Will My Insurance Cover Hail Damage in Durham Region? (Ontario Claim Guide)
The hail stopped twenty minutes ago. You’re standing in the driveway looking at white pebbles on the lawn, and the first question is always the same. Will my insurance cover this?
Usually, yes. Most Ontario home insurance policies cover sudden, accidental damage like hail. They don’t cover gradual wear and tear, poor maintenance, or a roof that was already at the end of its life. So coverage is rarely the fight. Proof is. We’ve been roofing Whitby, Oshawa, Ajax and the rest of Durham Region since 1994, and the claims that go best start with good documentation.
This guide covers what to do after you spot the damage. If you’re still working out whether you have any, start with our post on the signs of roof damage after a storm in Whitby.
Step 1: what to photograph (and what not to) on the day of the storm
Do it the same day, as soon as it’s safe to go outside.
Take photos from the ground. Lots of them, dated, from several angles. Walk the whole house and shoot each side of the roof from as far back as you can, so the full slope shows. Then move in on any dings in metal flashing and vents. Those are a classic hail mark. Go inside too. Photograph water stains on ceilings and any soaked insulation you can see.
Write down the date of the storm. Environment Canada keeps weather records, so the date can be checked later.
Now the part people get wrong. Don’t climb on the roof. Wet shingles are slick, and a fall costs far more than a roof. And don’t try to judge the damage from the driveway either. Hail bruises asphalt shingles by knocking off the granules that protect them, and that is often hard to see from the ground. Your photos are the record of the storm. The roofer’s inspection is what finds the damage.
“Take photos from the ground the same day. Don’t climb on the roof. That single move wins most disputed claims.”
Step 2: when to call your insurer and when to call a roofer first
Here’s the order we recommend. Get a roofer out first, for an inspection with photos and a written report. With us it’s free. Then call your insurer with that report in hand.
Why? A documented third-party inspection gets taken more seriously than a homeowner saying “I think it was hail.” You also skip a lot of back and forth.
One rule applies either way. Call your insurer before any repair work starts. An inspection isn’t repair work, so you’re fine there.
The exception is an active leak. If water is coming in, call your insurer the same day and call us for emergency roof repair. Most policies require you to limit further damage before they pay, and that usually means a tarp. Tarps typically run $400 to $1,500, depending on the size of the damage and how easy the roof is to reach. We’ve never had an adjuster refuse to pay for an emergency tarp. We have had them refuse to pay for tarps that arrived three days late.
Don’t let the rest of it drag. Most policies give you 12 months, but the roofer’s inspection should happen within 30 days.
“You have twelve months. Don’t wait three. The depreciation clock starts the day of the storm.”
ACV vs RCV: the most expensive line in your Ontario policy
Two short terms decide how much money you get.
Actual Cash Value (ACV) pays what your old roof was worth after age is subtracted. Replacement Cost Value (RCV) pays to put a brand-new roof on your house at today’s prices.
Take a 15-year-old roof. Under ACV, the cheque might be $4,000. Under RCV, it might be $14,000. That’s a $10,000 gap from one line on your policy.
Most Ontario policies are RCV by default, but check yours. Roof age matters here. Most insurance companies start getting nervous about coverage once a roof hits 15 to 20 years old. Some will ask for an inspection, some will reduce coverage, and some will drop you if you don’t replace it. Find the roof wording in your policy tonight, and call your broker if it isn’t clear. Do it before the next storm, not after.
What an adjuster looks for (and the 3 things that get claims denied)
An adjuster is trying to answer one question. Did a storm do this, or did time do this?
They look for bruised shingles, patches where the granules are gone, and dings on flashing and vents. They also look at how the roof was installed.
Three things get claims denied:
- Wear and tear. Gradual wear, poor maintenance and a roof already past its life usually aren’t covered. If the damage looks like age, that’s how it gets filed.
- Poor installation. If a roof fails early and you claim storm damage, the adjuster checks the install. Bad nail placement, thin sealant or a missing drip edge can sink a claim.
- Waiting. Policies have time limits, and damage spreads fast once water gets in. Hail bruising might not leak for a year or two. By then the date, the photos and the paper trail are hard to rebuild.
Keep records of your maintenance and repairs. If you can show you’ve looked after the roof, it helps your case.
Step 3: getting a roofer’s report the adjuster will accept
A report that says “roof needs replacing” and nothing else won’t help you. Ask for these:
- dated photos of the roof and the damage
- a clear record of what was found
- what’s in good shape, what needs attention now, and what might need attention in the next few years
- what the roofer recommends, and why
On one post-storm hail inspection, we found bruising on about thirty percent of the shingles. None of it was visible from the ground. That’s why a ground-level look isn’t enough. On another job, the homeowner filed an insurance claim with our documentation and got the roof replaced under their policy.
Who writes the report matters too. Be wary of roofing companies that show up after a major storm. Some collect deposits and disappear, and then nobody is there to follow up. Ask for WSIB clearance as proof of insurance, along with proof of liability coverage. Get at least three detailed quotes, itemized for materials, labour and extras. Our guide on how to find a good roofer in your area walks through it.
How CDR works with insurance adjusters in Durham
We work with a number of restoration and insurance companies in Durham Region, on both residential and commercial properties. So we know what they need to see.
Our inspection is free. We photograph the damage on site and write a clear assessment that supports your claim when the damage qualifies. If your roof has no damage, you still walk away with peace of mind and a baseline for any future claims.
Our WSIB clearance certificate and $5M in liability insurance are available on request. Every crew member is Working at Heights certified. Once your claim is approved, the repair side moves fast. Most repairs take a day or two. Genuine emergencies get a visit that day or the next.
We cover Whitby, Oshawa, Ajax, Pickering, Bowmanville and Clarington. See our roof repair services or call (905) 430-7911 to book a free inspection.
Claim timeline: realistic expectations from storm to paycheque
Insurers set their own pace, so we can only give firm numbers for our side of it. Here is the order things happen:
- Day 0: dated photos from the ground, plus the storm date written down.
- Within 30 days: the roofer’s inspection and written report. After you request a quote from us, an estimator calls no later than the end of the next business day.
- Before any repairs: call your insurer, send the report, and ask when the adjuster will visit.
- Adjuster visit and decision: this timeline is your insurer’s. Ask for a date when you file, and ask when you’ll hear back.
- Repairs: once you’re approved, standard repairs typically start within a week and most take a day or two.
- Within 12 months of the storm: the filing window on most policies.
How and when you get paid depends on your policy, so ask your insurer when you file. The one date you control is day zero.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to file a hail damage claim in Ontario?
Most policies give you 12 months from the date of the storm. But you have to be able to prove the date. That’s why same-day photographs and a roofer’s inspection within 30 days are critical. Once depreciation starts, you’re fighting the clock.
Should I get a roofer’s inspection before or after calling insurance?
Get the roofer’s inspection first, for free, with photos and a written report. Then call insurance. Adjusters take a documented third-party inspection more seriously than an undocumented homeowner claim, and you’ll save yourself the back and forth.
What’s the difference between ACV and RCV on a hail damage claim?
Actual Cash Value pays you the depreciated value of the damaged roof. Replacement Cost Value pays for a brand-new roof installed today. If your roof is 15 years old, ACV might pay $4,000 and RCV might pay $14,000. Most Ontario policies are RCV by default, but check yours.