Hail-Damaged Gutters: What to Document Before You Call Your Insurer

Most residential gutters in the metro are formed from .027 or .032 aluminum coil. That metal is light and easy to shape, which is exactly why it dents. Downspouts are thinner still, and their flat faces take a hit like a soda can. Shingles can hide bruising for months, but a gutter shows the damage the afternoon of the storm.

Size and spacing of the dents matter. Small, shallow dings scattered along the top lip suggest small stones. Round, deep dents on the face and crushed downspout corners suggest larger ones. Adjusters often look at soft metal for exactly this reason, because it helps them read how big the hail was at your address.

A 2025 analysis of NOAA and FEMA data ranked Nebraska first in the nation for hail risk, averaging 534 hail events a year from 2021 to 2024. Closer to home, storm records list 88 hail reports within about 10 miles of Omaha in 2024 alone, far more than any other recent year.

Recent storms show the range. The April 26, 2024 storms dropped hail up to about 2 inches across in Papillion and golf ball sized stones in parts of Omaha and the Bennington area. Two months later, reports of 3 to 3.5 inch hail came in from Papillion and La Vista. On April 24, 2025, Ralston saw hail about 3 inches across. Storms like these leave clear marks on gutters, and they also mean a lot of homeowners file at the same time, which is one more reason to keep good records of your own.

Start as soon as it is safe to be outside and before anyone makes repairs. Stay on the ground. You do not need to climb a ladder to build a useful record, and a fall after a storm is the last thing anyone needs.

• Write down the date and rough time of the storm, and save any weather alerts or news reports on your phone
• Take a wide photo of each side of the house so every gutter run can be placed later
• Photograph dents up close with a coin, ruler or tape measure next to them for scale
• Shoot downspouts top to bottom, especially the flat faces and the elbows at the base
• Shoot at a low angle across the gutter face in the morning or evening, when raking light makes dents stand out
• Note collateral damage: dented roof vents, window screens, metal mailboxes, fence caps, outdoor AC fins, cars parked outside
• Keep the files in one dated folder and do not delete or edit the originals

Ground photos only go so far. When we come out after a storm, we set ladders and photograph each run from the roof edge, measure representative dents, check the hangers and seams that impact can loosen, and note crushed or split downspout sections. You get those photos and measurements to keep with the rest of your records.

We describe what we see and what the repair or replacement would involve. We do not interpret your policy, negotiate with your insurer or tell you what a claim will pay. That conversation is between you and your insurance company, and the people who can answer coverage questions are your agent and the adjuster assigned to your claim.

If the roof is being replaced as well, the gutters often have to come down so the roofer can install new drip edge and the first shingle course. Our detach and reset service covers that, though dented gutters are usually better replaced than rehung.

Not every dented gutter stops working. Many hail-marked runs still carry water fine and simply look rough. Others have real problems that will get worse with time. How your policy treats cosmetic damage is a question for your insurer, but it helps to know the difference when you look at your own photos.

Signs of functional damage include split or cracked seams at corners, end caps knocked loose, hangers bent so the run sags, downspouts crushed enough to restrict flow, and dents deep enough to hold standing water. Once a dent creates a low spot, water sits there, debris settles and the finish starts to fail. Our gutter inspection writes these items up separately from cosmetic marks so you can see which is which.

After a big storm the adjuster schedule can stretch out, and Nebraska rain does not wait for paperwork. Clear any shredded leaves and shingle granules out of the gutters, because hail strips trees and the debris plugs outlets fast. Make sure every downspout still drains away from the foundation.

If a section is hanging or a downspout has been knocked off, a temporary fix is reasonable as long as you photograph everything first. Keep any parts you remove. Most homeowners find it helpful to ask their insurer how they want temporary repairs handled before spending money. For torn-off gutters after wind and limbs, our storm damage repair crews can make the house safe first.

National ranges published by HomeGuide. Your price depends on the house; we give you a number on the phone or at the house before any work starts. See the full gutter price guide.

If a whole elevation is dented and the seams are compromised, a new seamless run is usually the cleaner fix. Patching a few sections leaves mismatched profiles and extra seams, and every seam is a future leak. Replacement is also a natural point to reconsider the system, for example stepping up to heavier .032 coil or steel gutters for better dent resistance.

Our hail damage replacement work follows the same process as any install: tear-off, a fascia check behind the old gutter, new runs rolled on site, hidden hangers and fresh downspouts. The price table below shows typical installed ranges, and our price guide explains what pushes a job up or down. Give us a call after the next storm and we will come document the damage.