Placitas sits right where summer storms come off the mountains, and hail can hit one neighborhood hard while the next one barely gets wet. If your area got hammered, work through this list.
Day of the storm
- Note the date and roughly what time the hail fell.
- Photograph hailstones next to a coin or ruler if you can — size matters to adjusters.
- Look for new drips or ceiling stains, and put a bucket under any leak.
- Don't climb on the roof. Wet, damaged roofs are slick, and hillside homes are often high off the ground.
Within a few days
- Walk the property and photograph dented gutters, vents, cooler covers, window screens, stucco chips and car dents.
- Check flat roof sections from a window or second-story deck for bright, chipped spots in the coating.
- Call a local roofer for an inspection with close-up photos.
- Find your policy's declarations page and look up your wind/hail deductible.
Filing
- Report the claim if the inspection shows storm damage. Keep the claim number handy.
- Keep a simple log: who you talked to, the date and what they said.
- Ask for the adjuster's visit date and have your roofer there if possible.
- Save every receipt for emergency tarps or temporary repairs — these are often reimbursable.
After the adjuster
- Get the written estimate and compare it line by line with your roofer's findings.
- Ask about anything missing: flashing, vents, drip edge, parapet caps, canales, the permit.
- Understand the payment plan — see ACV vs replacement cost.
- Pay your deductible. It's your share of the claim, and no honest contractor will offer to absorb it.
Hail on Placitas roof types
Foam and coated roofs
Hail chips or fractures the coating, exposing foam to the sun. Small, but it matters over time.
Shingles
Dark round spots where granules are knocked off, sometimes with a soft bruise underneath.
Metal
Round dents. Often cosmetic, but seams and trim can be bent.
Tile
Cracked or broken tiles that let water reach the underlayment.
Hail hit your area? Call (505) 230-4024 for a free roof inspection with photos.
Questions homeowners ask
Should I call my insurance first or a roofer first?
Many homeowners call a roofer first, so they know whether there's real damage before filing.
What if the adjuster misses damage?
You can ask your insurer for a re-inspection and send additional photos and documentation.
My neighbors are getting new roofs. Does that mean I need one?
Not necessarily — hail is spotty. An inspection tells you for sure.