By Rhett Wilborn, Innovative Home Concepts (Crystal Lake)
The hail rolled through Huntley, Lake in the Hills, and Algonquin on June 24 — reports put it near an inch and a half around Huntley. And if your neighborhood got hit, you already know what happened next. The phone starts ringing. A guy in a logo’d polo knocks on the door. You get a text: “Our records show your property may have storm damage.” Maybe an email too. Maybe two more knocks before dinner.
The pitch is always the same. You have damage. You need an inspection. Sign here and we’ll handle the claim.
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Take a breath. Here’s the honest version, from someone who’s been climbing around on McHenry County roofs for 21 years.
What should you actually do after a hail storm? Don’t sign anything on the spot. Call a local, certified contractor you’ve actually researched — not the out-of-town crew standing on your porch — and get an honest inspection. A lot of the time there’s no real damage, and a straight company will tell you so. Only file an insurance claim if there’s genuine, documented damage, because the claims you file follow you for years.
Did the June 24 Storm Actually Damage Your Roof? (A Lot of the Time, No)
When our crews show up after a storm like this, we find one of two things: damage to the home from the hail, or nothing. And a lot of times — a high percentage, actually — we don’t find any damage. We tell the homeowner there’s nothing wrong with your roof or your siding, and we move on.
That’s the part the door-knocker really doesn’t want you to hear. There’s no commission in “your roof’s fine.”
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But hail damage is sneaky. You won’t spot it from the driveway, and you usually won’t spot it from the ground at all. Up top is where it shows. When we get on a roof in Del Webb or Southwind — or anywhere the hail tracked across Huntley — here’s what we’re actually looking for:
- Bruised or cracked shingles — soft spots where the hail knocked the granules loose
- Granules washed into the gutters — little piles of what looks like coarse sand
- Dented soft metals — vents, flashing, gutters, the AC fins
- Lifted or broken shingle seals — where the wind broke the bond
Hail over about an inch is where asphalt shingles start to bruise, and the reported size around Huntley clears that easily. So yes — it’s worth a look. It just might not be worth a claim, and those are two very different things.
Why Your Phone’s Blowing Up — and Who NOT to Sign With
The mistake homeowners make is they respond to the telemarketers, the canvassers, the out-of-town people that are trying to get them to make a claim — and they sign something right away without doing research on the company. That’s the biggest thing.
Storm chasers follow the weather. They show up in a county for a few weeks after a big hail event, knock every door, and push hard to get a contract and a claim filed fast. Why the rush? They know sometimes it does slip through the insurance. Sometimes a borderline claim gets paid, they do the work, and they’re three states away by winter when the flashing they botched starts leaking.
A couple of them aren’t crooks — they’re just busy and gone. But the damage to you is the same either way: a claim on your record you didn’t need, and nobody local to call when there’s a problem.
So before you let anyone up a ladder, do the five-minute version of homework:
- Are they actually local? We’ve been on Route 176 in Crystal Lake for 21 years. You can drive to our showroom. A P.O. box and an 800 number is a flag.
- Are they certified? We’re a CertainTeed ShingleMaster and the only James Hardie Select Contractor in McHenry County. Ask for the credential and look it up.
- Do they have a real, local track record? 400-plus Google reviews at 4.6 stars, from people in towns you recognize.
Research the company, pick the one you want, have them come out and look — and get their honest opinion. A good, honest company will tell you the truth whether you have damage or you don’t.
Should You Get It Inspected? (Yes — Here’s Why)
Even if you’re skeptical there’s any damage, getting up there is worth it. Call it peace of mind.
Your roof’s the most important thing on your house. If it starts leaking, you may not know it for a long time, and it could be causing a lot of damage — mold, structural damage to the wood, water dripping down inside the wall cavities. By the time a brown stain shows up on your ceiling, the problem’s been working on your house for months.
Now, the honest caveat most companies won’t put in writing: an inspection isn’t a guarantee. The easiest way to find a leak is to follow the water — and sometimes you can’t see where it’s getting in until it’s already inside. But we can get up there and catch the obvious stuff — missing shingles, damaged sections, bad flashing — and tell you straight whether your roof needs anything at all, or nothing.
