Richard Keller

Hail Damage and Your Gutters: What Homeowners Should Know About Insurance Claims Today, we narrow our focus on homeowners’ insurance claims when it comes to your gutters. Severe weather can damage any gutter system, whether it’s a K-Guard Leaf Free Gutter System or a competitor's. One common cause is hailstorms, which often strike unexpectedly during spring, summer, or early fall. Where are the most frequent hailstorms? Hail can strike almost anywhere when conditions are right, including Kansas City. The highest frequency is in Hail Alley, where Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming meet. Hailstorms frequently merge as part of severe storm systems. Sometimes, it’s a precursor of something more dangerous to K.C. and other regions in the Midwest and South – tornadoes. How does hail form? Powerful storm updrafts can carry water droplets above the freezing level. In turn, these form into ice pellets known as hailstones. These continue to grow as additional droplets form on their surface. Once the pellets get too heavy for the updrafts to handle, they descend to the ground. They may come down with rain or pile up like a sudden snowstorm, right in the middle of a hot summer day. How big can hailstones get? The largest hailstone to fall in recent history was eight inches in diameter. However, most storms feature ones about the size of a pea or a marble with a diameter between a quarter and half an inch. Although they sound ominous on your roof, they typically cause little to no damage. Hailstones become dangerous once they reach one inch in diameter. Those at this size or larger are considered dangerous for humans and property. Even brief storms with large hailstones can leave behind significant damage. What can be affected? Any exposed area is a target during a severe hailstorm. Since eaves and gutters extend from the roofline, they often take the brunt of the impact. Shingles and even the K-Guard’s enclosure can sustain damage from large hailstone strikes. Other areas at risk include downspouts, fascia boards, siding, doors, and windows. Repairing Hail Damage Your home insurance policy may cover hail damage repairs, but there are a few things to clarify first. Here are five questions to review before filing a claim. 1. Do they handle hail damage? Most home insurance companies cover damage due to weather events like hail. Nevertheless, it certainly doesn’t hurt to ask if you can’t find related information in your policy. 2. What damage do they cover? Some insurers may only consider damage from the roofline and above. Others could encompass a wider area covering siding, windows, doors, and gutters. These may be included in a comprehensive policy or added as elective coverage. 3. What’s the deductible? In standard policies, owners pay a deductible toward repairs. The amount depends on what you initially chose. On average, many homeowners opt to pay a $500 deductible. 4. What information is required to file? In most cases, an adjuster visits your property to document the damage with notes and photographs. 5. Can you hire a repair service, or does the insurance firm supply its own? Your usual repair service may not be approved by your insurer. They may have a list of certified providers to choose from. How can K-Guard help? After assessing the hail damage, contact K-Guard to inspect your leaf-free gutter system. We’ll determine the scope of the damage. In many cases, your true lifetime warranty will cover 100% of the repair and installation costs. If it's not fully covered, we’ll assist you in navigating your claim to include the K-Guard system.