Insurance adjuster came out and basically said dents are “cosmetic,” so unless there’s actual leaking or structural damage, they won’t pay for replacement.
That’s exactly what happened to us after the 2021 hailstorm here in Nebraska. We had a metal roof too, and the adjuster just shrugged at all the dents. Tried arguing that it hurt resale value, but they wouldn’t budge—said their policy only covers “functional” damage. I get their point, but honestly, it feels like a loophole. The roof still works, but it looks rough, and I’m sure it’ll matter if we ever sell. At this point, I just chalk it up to living in hail country.
We had a similar run-in with our insurance after the last big hailstorm—metal roof too, and now it looks like someone took a baseball bat to it. Adjuster said as long as it’s not leaking, it’s “character.” I get that it still works, but man, it’s a tough pill to swallow when you know it’ll come up if you ever try to sell. Quotes for cosmetic fixes were all over the place, but nothing under $5k for even basic repairs. At this point, I just tell folks it’s “Nebraska chic.”
That “character” line from adjusters always cracks me up—heard it more times than I can count. Metal roofs are a double-edged sword out here. They’ll take a beating and keep the water out, but once hail’s done its thing, you’re stuck with that dimpled look unless you want to shell out for a full panel replacement. I’ve seen folks get quoted anywhere from $4k to $15k depending on roof size and how picky they are about matching panels.
One neighbor of mine just left the dents and called it “storm patina.” Another tried to go the insurance route for cosmetic repairs, but unless you’ve got a rare policy that covers aesthetics, it’s usually a dead end. If you’re not leaking, most companies just shrug. I get why it bugs you though—resale can get tricky if buyers are picky.
If it helps, I’ve seen some people negotiate with buyers for a credit at closing instead of fixing it themselves. Not ideal, but sometimes less hassle than fighting with insurance or paying out of pocket. Nebraska chic might catch on... or at least make for a good story over beers.
One neighbor of mine just left the dents and called it “storm patina.”
Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of folks just roll with the “patina” look, especially if the roof’s still doing its job. Metal’s tough, but yeah, those hail dents are basically badges of honor out here. I get the frustration though—resale can be a pain if buyers want everything perfect. Credits at closing aren’t a bad workaround, especially when insurance won’t budge. At least you’re not dealing with leaks or torn-up shingles, which can get messy fast.
I get the whole “patina” thing, but I couldn’t leave the dents on mine. Maybe it’s just me, but every time I pulled in the driveway, those dings bugged me. Ended up doing a DIY repair with a rubber mallet and some patience—wasn’t perfect, but looked way better. If you’re handy and don’t mind a little work, it doesn’t have to cost much. Just depends how much the look bothers you, I guess.