Before You File an Insurance Claim, Read This
Here’s the piece nobody at your door is going to mention, because it works against them.
You don’t want to make a bunch of bad claims. The insurance companies keep track of all of that — and I think they even follow you with that information if you switch insurance companies.
He’s right, and there’s a name for it. It’s called the C.L.U.E. report (Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange), run by LexisNexis. Most insurers report your claims to it, and other carriers pull that history — usually going back about seven years — when you apply or renew. A string of claims, especially ones that get denied, can push an insurer toward non-renewal. And once they drop you, you’ll have to scramble to find somebody else — and it may become very difficult or expensive to get insurance on your house again.
So the math is simple. File when there’s real, documented damage worth more than your deductible. Don’t file a claim to “see if it sticks” because a guy in your driveway told you to. That’s the trap. The free inspection — done by someone honest — is exactly how you tell the difference before it ever touches your record. (You can check your own claims history and your rights as a policyholder through the Illinois Department of Insurance.)
How We Handle It
If you want a set of eyes on your roof after this storm, here’s what you get from us: a free, no-pressure inspection, and an itemized report with photos you can hand straight to your adjuster — whether that report says “file a claim” or “you’re fine, sleep easy.”
And if you do have real damage and a legitimate claim gets denied or lowballed, our sister company — IHC Public Adjusters, a separately licensed Illinois public adjusting firm — can step in and represent you, not the insurance company. We’ve helped McHenry County homeowners navigate claims since 2008. Not every claim needs a public adjuster; the bigger, contested ones often do, and we’ll tell you honestly which one you are. Financial relationship disclosed per 215 ILCS 5/1575.
We’re women-led, 21 years in, and we live and work in the same county you do. After this storm, that’s the difference between a neighbor and a stranger with a clipboard.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need a roof inspection after the June 24 storm?
It’s worth it for peace of mind, even if you think your roof is fine. Hail damage hides — bruised shingles and lifted seals don’t leak until later, and a hidden leak can cause mold and wood rot for months before you see a ceiling stain. A free, honest inspection tells you where you stand.
Will filing a roof insurance claim raise my rates or get me dropped?
It can. Insurers report claims to the LexisNexis C.L.U.E. database, which other carriers check (about a 7-year window). Several claims — especially denied ones — can lead to non-renewal, and re-insuring a home with a heavy claims history is harder and pricier. File only for real, documented damage.
How do I tell a storm chaser from a real local contractor?
A storm chaser pushes you to sign and file fast, often door-to-door, with an out-of-area address. A local contractor has a verifiable address (ours is on Route 176 in Crystal Lake), manufacturer certifications you can look up, and years of local reviews. Research before you sign anything.
What does hail damage actually look like on a roof?
Bruised or cracked shingles, granules washed into the gutters, dents in vents, flashing, and gutters, and lifted or broken shingle seals. Most of it isn’t visible from the ground — it takes someone on the roof to find it and document it with photos.
Is the roof inspection really free?
Yes. We come out, get on the roof, document what we find with photos, and give you an itemized report at no cost and no obligation — even when the answer is that your roof is in good shape and doesn’t need anything.
Which towns did the June 24 storm hit?
The hail and wind moved through Huntley, Lake in the Hills, and Algonquin, with hail reported near 1.5 inches around Huntley. If you’re in or near those areas in McHenry County, it’s worth having your roof looked at.
Storm hit your neighborhood? Get the honest answer first.
👉 Get Your Free Huntley Storm-Damage Roof Inspection — Call or Text (815) 356-9020, or request an inspection at innovativehomeconcepts.com/huntley-storm-damage-inspection. We’ll tell you the truth either way.
Rhett Wilborn is the owner of Innovative Home Concepts, a women-led exterior remodeler in Crystal Lake, IL. In 21 years he and his crews have completed thousands of roofing, siding, window, and gutter projects across McHenry County. IHC is a CertainTeed ShingleMaster and the only James Hardie Select Contractor in the county.
