Wind damage and hail damage are both covered by nearly every standard Pennsylvania homeowners policy, but insurers treat them differently: wind claims are usually approved as partial repairs to the slopes that were hit, while hail claims are usually approved as full slope or full roof replacements because hail strikes the whole surface at once. Many Pennsylvania policies also carry a separate wind and hail deductible, often 1 to 2 percent of your dwelling coverage instead of a flat $1,000, so the check you receive can be very different depending on which kind of storm hit your house.
We have handled storm claims across Westmoreland County and Allegheny County since 1995. Here is how the two types of damage look, how adjusters judge them, and what to do in the first week after a storm.
What does wind damage look like on a roof?
Wind damage is usually easy to spot from the ground: missing shingles, tabs folded back, or a row lifted along a ridge or rake edge. Up close, we look for creased shingles. When a gust lifts a shingle and it flops back down, it leaves a horizontal crease across the tab. Wind hits from one direction, and around here most damaging wind comes out of the west and southwest, so those slopes take the beating while sheltered slopes are untouched. That pattern is why wind claims are so often partial.
What does hail damage look like on a roof?
Hail damage is harder for a homeowner to see. On asphalt shingles, hail leaves round bruises where granules are knocked loose and the mat underneath is soft. Run your thumb over a hit and it feels like a bruise on an apple. You will also see dents in soft metal: gutters, downspouts, roof vents, and chimney flashing. Hail falls nearly straight down, so it hits most of the roof at the same density. An adjuster will usually mark off a 10 foot by 10 foot test square on each slope and count the hits. In Pennsylvania, most carriers treat 8 or more confirmed hits in a test square as a totaled slope. Once several slopes total, the whole roof is replaced because new shingles cannot match old ones. Our guide to hail damage on a roof goes deeper on what counts as a hit.
How do adjusters evaluate wind claims differently from hail claims?
With wind, the adjuster is looking for a repairable count. If 12 shingles are missing on the back slope, the estimate prices 12 shingles plus labor and may come back at a few hundred dollars. Creased shingles that still hang on are the heart of a fair wind claim, and a rushed inspection misses them.
With hail, the adjuster counts hits per square and decides slope by slope. Either the count clears the threshold and the slope is replaced, or the claim is denied for that slope. That is why documentation matters more on hail than on wind.
In our Westmoreland County storm jobs since 1995, roughly 7 out of 10 wind claims come back as partial repairs on the first estimate, while roughly 8 out of 10 confirmed hail claims come back as full slope replacement.
Do Pennsylvania policies have separate wind and hail deductibles?
Many do, and this surprises people. Your declarations page may list a standard deductible of $1,000 or $2,500, then a separate wind and hail deductible written as a percentage of dwelling coverage. On a $350,000 home with a 2 percent wind and hail deductible, you owe the first $7,000 before the carrier pays anything.
Some carriers apply that percentage only to named storms, some to any wind or hail event. Read the endorsement. If the language is unclear, the Pennsylvania Insurance Department has a consumer services line and a complaint process that homeowners can use for free. Pull the declarations page before the adjuster visit, because the deductible decides whether a claim is worth filing at all.
Wind vs hail damage insurance: a side by side comparison
| Factor | Wind damage | Hail damage |
|---|---|---|
| How it looks | Missing, lifted, or creased shingles, usually on one or two slopes | Round bruises across the whole slope, dents in gutters and vents |
| Where it hits | Directional, worst on west and south slopes | Widespread, similar density on all exposed slopes |
| How adjusters evaluate | Count of damaged shingles, repairability | Hits per 10 by 10 test square, slope by slope |
| Typical outcome | Partial repair on affected slopes | Full slope or full roof replacement |
| Deductible | Standard or separate wind and hail percentage | Usually the separate wind and hail percentage |
| Best documentation | Photos of creases and missing tabs, date and time of gusts | Chalk circled hits, test squares, soft metal dents |
| Time limit to file in PA | Check policy, commonly 1 year from date of loss | Check policy, commonly 1 year from date of loss |
What should I document after a wind or hail storm in Pittsburgh?
Start the same day if it is safe. Take wide photos of every side of the house, then close photos of anything on the ground: shingle pieces, granules at the downspout outlets, dented patio furniture. Write down the date and approximate time of the storm, because the carrier will check it against National Weather Service records.
For hail, stay off the roof and let a contractor chalk the hits and photograph the test squares. For wind, photograph creased shingles from a ladder if you can, because they disappear visually once they settle. Our storm damage checklist walks through this in order.
How long do I have to file a storm claim in Pennsylvania?
Most Pennsylvania policies give you one year from the date of loss, some two. The bigger risk is waiting so long that the carrier argues the damage came from a later storm or normal wear, and fall here brings back to back wind events. Call within a week, get a contractor inspection within two, and meet the adjuster within a month. Read our full guide to a roof insurance claim in Pennsylvania for the step by step timeline.
Why does the local contractor matter on a storm claim?
The adjuster spends 30 to 45 minutes on your roof. We spend an hour before they arrive and we stay for the meeting, not to argue but to make sure every creased shingle, bruised square, and dented piece of flashing is on the record before the estimate is written. If the estimate misses something, we submit a supplement with photos.
We also know the local carriers and adjusters. A Monroeville roof that took hail in June and wind in September is two claims, not one, and the deductibles may differ. A storm chaser from out of state will not know that and will not be here in March when the supplement check arrives. If the claim ends in a full replacement, our roof replacement cost guide for Pittsburgh shows what the carrier’s number should look like against real local pricing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does homeowners insurance in Pennsylvania cover wind damage to my roof?
Yes. Wind is a covered peril on standard HO3 and HO5 policies in Pennsylvania. The catch is the deductible, which may be a separate wind and hail percentage, and the carrier will only pay for shingles it agrees were damaged by that storm. Creased shingles count, so document them.
Will my insurance company replace the whole roof for hail damage?
Usually yes, if enough slopes meet the hit threshold, because the carrier cannot match new shingles to old ones. If only one slope totals, some carriers will pay for that slope alone. Check your declarations page for a matching endorsement.
What is a wind and hail deductible and how much is it?
It is a separate deductible that applies only to wind and hail losses, usually written as 1 to 5 percent of your dwelling coverage instead of a flat dollar amount. On a $300,000 home with a 2 percent deductible, you pay the first $6,000. It is listed on your declarations page, and you can ask your agent to change it at renewal.
Should I file a claim for a few missing shingles after a wind storm?
Not always. If the repair is a few hundred dollars and your deductible is $1,000 or more, filing gains you nothing and may count against you at renewal. Get a free inspection first so you know the full extent, because a few missing shingles often come with a slope of creased ones underneath.
If a storm has come through Irwin, Norwin, Murrysville, or anywhere in the greater Pittsburgh area, we will inspect your roof for free and tell you honestly whether a claim makes sense. Fall schedules fill by October, so call (724) 515 5163 or visit our storm damage restoration page to get on the list.