The hail that fell on August 21 and 22, 2026—with stones as large as 2.5 inches—caught the attention of every homeowner across Highland, Grantfork, Alhambra, and the surrounding Madison County communities. If your car got dinged, you noticed. If your roof got hit, you might not have—at least not yet.
That’s the hidden danger of hail damage. From the ground, a roof can look perfectly fine. But underneath, shingles can be cracked, granules stripped away, and protective layers at risk. Water doesn’t care if the damage is visible from your driveway. It finds those tiny gaps and starts its slow leak inside your attic, between your walls, and in your decking.
After a storm like the one we just experienced, a professional roof inspection isn’t about panic—it’s about clarity. Here’s what you need to know about storm damage roofing in Highland, IL and the surrounding areas, why an inspection matters even when you can’t see obvious signs of damage, and how to move forward with confidence.
What Hail Actually Does to Your Roof
Hail damage doesn’t always look dramatic. A 2.5-inch hailstone hits with real force, but shingles are tougher than you’d think. The damage comes in layers.
When hail strikes shingles—the standard on most homes across Grantfork, Alhambra, and Madison County—it can:
- Crack the shingle mat beneath the surface, invisible to someone standing below
- Knock loose granules, the protective coating that gives shingles their color and shields against UV rays
- Lift and bruise the shingle without tearing it completely, creating a weakened point where water can pool
- Damage flashing around chimneys, vents, and valleys where water naturally funnels
The problem is timing. Some hail damage shows up immediately—missing shingles, visible dents in gutters. But other damage is a slow leak waiting to happen. That cracked shingle mat might hold together for a few weeks until a spring rain hits and water finds that weak spot.
Edwards & Sons Roofing has served Highland, Grantfork, Alhambra, and the surrounding Metro East communities for more than 50 years. In that time, we’ve learned that the worst roof damage isn’t the kind you can see. It’s the kind that surprises you on a Tuesday morning when you find a water stain spreading across your bedroom ceiling.
Why a Professional Inspection Matters After a Storm
You might be thinking: “My roof looks fine. Why get an inspection?”
Three reasons.
First, you’re likely not seeing what a trained eye catches. A professional roofer who’s inspected thousands of storm-damaged roofs in the Madison County and Metro East area knows exactly what hail damage looks like—the subtle bruises, the grain disturbances in shingles, the missing granules that suggest underlying cracks. What looks normal from your driveway might tell a completely different story up close.
Second, an inspection is the foundation for an insurance claim. If your hail damage qualifies for coverage, your insurance company will send an adjuster. But adjusters are paid to minimize claims. A professional inspection performed before that adjuster visit—or attended by your contractor alongside the adjuster—gives you documentation and an advocate. You’ll know what damage exists and can push back if the adjuster misses it. This matters because the difference between a $0 claim and a claim that covers your repair can be thousands of dollars.
Edwards & Sons Roofing attends adjuster visits and works directly with your insurance company to ensure hail damage is documented thoroughly. We’ve navigated countless spring storms across the area and know what insurers will and won’t cover.
Third, early detection prevents bigger problems. A small crack in a shingle becomes a rotted board after one Wisconsin winter. Rotted decking is expensive to replace. A $500 repair caught early beats a $3,000 replacement caught late.
What to Look for After August’s Hail Storms
If you live in Highland, Grantfork, Alhambra, or nearby communities affected by the August 21–22 storms, here’s what you can check from the ground (safely):
Gutters and downspouts: Do you see granules—little black or colored pebbles—sitting in the gutters or piled around the downspout? That’s a sign hail stripped protective coating from the roof. Dents in the gutters themselves are also a clear indicator.
Visible shingle damage: Look at the side of your roof that faced the storm. Are any shingles missing, cracked, or curled? Do you see exposed underlayment or wood?
Flashing around vents and chimneys: These metal pieces are vulnerable to hail. Visible dents or separation from the shingle are red flags.
Interior signs: Has anything happened inside since the storm? New water stains on ceilings, discoloration on walls, or soft spots in attic insulation? These suggest water’s already in.
If you spot any of these, schedule an inspection. If you don’t spot anything, an inspection is still a smart move—much of the damage won’t be visible from below.
Not Every Damaged Roof Needs Replacement
Here’s something important: just because your roof has hail damage doesn’t mean it needs to be ripped off and replaced.
Edwards & Sons Roofing operates on a repair-first approach. We inspect your roof, document the damage, and be honest about what it means. If isolated shingles are damaged, we repair or replace those shingles. If flashing is compromised, we fix the flashing. If the underlying decking is sound, we don’t recommend replacing it.
