send it to your agent the same day. That single photo beats a page of inspector notes every time.What we do, in order
1. **Free drone + hand inspection** — we walk the roof, count hit density per 100 sq ft (the carrier-accepted metric), and mark every soft-metal control (gutters, A/C fins, window wraps) for damage that corroborates hail. 2. **Scope document** — we build the same Xactimate scope your adjuster will, so the two numbers match and you don't end up short when invoices arrive. 3. **Meet the adjuster on-site** — a contractor on the roof with the adjuster closes claims 2x faster than one filed blind. We don't charge for this. 4. **File, wait, install** — once the check clears, we handle permits, materials, and a 1-day install.When it's not worth claiming
If the hailstones were under 1" and your roof is under 8 years old, a small claim can cost you more in future premiums than the repair itself. We'll tell you that directly. We don't push you to file — we push you to **know**.Call us at (404) 555-ROOF or book a free inspection at /contact. We'll give you a straight answer within 24 hours of the visit.