What kind of coverage does my home have?
Understand what your home needs to be safe during severe weather, including wind and hail.
Think about your home and the ways it’s protected. This includes physical coverage from the roof that keeps out the elements. Home protection also includes financial coverage from roof insurance policies that help cover the costs of damages to your home when they occur.
Both kinds of coverage come with costs. Having the roof on your home replaced costs thousands of dollars in materials and labor. Maintaining an insurance policy to cover those expenses carries costs of its own in the form of monthly premiums, though they are ideally much lower than the price of paying for a new roof yourself.
What is an Insurance Premium?
The premium is the fee that you pay–either monthly or annually–to maintain the policy’s coverage through the year. Premiums are calculated based on your personal risk factors, your location, and other details. Premiums may increase after a claim is made on an insurance policy.
What are the limits of my homeowners insurance?
Preparing your home for hail means understanding how much roof coverage you have. Ask your insurance agent for a policy review if you’re unclear on any part of your coverage. Confirm whether or not your home insurance includes a wind and hail clause and what the deductible owed would be if you made a claim on that policy.
What is an insurance deductible?
The deductible is the amount that is subtracted (or deducted) from the insurance company’s payout when a claim is made on an insurance policy. You would be responsible for paying this portion of the repair costs before the insurance company would add their payout to cover the remaining expenses. Your home insurance deductible may be a flat price or a calculated amount based on other factors. Some policies include a wind and hail deductible calculated at a higher rate than their primary policy. Wind and hail deductibles based on a percentage of the home’s value (ranging from 1-5%) are becoming more common.
Could additional coverage help you be more prepared for hailstorms or high winds? Supplemental policies can offer coverage for weather threats, also called 'perils,' that are more common in certain areas. Consulting with your insurance agent to ask questions about any parts of your policy that you don’t understand is a smart practice for any homeowner.
What is the status of my roof today?
When was your roof last inspected? Having a reputable roofer perform an inspection is the recommended way to confirm the status of your roof and its relative health. With a favorable assessment from a professional roof installation expert in hand, you can feel secure in the ability of your home to repel any weather hazards that may come your way.
Take your time when contacting roofers in your area to perform an inspection. Look for professionals with positive local reviews and good word-of-mouth. Avoid accepting offers of work from unfamiliar contractors who may promise to provide 'free' work that would be paid for by your roof insurance. Working with known parties–ideally ones that can be vouched for by a friend or family member–is the best way to protect yourself from roofing scams.
What else can I do at home to prepare for wind and hail?
Take a walk around your home and pay attention to decorative items that may be leaning against a fence or sitting out on a patio. Before the windy season arrives, consider where you can store these items out of the way. Securing lawn tools and other objects around your home will remove their potential to become projectiles in high winds!
Does your home have a skylight or other vulnerable point? A protective screen can be installed for hail season if there’s a high risk of large, damaging hail in your area. Take a look at any trees around your home–do they need trimming? That’s a fix that could be scheduled before hail season to save you from potential damage when strong winds come through.
Prepare for general emergency readiness
In addition to making your home safe from hail and high winds from the outside, it’s a good idea to prepare yourself and your loved ones to take shelter during dangerous weather. Locate a safe, interior room, ideally one without windows, and make a plan with your family around where to meet if storm warnings are issued.
Prepare your home for a possible loss of power before storms strike. Keep flashlights and batteries, bottled water, charged power banks, candles and matches on hand. Taking the time to gather these few important items can prove invaluable in the case of a lengthy power outage.
Summary - Be prepared for hail storms
Educate yourself on the coverage you have and your options for adding more. Be aware of the limits of your home insurance policy and any associated costs. Confirm that your roof is intact and without any previous damage before hail season comes around. Finally, take a few minutes to secure any potentially dangerous items around your home and collect a few emergency preparedness items in a safe interior room. With these steps you can be more prepared and confident when hail season hits.
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Sources:
“Are you prepared for hail season?” Office of Public Insurance Counsel,
https://www.opic.texas.gov/news/hail-season/
Pergament, Wesley. “Protect Yourself from Roofing Scams” Sola Insurance, Nov. 17, 2025,
https://blog.solainsurance.com/p/protect-yourself-from-roofing-scams
Content Specialist with Sola Insurance. Worked previously in the finance and logistics industries.