Minnesota gets a lot of hail
From 2017 to 2019, Minnesota ranked fourth in the nation for hail insurance claims, with 150,673 (NICB). The Department of Commerce, citing the National Weather Service, says Minnesota recorded 147 storms with large hail in 2020, seventh nationwide (MN Commerce).
Right after the storm
- Stay off the roof. Look from the ground and the attic.
- Document it. Take photos or video of all damage before any repairs (MN Commerce).
- Prevent more damage. Tarp exposed areas and make cost-effective temporary repairs, and keep the receipts (IBHS, MN Commerce). Minnesota's standard fire policy requires you to protect the property from further damage (Minn. Stat. 65A.01).
- Report the claim as soon as possible and keep your claim number (MN Commerce).
- Keep damaged items until the adjuster visits, if you can (III).
What hail damage looks like
- Shingles: a random pattern of impact marks, soft “bruised” spots you can feel, cracks or breaks, especially on ridge caps (IBHS).
- Metal: dents or spatter marks on gutters, downspouts, flashing and A/C units are clues the roof took hits too (IBHS).
- Siding, windows and fences can be damaged as well (IBHS).
- Not everything is hail: IBHS says some granule loss alone doesn't mean hail damage (IBHS).
How big does hail need to be? In Haag Engineering testing, aged fiberglass shingles were damaged by 1¼-inch ice stones and thicker laminated shingles by 1½-inch stones (Haag). Smaller hail still matters: IBHS found repeated small hail (under 1 inch) can wear older roofs down, making them up to ten times more vulnerable to later large hail (IBHS).
Storm chasers: Minnesota's rules
- Licensed only. Roofers working in Minnesota must be licensed by DLI (MN Commerce). A number starting with “IR” is not a license (MN DLI). Ask for a local address (MN DLI).
- Don't sign to get an estimate. Commerce says you don't need to sign anything for a contractor to give you an estimate or talk to your insurer (MN Commerce).
- No deductible deals. Contractors can't promise to pay all or part of your deductible (Minn. Stat. 325E.66).
- No adjusting. A contractor can't interpret your policy or adjust your claim unless licensed as a public adjuster (325E.66).
- A real estimate. A contractor can't hand you a repair authorization without a good-faith itemized estimate (325E.66).
- 72 hours to cancel if your insurer denies the claim (Minn. Stat. 326B.811). See our roof insurance claims guide.
How the insurance money usually works
With replacement cost coverage, Commerce says the insurer typically pays actual cash value up front, then reimburses the rest if replacement costs more (MN Commerce). In Minnesota, replacement cost coverage must cover repairing or replacing to the minimum code required by state or local authorities (Minn. Stat. 65A.10), which matters for things like ice barrier. The standard fire policy sets a two-year limit to file suit after a loss (Minn. Stat. 65A.01).
Upgrading after hail
If you're replacing anyway, consider a roof that's more hail-resistant and whether a FORTIFIED roof qualifies for Minnesota's required insurance discount. See shingle types and siding options.