08/27/2026
Hail season in Alberta doesn't end when the storms stop. That's when the harder part starts.
Every year I talk to business owners and homeowners in late August and early September who took a hit in July, looked at the roof, decided it "wasn't that bad," and moved on. Then the snow comes, water finds the bruised shingles, and a claim that would have been straightforward in August becomes an argument in February about what caused what.
If a storm came through your property this summer, here's what I'd want you to do while the weather is still good.
Get it looked at, even if it looks fine from the ground.
Hail damage on a roof is often invisible from the driveway. What an adjuster or a reputable roofer sees up close — bruising on the shingle mat, granule loss, damaged vents and flashing — is what determines whether the roof is still doing its job. On a commercial property, add rooftop HVAC units, skylights, and membrane seams to that list. Rooftop equipment is one of the most commonly overlooked areas after a hailstorm, and it's expensive.
Document it now, not later.
Photos with dates. Any invoices for repairs you've already made. Notes on when the storm hit. If you end up filing, that record does a lot of work for you. If you don't, you've lost nothing.
Know what your policy actually says about the roof.
This is the part that surprises people. Not every property policy treats a hail-damaged roof the same way. Depending on the policy, you may be looking at replacement cost, or actual cash value with depreciation applied based on the roof's age. Some policies carry a separate, higher deductible specifically for hail or wind. Coverage can vary considerably between insurers, and the difference doesn't show up until you're claiming.
If you don't know which one you have, that's worth a conversation before you need the answer.
Why this matters more than it used to
Alberta carries a disproportionate share of Canada's weather losses. The Insurance Bureau of Canada put the August 2024 Calgary hailstorm alone at roughly $2.8 billion in insured damage — the costliest hailstorm in Canadian history. Nationally, severe weather drove more than $2.4 billion in insured losses in 2025.
Numbers like that don't stay in the news cycle. They show up in how insurers price hail-exposed property, what deductibles they're willing to write, and in some cases whether they'll write the risk at all. Alberta property owners are feeling that now.
None of which means your renewal is going to be painful. It does mean it's worth understanding before it lands on your desk.
On that note — check your renewal date
If yours falls in the next two or three months, that's the window where a broker can actually be useful. It gives me time to go through what you currently have, look for gaps or coverage you're paying for and don't need, approach markets where it makes sense, and sort out underwriting questions before a deadline is breathing down anyone's neck.
Two weeks out, the options narrow. Not because anyone's being difficult — there just isn't time to do the work properly.
I'd rather have the conversation early and find out everything's in good shape than have it late and be short on choices.
If your renewal is coming up in the next few months, let's start the conversation early. Send me a message and we'll take a look at where things stand.
Nothing here is specific advice about your policy — coverage varies by insurer and by the terms of your own contract. Talk to your insurance professional about your particular situation.
