Colorado hail season has a special way of announcing itself.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!One minute you are wondering whether the lawn needs water. The next minute the sky is throwing ice baseballs at your house like it got cut from the Rockies bullpen and is trying to prove a point.
Then comes the second storm.
Not from the clouds. From the clipboards.
According to The Denver Gazette, the first wave of Front Range hailstorms is already bringing roof-damage concerns, with golf ball-sized to baseball-sized hail reported in places like Wiggins and out onto the prairie. The article notes that a 2017 storm generated an estimated $2.3 billion in insurance claims in the west Denver area, including about 100,000 home damage claims and 167,000 auto claims.
That kind of money does not just attract legitimate roofers. It attracts the roof-repair version of carnival barkers.
The Colorado Roofing Association is warning homeowners about high-pressure tactics from fly-by-night contractors. Thornton roofer Mark Dulon told The Denver Gazette the threat from storm chasers is real. Some roll into town, find a local installer, collect a kickback, and then disappear when something goes sideways.
That is not a business model. That is a getaway plan with shingles.
Here’s the thing.
Hail damage already puts families in a bind. You are looking at your roof, your gutters, your siding, maybe your windows. You are thinking about deductibles, insurance adjusters, premiums, and how long it will take before the next storm decides to audition for a disaster movie.
You do not need some out-of-town smooth-talker turning panic into profit.
So slow down.
That may be the most important advice in the whole story. The roofing association says homeowners should document damage with photos of roofs, gutters, siding, and windows. Use a quarter or ruler in the picture so the damage has scale. Then take a breath.
You have time to file a claim. You have time to check a contractor. You have time to read a contract before signing anything shoved under your nose by a guy who says he just happens to be “working in the neighborhood.”
Translated: urgency is often the bait.
A good contractor can explain the work, show proof of insurance, provide local references, give you a written proposal, and point to a real physical office. A shady one wants your signature before you have had time to find your glasses.
Check licensing and insurance. Look up the company’s registration with the Colorado Secretary of State. Ask for local references. Read the actual contract. Understand how the contractor plans to work with your insurance company from estimate to final payment.
And be very careful with anyone promising magic.
“We’ll cover your deductible.” “We’ll handle everything.” “You must sign today.” “Your insurance company already approved this.” “My truck has a ladder, so clearly I am a professional.”
Nope.
Colorado homeowners are already getting squeezed from every direction. Weather. Repair costs. Insurance premiums. Deductibles that feel like they were designed by a committee of accountants and raccoons.
The last thing they need is a clipboard cowboy with a magnetic door decal circling the neighborhood like a vulture in work boots.
The roof can be repaired.
The wallet is harder.
Hail already punched the house. Do not let a scammer punch the family budget too.
Source: The Denver Gazette
