NEW ORLEANS, LA - August 12, 2026 - PRESSADVANTAGE -
Big Easy Renovations, a licensed roofing and renovation contractor, has published a detailed homeowner guide explaining how to identify roof hail damage and what steps to take before contacting an insurance company, releasing the resource as Louisiana moves through its most active hail period of the year.
The guide, titled "Signs Your New Orleans Roof Has Hail Damage (And What to Do Before You Call Insurance)," responds to a recurring problem the company encounters across the New Orleans area and surrounding communities, including Metairie, Kenner, Gretna, Slidell, and Mandeville: hail damage that remains invisible from the ground until water intrusion appears on interior ceilings months after a storm. According to the publication, a single spring storm can displace shingle granules, bruise the asphalt mat, and fracture factory-applied seal strips without leaving any mark visible from the street.
The resource cites National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration storm records showing that April alone accounts for 1,607 documented hail events in Louisiana's recorded history, the highest single-month total in the state's storm data. The guide explains that Louisiana sits within the region meteorologists refer to as Dixie Alley, where fast-moving squall lines and mesoscale convective systems produce hail with less warning time than the slower supercell storms common to the Great Plains. The National Weather Service classifies hail of one inch in diameter or larger as severe, and the publication notes that stones of that size reliably cause functional damage to asphalt shingles.
"Most homeowners assume that if their roof looks fine from the driveway, it survived the storm," said a spokesperson for Big Easy Renovations. "The reality is that mat bruising and broken seal strips are the damage types that cause leaks, and they are almost never visible without a professional on-roof inspection. Our goal with this guide is to give homeowners a documented record before the insurance process even begins."
A significant portion of the guide addresses the legal framework governing hail claims in the state. Under Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1892, insurers must begin adjusting a reported loss within 14 days of notification and pay any undisputed amount within 30 days of satisfactory proof of loss. The publication also examines Louisiana Revised Statute 22:1337, which determines how deductibles apply to different storm types. The company notes that many homeowners incorrectly assume their named-storm percentage deductible applies to all weather damage, when hail from a non-named storm is typically subject to the lower flat dollar deductible listed on the policy. The guide directs readers experiencing claim delays to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, which handles complaints against carriers that miss statutory deadlines.
Practical recommendations in the publication include conducting a ground-level check within 24 to 48 hours of a storm, photographing dented gutters, vent caps, and window sills with a coin or ruler for scale, preserving hailstones as physical evidence, completing emergency tarping to prevent further water intrusion, and arranging an independent inspection by a licensed contractor before the insurance adjuster visits. The guide distinguishes between functional damage, which compromises a roof's ability to keep water out, and cosmetic damage, which most standard policies treat differently.
Big Easy Renovations serves Orleans Parish, Jefferson Parish, and St. Tammany Parish, providing hail damage inspections, written damage documentation, scope-of-work estimates formatted for insurance carriers, and direct communication with adjusters. The company also works with policyholders insured through Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance and discusses FORTIFIED roof upgrades under the IBHS FORTIFIED Home standard for qualifying replacement projects. The full guide is available on the company's website.
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For more information about Big EZ Renovations, contact the company here:
Big EZ Renovations
Ted Brown
504-294-8616
New Orleans, LA
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