How hail turns into water damage
Colorado has some of the most hail claims in the country, and the east metro sees storms from spring through late summer. Big hail cracks shingles, dents vents and breaks skylights. Sometimes the leak starts that day. Often it starts weeks later, when the next heavy rain finds the damaged spots.
Water from a roof leak usually soaks attic insulation first, then the drywall ceiling below. A brown ring on the ceiling, a sagging spot or a drip from a light fixture means water has been sitting up there. Wet insulation does not dry well and usually has to be replaced.
Hail also breaks windows and window well covers, which lets rain run straight into the house or the basement.
After the storm
- If water is dripping through a ceiling, put a bucket under it and poke a small hole at the lowest point of the bulge to let water out in one place. Stand clear of a ceiling that sags a lot.
- Cover broken windows and skylights with plastic or plywood if you can do it safely.
- Photograph the roof from the ground, the hail on the lawn next to a coin for size, and every wet room.
- Call your insurer to start the claim, and call for water damage help so drying starts before the adjuster visits.
- Keep receipts for tarps and emergency repairs. Insurers usually reimburse them.
Storm damage in Aurora
Afternoon thunderstorms come off the foothills and cross the metro from late spring through summer, and Aurora sits in their path. Hail gets the attention, but heavy rain does damage of its own. The September 2013 storm dropped seven to eight inches of rain on Aurora. East Tollgate Creek overflowed, Expo Park filled several feet deep, and neighborhoods near Peoria Street and Iliff Avenue took on water.
Storm calls look different depending on the house. Older ranch homes in central and north Aurora tend to get basement water through window wells and old foundation cracks. Newer two-story homes in southeast Aurora see more roof leaks into upstairs bedrooms and bonus rooms after hail.
Crews take storm calls across Aurora and nearby towns, including Centennial, Parker and Commerce City.