Severe thunderstorms and hail move through West Michigan most years, and Grandville sits squarely in that path. When a storm crosses Chicago Drive or works its way over the neighborhoods off 44th Street, the damage to your roof can be real even when everything looks fine from the ground.

Hail rarely announces itself on a shingle. It bruises the mat under the surface granules, shortening the life of the roof quietly. That's why the days after a storm matter more than most Grandville homeowners expect.

Step 1: Don't Wait to Inspect

Hail damage is time-sensitive for insurance purposes. Policies generally set a window for reporting storm damage, and the longer you wait, the harder it becomes to establish that the damage came from a specific storm rather than ordinary wear. Check your own policy language or call your agent — the timeline is written into your coverage, not set by your contractor.

If your street took hail, your neighbors' roofs did too. It's worth comparing notes.

Step 2: Document Everything

Before anyone touches your roof, build your own record:

• Photograph dented gutters, downspouts, window screens and the fins on your AC unit. These are the easiest hail indicators to see safely from the ground.
• Photograph any visible shingle damage from ground level. Don't climb up.
• Write down the date and time of the storm and save local weather coverage from that day.
• Note any interior signs — ceiling stains, damp spots in the attic — with dates.

Stay off the roof. Walking a hail-struck roof without training does damage of its own, and a fall is a far bigger problem than a claim.

Step 3: Get a Roofer's Eyes on It Before the Adjuster Visit

This is the step homeowners skip most often. A local contractor can inspect the roof, tell you honestly whether there's storm damage worth claiming, and be present when your adjuster walks it. Adjusters are professionals doing a thorough job, but a second set of trained eyes means less gets overlooked — flashing, vents, the low-slope section over the addition.

A roofer who works in Grandville regularly also knows what your roof was likely built with and roughly when, which helps the conversation.

Step 4: File Your Claim

Contact your insurer with your documentation. They'll assign an adjuster to assess the damage. Your deductible applies, and storm-related hail damage is commonly a covered peril — but coverage terms vary by policy, so ask your carrier directly rather than assuming.

Good questions to ask:

• Is my roof covered at replacement cost or actual cash value?
• What's my wind and hail deductible specifically?
• What's my deadline to report and to complete the work?

Your carrier answers those. A contractor shouldn't be the one interpreting your policy for you.

Step 5: Watch Out for Storm Chasers

After a notable storm, out-of-area crews canvass Michigan neighborhoods with door knocks and quick promises. Some are fine. Many are not licensed here, use whatever material is cheapest, and are unreachable by the time a warranty question comes up two winters later.

Before you sign anything:

• Ask for a Michigan license and proof of insurance, and verify them.
• Ask for a local address you could drive to.
• Ask who honors the workmanship warranty in five years, by name.
• Don't hand over a deposit to someone who showed up uninvited.

What Happens After the Claim

Once the claim is settled, the work still has to be done right. In West Michigan that means a roof that handles hard freeze-thaw cycles, ice at the eaves and lake-effect snow load through the winter — regional realities that hit Grandville the same as the rest of the Grand Rapids area. Proper ventilation and ice-and-water protection at the eaves matter as much as the shingle you pick.

Grandville Roofing & Exteriors is employee-owned, based at 4555 Alpine Ave NW in Comstock Park, and has served West Michigan for more than 50 years. We're CertainTeed ShingleMaster certified and we work in Grandville regularly. If you want someone to look at your roof after a storm and tell you straight whether you have a claim, call (616) 452-0805.