Protecting your home from hailstorms
In Canada and around the world, hailstorms are becoming more common and may pose a risk to homes and vehicles if precautions aren’t taken. How can you prevent damage and better protect yourself? Here are some practical tips.
What are hailstorms and why should you be concerned?
Hailstorms tend to be short-lived, but can hit suddenly and cause significant destruction. In Canada, the most damaging storms generally take place between May and October,1 hitting their peak in July. While hailstorms can occur anywhere in the country, the most violent are found in southern Ontario and the Prairies, particularly in Alberta. In fact, in August 2024, the Calgary area was hit by the country’s largest hailstorm ever recorded, which became the second most costly disaster in Canadian history, totalling $3.25 billion.2
Hailstones can vary considerably in size – from a pebble to a baseball. Yet, in just a few minutes, even the smallest hailstones can cause serious property damage – not to mention personal injury.
How can you protect your home from hailstorms?
There are concrete steps you can take, either on your own or with the help of professionals, to prepare and protect your home.
What steps can I take right away to protect my home?
Install storm shutters on your windows.
Check and seal any gaps around your doors and windows.
Cover your windows with protective film to prevent the glass from shattering when hail strikes.
Clean your gutters and downspouts twice a year – in the fall and spring – to reduce the risk of overflow and water damage.
Have professionals check your roof for missing or damaged shingles and replace them, if needed.
Hire a professional to trim branches that could fall on power lines, break windows or damage any part of your home during a severe weather event.
Install a protection cage around your home’s outdoor heating or cooling unit (if it has one), while still allowing air to circulate around it. (Hailstorms often involve wind-driven rain, and any unsealed openings can allow water and wind to enter the building.)
A hailstorm is forecast for the coming days. What should I do to get ready?
In addition to the measures suggested above, you should take the following steps right away to minimize the risk of damage to your property or vehicles.
Park your cars in a garage or cover them with a thick blanket.
Cover outdoor items, such as barbecues and garden furniture, or store them indoors.
Close curtains, blinds or shutters to help reduce the risk of glass entering your home.
How can you strengthen and protect your home to prevent damage?
If your home has been affected by a hailstorm, the recovery process can also be a chance to make improvements that enhance future protection.
What can I do to prepare my home for hailstorms?
While you’re working on your home, take the opportunity to make it more resilient. Here are a few suggestions:
Install impact-resistant windows and skylights with reinforced frames and laminated glass, among other features.
Put storm shutters on your windows.
Before installing new roofing material, install a protective self-adhesive membrane over the entire roof (rather than just around the edges) to act as a barrier against ice and water.
If needed, replace vinyl or aluminum siding with a more hail-, fire- and wind-resistant material such as brick, concrete, stone, steel or fibre cement.
Replace existing materials with ones that are more resistant to hail and better protect your property, such as a Class 4 impact-resistant roofing (UL 2218).
Can my insurer assist with these renovation costs?
In certain hail-prone areas of Alberta, Desjardins Insurance offers up to $2,500 following a covered loss to help replace your entire roofing with Class 4 asphalt shingles, and up to $4,000 to replace exterior siding (maximum of $1,000 per side) with steel, fibre cement, concrete, brick or stone siding.
What steps should you take in advance with your insurer?
Should I check to see if my insurance covers hail damage?
Absolutely. Don’t wait until the next storm hits. Find out now if your property and belongings are covered. When it comes to auto insurance, Desjardins Insurance’s all-perils coverage generally covers hail damage to your vehicle.
What’s more, by repairing damage quickly, you can maintain your coverage. Unrepaired damage could complicate the assessment of a future claim and limit what your policy protects, and certain types of coverage no longer available. By acting fast, you can ensure that you remain protected.
What should you do after a storm hits?
A hailstorm just passed over. What should I do now?
First, inspect your property and vehicles for damage. To facilitate the claims process, take photos and make a list of any damaged items. (If you’re paying for a clean-up, be sure to keep your receipts).
Next, contact your insurer if hail has damaged your home or car. They can guide you through the entire claims process.
If your home has been affected, it’s important to have the damage repaired as soon as possible. In the meantime, temporary measures may be required to prevent water from entering through the roof or siding, which could lead to further damage.
Key takeaways to prevent hail damage
Hailstorms are becoming increasingly frequent and intense, especially between May and October.
Even the smallest hailstones can cause significant damage to your home, car and outdoor items.
Protect your home in a few simple steps: install storm shutters, check the condition of your roof and trim hazardous branches.
In the event of a severe weather warning, park your vehicles inside or cover them, bring in garden furniture and close the curtains to avoid projectile glass.
Use renovations or the post-disaster clean-up to make your home more resilient by using more hail-resistant materials.
Desjardins can help you finance certain hail-related renovations, in certain areas.
RadarTM, available via the Desjardins Insurance mobile app, sends weather alerts so you can react in a timely manner.
Learn more
Was this article helpful? Be sure to check out our tips and resources on how you can help protect your home from extreme weather and natural disasters. And feel free to contact Desjardins Insurance if you have specific questions about hail damage coverage under our insurance policies.
Desjardins Insurance refers to Desjardins General Insurance Inc. in Quebec and Certas Direct Insurance Company, underwriter of automobile and property insurance in Alberta and Ontario.
Certain conditions, exclusions and limitations may apply. Rates and discounts are subject to change or termination without notice. Rates and discounts are based on each client's profile and are subject to eligibility conditions. The terms and conditions of the coverages described are set out in the insurance policy, which always prevails. Auto Insurance is not available in MB, SK and BC due to government-run plans.
These tips are provided for information and prevention purposes only. They are general in nature, and Desjardins Insurance cannot be held liable for them. We recommend using caution and consulting an expert for comprehensive, tailored advice.
Desjardins®, Desjardins Insurance®, all trademarks containing the word Desjardins, as well as related logos are trademarks of the Fédération des caisses Desjardins du Québec, used under licence. RadarTM is a trademark of Desjardins General Insurance Group Inc., used under licence.
1 https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/hlstrms-prp-en.aspx Lien externe au site.
2 https://www.ibc.ca/news-insights/news/cost-of-historic-calgary-hailstorm-continues-to-rise Lien externe au site.