A full roof replacement makes sense when damage is widespread, when decking is rotted and needs structural repair, or when your roof was already aging and nearing the end of its life. But a storm that caused scattered hail damage to a relatively new roof? Often a repair is the right call.
This is where honesty matters. Some roofing companies see storm damage and automatically recommend a full replacement. We see it as an opportunity to fix what’s broken, protect what’s good, and save you money if that’s what your roof actually needs.
The difference comes down to this: An inspection is about finding out what you actually have, not selling you something you don’t need.
The Insurance Claim Process: What to Expect
If you decide to file a claim with your insurance company for hail damage, here’s how it typically unfolds:
Step 1: Report the damage. Contact your homeowner’s insurance and report that you experienced hail damage during the August 21–22 storms. The adjuster will schedule a time to inspect your roof. If there’s active water intrusion (leaks, stains), mention this—it raises urgency.
Step 2: Get a professional inspection. Before the adjuster arrives, or ideally alongside the adjuster, have a contractor inspect your roof. Edwards & Sons Roofing provides free inspections and will document damage with photos and notes. If you choose, we’ll attend the adjuster visit and make sure the damage is properly recorded.
Step 3: Let the adjuster estimate. The insurance company’s adjuster will provide their estimate for the cost of repairs or replacement. They’ll account for depreciation (the age-related value loss of your roof) and any deductible on your policy.
Step 4: Review and compare. Compare the adjuster’s estimate to the estimate you received from a local contractor like Edwards & Sons. If there’s a gap—and there often is—you can negotiate or dispute the adjuster’s findings, especially if your contractor documented damage the adjuster missed.
Step 5: Approve and proceed. Once you and the insurance company agree on a number, the claim is approved, and you can move forward with repairs.
Throughout this process, Edwards & Sons works with you and the adjuster to ensure you get a fair claim. We handle the paperwork, navigate depreciation questions, and advocate on your behalf—because we’ve been doing this for more than 50 years across Highland, Grantfork, Alhambra, and the entire Metro East region.
What to Expect from a Professional Inspection
When Edwards & Sons Roofing comes out for a free inspection after storm damage, here’s what happens:
We examine the roof up close. Our inspectors get up there and look at shingles, flashing, valleys, and decking. We check for the telltale signs of hail impact: granule loss, bruising, cracks, and soft spots in the mat.
We document everything. We take photos—sometimes drone photos—of any damage we find. These become part of your record and your insurance claim. You see exactly what we’re seeing.
We explain honestly. We’ll tell you whether you need repairs, replacement, or whether your roof actually fared well and doesn’t need anything right now. We don’t upsell.
We provide a quote within 24 hours. If work is needed, we give you a clear, detailed estimate. No surprises when you get the bill.
All of this is free. No obligation. No pressure.
Why Edwards & Sons Has Served This Community for 50 Years
We’ve been doing this since 1974. That means we were here for the ice storms of the 1990s, the severe spring storms that swept through Madison County in the 2000s, and every summer downpour and winter freeze in between. We understand the weather patterns unique to the Metro East—the sudden spring hail, the heavy snows that load winter roofs, the ice dams that back up gutters.
We’ve also built relationships. Many of our customers in Highland, Grantfork, and Alhambra have called us back years later for a second project. Our neighbors refer us to their neighbors. Local insurance agencies know our work and recommend us to their clients. That doesn’t happen because of marketing—it happens because we do what we say we’ll do.
We’re fully licensed and bonded. We’re an A+ rated member of the Better Business Bureau. We’re a Preferred Contractor for Owens Corning, which means our installation meets strict standards. We use materials backed by a Lifetime Manufacturer’s Warranty, so your investment is protected.
But mostly, we’ve stayed around because we’re honest. We don’t pressure you into a replacement you don’t need. We don’t disappear after the deposit clears. We don’t leave nails in your driveway or leave your lawn torn up. We answer the phone within 24 hours. We show up when we say we’ll show up.
Next Steps: Schedule Your Free Inspection
If you live in Highland, Grantfork, Alhambra, or any of the surrounding Madison County communities and the August 21–22 hail storms hit your area, don’t wait for a leak to appear inside your home.
Contact Edwards & Sons Roofing for a free, no-obligation roof inspection. We’ll take an hour, show you exactly what the storm did to your roof, and tell you what happens next—whether that’s a repair, a claim, or nothing at all.
Call or visit us online to schedule. We’ll be in touch within 24 hours, and we can often inspect within a few days. If you have questions about whether your roof needs attention, that’s exactly what we’re here for.
Your roof protected your home through that hail. Let us make sure it keeps doing its job.
Get A Free Roof Inspection
