Hail does not always leave a hole in your roof. Most hail damage is a bruise under the shingle surface, invisible from the ground, that turns into a leak months later. Equity Builders has handled hail damage roof repair in Wichita, KS since 1985, and our crews are trained to find that kind of damage before it costs you a ceiling.
Call 316-425-0455 for a free hail damage inspection, or read on to learn what hail actually does to a roof, how insurers judge it, and what separates a real hail claim from normal wear.
Hail events recorded in Kansas most years
Hail just south of Wichita (NWS, September 2025)
Kansas storm claims paid that year (Claims Journal)
Sedgwick County hail reports through early May 2026 (KAKE News)
Wichita sits on the Great Plains in a stretch many roofers and residents call Hail Alley. Kansas records more than 100 hail events most years, and Sedgwick County is one of the hardest hit counties in the state most seasons. The National Weather Service documented hail up to 2.75 inches just south of Wichita during the September 2025 storm, with wind gusts near 75 miles per hour around Maize the same day. Claims Journal reported that Kansas insurers paid out 879 million dollars in storm claims that year, and Sedgwick County accounted for more than a third of the total. KAKE News tracked 34 hail reports across the county through early May in 2026, well above the usual pace for that point in the season.
Hail season in Kansas runs mainly through spring and early summer, often overlapping with the tornado season that peaks between April and June. A single storm can move across several Wichita neighborhoods in under an hour and leave very different damage on each block, depending on wind direction and the angle the hail hit each roof.
Spring and early summer, overlapping with tornado season from April to June.
Small hail under one inch across can strip the protective granules off a shingle without cracking it. That ages the shingle early and leaves it exposed to sun and water.
Larger hailstones bruise or crack the shingle mat itself. That crack often does not show on the surface, only under the granules, where you cannot see it from a ladder or the ground.
Hail also dents soft metals on the roof, including vent caps, flashing, and gutters, which is one of the clearest visible signs an inspector looks for first.
Press on a suspected impact point and a bruise feels soft or spongy compared to the surrounding shingle. The mat underneath has already cracked, even though the surface granules are still in place. That difference between a heat blister, which is a manufacturing flaw that can look similar, and true hail bruising is exactly what separates a valid insurance claim from a denied one.
None of these signs alone confirms hail damage on the shingles themselves. They are reasons to schedule a close inspection, not proof you need a new roof.
We walk the full roof, not just the side facing the street, and check flashing, vents, and gutters along with the shingles.
We photograph every area of hail impact and note the size and density of hits per test square, the same method adjusters use.
We tell you if isolated hail damage is repairable or if impacts are spread widely enough to call for a full replacement.
You see the cost for materials and labor before any work starts.
We meet your adjuster on the roof and walk through the documented damage together.
We replace only the damaged shingles, flashing, or gutters where possible, matching material as closely as the current product line allows.
Our promise has not changed since 1985. If a problem traces back to our repair work, we fix it again at no charge for as long as you own the home.
Most Kansas homeowner policies cover hail damage to a roof, minus a separate wind and hail deductible. The Kansas Insurance Department notes this deductible usually runs one to two percent of your home’s insured value, so a 300,000 dollar home often carries a deductible near 6,000 dollars. Check your declarations page for your exact figure.
Two policy terms affect your payout. Some policies also carry a cosmetic damage exclusion, which can deny hail dents that do not cause a leak, a clause worth reading closely if you have a metal roof or impact rated shingles.
We document every hail strike with dated, close up photos before we speak with your adjuster, then meet them on the roof to point out what we found. Learn more about roof insurance claims.
Pays for the roof minus its age, so an older roof receives a smaller check.
Pays to install a new roof at current prices.
The deductible is always yours to pay, and any contractor offering to waive it is offering to help you commit insurance fraud. We will not do that on any job.
If your roof needs full replacement after a hailstorm, Class 4 impact rated shingles are worth asking about. These shingles carry the UL 2218 impact rating and hold up better against hail than standard three tab or architectural shingles.
Some insurers offer a premium discount for installing Class 4 shingles, since a more hail resistant roof lowers the insurer’s future claim risk. Ask your agent whether your policy includes that discount before you choose materials.
Two homes on the same block can face different hail intensity. Wind direction, roof pitch, and even the way a tree canopy deflected the hail all play a part. Adjusters also weigh roof age, shingle type, and documentation quality differently from claim to claim.
A homeowner with clear photos of cracked shingle mats and dented soft metals has a stronger case than one relying on a description given weeks after the storm. Detailed documentation, more than luck, usually explains why one neighbor’s hail claim gets approved and another’s does not.
Equity Builders holds Kansas contractor license number 2466. We have been registered with the Kansas Attorney General's roofing registration program since it became required for Kansas roofers in 2013.
We carry general liability insurance and hold an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau.
Our crews are certified to install materials from GAF, Owens Corning, CertainTeed, TAMKO, Malarkey, and Da Vinci Roofscapes. We know how to document hail damage in a way that protects your manufacturer warranty and supports your claim.
We do not collect payment until the repair is finished and you are satisfied.
Crews that canvass Wichita neighborhoods after hail and ask for money up front are a warning sign worth walking away from. Many are gone from the area before a repair ever fails.
Homeowners who leave reviews after a hail damage repair consistently mention a thorough inspection, a courteous crew, and clear insurance coordination from the first call to the final walkthrough.
“I find Equity Builders to be very professional, with a high quality product and a prompt, courteous staff that will go the extra mile.”
“Thank you sincerely from my heart for the excellent work that your company did on my home.”
“Thank you so much for the help you provided on my house. Everyone did a great job.”
We handle hail damage roof repair throughout Wichita, from older homes near College Hill, Delano, and Riverside to newer construction in Andover, Derby, Bel Aire, Maize, and Eastborough. Our crews respond along Kellogg, Douglas Avenue, Maize Road, and 21st Street, and from the Arkansas River and Keeper of the Plains out toward the edge of Sedgwick County. We also serve Goddard, Park City, Valley Center, Kechi, and Haysville.
Check for granules collecting in your gutters, dented soft metals like vent caps or gutters, and small round marks on siding near the roofline. A close inspection is the only way to confirm damage that does not show from the ground.
Often, for a covered hail event, minus your deductible. Actual cash value and cosmetic damage exclusions can reduce what your policy pays for an older roof.
A heat blister is a manufacturing flaw that can look similar to hail bruising on the surface. A trained inspector checks the mat underneath and the pattern of impacts across the roof to tell them apart.
As soon as possible after any hailstorm large enough to dent gutters or vehicles nearby. Most policies also set a reporting deadline, so an early inspection protects your claim window.
They hold up better against future hail, and some insurers offer a premium discount for installing them. Whether they are worth it depends on your budget and how long you plan to stay in the home.
Yes, metal can dent from large hail, though it rarely cracks or leaks the way shingles do. Most dents are cosmetic, but a cosmetic damage exclusion in your policy may limit what is covered.
Call Equity Builders at 316-425-0455 for a free hail damage inspection, or visit us at 442 S. Ellis St, Wichita, KS 67211.
Mon – Fri: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
Sunday: Appointment Only
© 2026 Equity Builders. All Rights Reserved.
