After a Calgary hailstorm: small repairs a handyman can handle

Calgary sits in one of the most hail-prone parts of Canada. Most summers, a few storms roll off the foothills in the late afternoon and drop hail somewhere in the city. Some are brief and harmless. Others, like the June 2020 storm that tore through northeast neighbourhoods, leave streets of shredded siding, smashed windows and dented cars.

After a storm, there is a mix of jobs. Some are insurance claims that need a roofer or siding contractor. Others are small repairs that do not justify a claim at all. This guide sorts them out, so you know who to call for what, and what a handyman can fix quickly.

First steps after the storm

Before calling anyone, do these in order:

1. Stay safe. Do not go on the roof. Watch for broken glass on decks and walkways.
2. Take photos of everything. Wide shots of each side of the house, then close-ups. Include the hail itself next to a coin or ruler if you can, since size matters to an insurer.
3. Cover openings. If a window is broken, tape plastic over it or board it to keep rain out. This is temporary protection, not a repair.
4. Call your insurer early if there is roof, siding or window damage. Ask whether they want an adjuster to see it before any repairs.
5. Keep receipts for anything you spend on temporary protection.

Many policies expect you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage. Check your own policy and ask your insurer what they want.

What goes to your insurer, roofer or siding contractor

These are usually larger claims and specialist work:

• Roof shingles. Hail bruises and cracks asphalt shingles, which can lead to leaks later even if it looks fine from the ground. A roofer should inspect it.
• Siding. Vinyl siding cracks and holes easily in hail, especially in cold weather and on older panels. Whole walls are often replaced to match colour.
• Broken window glass and sealed units. A cracked pane or a fogged sealed unit needs a glass company.
• Eavestroughs with large dents or that pulled loose.
• Skylights and roof vents.
• Stucco with heavy impact damage, which needs a stucco contractor.

What a handyman can handle

Plenty of hail damage is small and not worth a claim, or is left over after the big claim work is finished. Kaur Handyman can take care of:

Torn window screens

Screens are usually the first thing to go. Hail punches holes or tears the mesh right out of the spline. Re-screening a frame is a quick repair. If the frame itself is bent, it may need replacing.

Dented or chipped exterior trim

Wood or composite trim around windows and doors can dent and lose paint. Small dents can be filled, sanded and painted. Exposed wood should be painted or sealed before winter so moisture does not get in. See exterior painting season in Calgary for timing.

Fence boards and gates

Hail splits weathered fence boards and strips stain off the windward side. Replacing a few boards and re-staining the face is common work after a storm. While we are there, gates and posts can be checked. See fence repair in Calgary.

Deck boards, railings and furniture

Composite and wood decks can be pitted. Cracked boards and damaged railing caps can be replaced. Damaged patio furniture can be assembled or repaired, or new pieces put together. A deck inspection checklist helps you see the full picture.

Caulking and seals

Impacts can crack old caulk around windows and doors, letting rain in behind trim. Re-caulking those joints is a small job that prevents bigger ones. See caulking and sealing in Calgary.

Shed doors, gate hardware and small exterior fixes

Bent shed door tracks, cracked light covers, loose house numbers and broken gate latches are all handyman work.

Interior fixes after a leak

If water got in before a window was covered, you might see stained drywall or a soft patch on a ceiling. Once the source is fixed and the area is completely dry, small drywall repairs and repainting are handyman work. Larger water damage with wet insulation should go to a restoration company first.

Should you claim or just fix it?

That is between you and your insurer. A few things to think about:

• Your deductible compared with the cost of the repair
• Whether the damage is part of a larger claim that already covers the house
• Whether your insurer wants to see damage before it is repaired

If you are unsure, get a handyman quote for the small items first. A photo by text gets you a price, and you can decide from there.

When to book repairs

After a big storm, roofers and siding contractors are busy for weeks or months. Small repairs can often be done sooner. Exterior painting and caulking depend on weather, so try to get exposed wood and failed seals done before the cold weather arrives in fall.

A quick walkaround after the storm

Once it is safe, walk all four sides of the house and the yard with your phone. Look at:

• Window and door screens on the storm side
• Paint and trim on window sills and fascia, where hail strikes at an angle
• Fence boards and the stained face of the fence
• Deck boards, railing caps and patio furniture
• Exterior light covers, house numbers and the mailbox
• Downspouts and eavestroughs for dents and splits
• The shed: roof, door track and windows

Then go inside and check ceilings on the top floor and around windows for any sign of water. Photograph each item, even small ones. A single text with all of them gets you one price for the handyman items, and the same photos help your insurer with the rest.

Hail season in Calgary

Calgary's hail season usually runs through the summer months, with most damaging storms between June and August. Storms tend to form over the foothills in the afternoon and move east across the city. Northeast and east neighbourhoods have been hit hard by several notable storms, but any part of the city can be affected.

Some practical steps before the next season:

• Know where your outdoor furniture cushions and umbrellas can go quickly.
• Keep a roll of plastic sheeting and tape on hand.
• Consider replacing badly weathered fence boards and trim before they get split.
• Take photos of your home's exterior in good condition, so you have a before picture.

Kaur Handyman covers all four Calgary quadrants plus Airdrie and Chestermere. See the services list.

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Hail hit your place?

Send a photo of the job, your neighbourhood and the days that suit you. You get a price back before anything is booked. Materials are agreed in the quote, and you can pay by Interac e-Transfer, cash or bank draft.

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Calgary NW, NE, SW and SE, plus Airdrie and Chestermere.

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