How to Prepare Your Calgary Home for Hail Season

When is Calgary hail season?

The peak window runs from June through August, with some activity in late May and early September. The foothills geography channels storms through the city unpredictably — hail can be severe even in years with mild summer weather overall.

What to inspect before summer

A quick pre-season walk-around takes 20 minutes and catches existing damage before a storm makes it worse:

• Siding panels — look for dents, cracks or loose sections, especially on the south and west-facing walls where storm tracks most often hit.
• Soffits and fascia — check along roof edges for dents, cracks or paint peeling. Damaged soffit lets moisture and pests into the attic.
• Window and door caulking — cracked caulk around frames lets water in during heavy rain. Re-caulk before summer if it is failing.
• Deck and fence hardware — tighten loose posts and replace cracked boards now. Storm winds accelerate existing damage.

What to check after a hailstorm

After a significant storm, inspect the exterior within 24–48 hours. Look for:

• Dented or cracked siding panels (vinyl and aluminum show damage clearly)
• Damaged soffit — look for holes or sections that are pushed in or hanging
• Fascia board dents or cracks along the roofline
• Broken or cracked window screens (easy to overlook but a sign of hail size)
• Roof damage — look from the ground or safely from a ladder at the eaves, but do not walk on the roof yourself

Take photos of everything you see, dated. Your insurance adjuster will ask for documentation.

What a handyman can repair vs. what needs a specialist

A handyman handles:

• Individual siding panel replacement
• Soffit section repair and replacement
• Fascia board repair
• Exterior trim touch-ups
• Caulking gaps opened by impact

Needs a licensed roofer:

• Shingle replacement or full roof repair
• Structural roof damage
• Eaves trough replacement (partial soffit attached to eaves trough may be a grey area — ask)

If you are making an insurance claim, your insurer's adjuster will specify what needs to be repaired. You can share handyman quotes with them for the exterior sections that do not require a roofer.

How to get repairs done quickly after a storm

After a major hail event, every contractor in Calgary gets busy. The fastest path to a quote is sending photos — a clear photo of the damage lets a handyman assess scope without a site visit. The sooner you act, the sooner you get on the schedule.