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From the ground, often like nothing at all — which is exactly why hail damage gets missed until it becomes a leak. Up close, look for:

• Bruises or dark spots on shingles where granules were knocked loose
• Granules collecting in gutters and downspouts (they look like coarse black sand)
• Dents in soft metals — gutters, downspouts, roof vents, flashing, and AC fins are telltales
• Cracked or exposed fiberglass mat on older shingles

Hail doesn't need to be huge to matter: quarter-size (1") hail can compromise a shingle roof, and Middle Tennessee sits in a genuine hail corridor. If a storm dropped hail on your area in the last 12 months, get a documented inspection even if the ceiling looks fine — insurance claims have time limits.

Honest rule of thumb: repair when the roof is under ~15 years old and the damage is localized — a leak around a flashing, a few wind-blown shingles, a puncture. Replace when the roof is nearing the end of its lifespan, damage is widespread, repairs are recurring, or a storm compromised enough of it that insurance is already involved.

The math matters too: three $800 repairs on a 19-year-old roof is worse than putting that money toward the replacement you'll need soon anyway.

We quote both paths when both are viable, with photos of what we found, so the decision is yours with real information. We do plenty of repairs — we're not a "replacement only" shop.

Most residential roof replacements in Middle Tennessee are done in one day — two for larger or steeper homes, or when decking repairs turn up under the old shingles.

The bigger timeline question is scheduling: from signed contract to crew on the roof is typically one to three weeks depending on season and material availability, and faster for emergencies. Insurance restorations add the claim timeline up front, which usually runs two to six weeks depending on your carrier.

We protect landscaping, run magnetic sweeps for nails, and haul away every scrap of the old roof. The only evidence we were there should be the new roof.

After a wind event, check from the ground for:

• Missing shingles or dark patches where tabs blew off
• Lifted or creased shingles — they may lie back down but the seal is broken, which means they'll leak or blow off later
• Shingle pieces or granules in the yard
• Damaged ridge caps along the roof peak, which take the most wind
• Loose or bent flashing, gutters, or fascia

Creased shingles are the sneaky one: the roof can look "fine" from the street while hundreds of broken seals wait for the next storm. Straight-line winds in Middle Tennessee routinely exceed 60–70 mph — if a storm made the news, it's worth a free documented inspection.

Rules of thumb for our climate — hot humid summers, freeze-thaw winters, and real storm exposure:

• 3-tab asphalt shingles: 15–20 years
• Architectural shingles (e.g. GAF Timberline HDZ): 22–28 years
• Premium/designer shingles: 25–30+ years
• Standing-seam metal: 40–60 years
• Commercial TPO: 20–30 years

Storms shorten all of these — a roof that's "only" 12 years old can absolutely be done after a bad hail season. Past 15 years, an annual inspection is cheap insurance; past 20, start planning the replacement on your schedule instead of the weather's.

The short version: document, file, adjust, build.

1. Free inspection first. We assess the roof and photograph every bit of storm damage. If the damage doesn't justify a claim, we tell you straight — filing a weak claim can count against you.
2. You file the claim. You call your carrier (or file online) and report the date of the storm. We can be on the phone with you if that helps.
3. The adjuster visit. Your insurance company sends an adjuster. We meet them on your roof so the damage we documented actually gets seen and scoped correctly.
4. Scope and payment. The carrier issues a scope of work and initial payment (often in two parts — the second arrives after the work is complete).
5. The build. We restore the roof to code with manufacturer-spec installation, then submit the final invoice and documentation to release your remaining funds.

You pay your deductible — nothing more, nothing less. That's the law in Tennessee, and any contractor telling you otherwise is a red flag.

Only if the damage justifies it — and that's exactly what an honest inspection tells you.

File when there's documented storm damage (hail bruising, wind-creased or missing shingles, tornado damage) substantial enough to exceed your deductible meaningfully. Don't file for normal aging or minor wear: claims history follows you, and a denied claim helps nobody.

Our process protects you here. We inspect and document first, tell you plainly whether what we found is claim-worthy, and only then do you decide to involve your carrier. If it's not claim-worthy, you'll know what maintenance or repair actually makes sense instead.

Yes — genuinely free, and there's no catch. A member of our team walks the roof (or flies it, if walking isn't safe), photographs what we find, and gives you a straight written assessment.

Three things can come out of it: the roof is fine (we'll tell you, and you should ignore anyone who says otherwise); it needs a repair (we'll quote it); or it has storm damage or age issues that justify replacement or an insurance claim (we'll walk you through options).

Roughly a third of the inspections we run end with "your roof is fine, call us in a few years." That honesty is why our referrals keep coming.