After the hail.
Adams and Weld counties sit in Colorado's hail corridor. What you do in the first weeks after a storm decides whether your claim holds up.
Painter Hotline assesses and repaints hail-damaged exteriors across Brighton, Colorado and the I-76 corridor. Damage is photographed and documented in writing before any coating goes on, because painting over unassessed hail damage can complicate an insurance claim. Siding pitting, cracked or punctured substrate, damaged trim and fascia, and stripped paint film are each recorded by elevation. Call 720-208-5645.
The mistake people make
A storm comes through, the house looks a bit rough, and a few months later somebody repaints it. The claim is filed afterward, and now the adjuster is looking at a freshly coated wall with no record of what was underneath.
That is a bad position to be in and it is entirely avoidable. Document before you cover.
We photograph and write up what we see before any preparation starts, by elevation, whether or not you end up filing. It costs nothing, it takes an hour, and it is the difference between a claim with evidence and a claim with a description.
What hail actually does to paint
| Damage | What it looks like | What it means for coating |
|---|---|---|
| Film stripping | Paint knocked off in small circles, substrate showing | Bare substrate exposed to weather; needs priming before anything else |
| Pitting without breakthrough | Shallow dents, film intact | Often cosmetic, but it holds water and accelerates the next failure |
| Cracked hardboard or fiber cement | Hairline splits radiating from an impact | Water path into the board. Repair or replace before coating |
| Punctured soft siding | Visible holes or deep crushing | Replacement, not paint |
| Damaged fascia and trim | Splintering along edges and ends | The most commonly missed item; it is also where water gets in |
| Window and door frames | Dented cladding, broken seals | Flag for a glazier; paint will not address it |
North and west take it worst
Hail arrives at an angle, driven by the storm. On the Front Range that most often means the north and west elevations take the brunt, which is also why damage gets missed. People look at the front of the house, and the front may be fine.
Walk all four sides, and look at soft materials first: fascia, trim, soft siding, screens, and anything made of thin metal. Those show damage before the main field of siding does.
How we work alongside a claim
- Assessment and photographs before any work, by elevation, written up so it can be handed to an adjuster.
- A scope that separates repair from repaint, because those are frequently handled differently by an insurer.
- Substrate repair first. Cracked boards, splintered trim and failed fascia get fixed before coating, since paint over a crack is a cosmetic delay.
- Prime every bare area where hail stripped the film. Exposed substrate that has been weathering for months needs it.
- Full repaint, because spot-repairing a hail-damaged elevation almost never blends.
To be clear about our role: we are painters rather than public adjusters, and we do not negotiate with insurers or tell you what your policy covers. What we provide is an accurate written record of what we can see and a scope you can put in front of someone who does.
If you are not filing
Plenty of damage is below a deductible and gets handled out of pocket. That is fine, and the sequence does not change: repair the substrate, prime what is bare, then coat. Painting straight over pitted and cracked siding buys you about two years.
What else we do
Interior painting
Walls, ceilings, trim, doors and basements throughout Brighton and the corridor.
Details →02Exterior painting
Siding, trim, fascia, soffit, doors and garage doors across Brighton and the corridor.
Details →03New-build repaints
Repainting production-built homes inside and out.
Details →04Barns and outbuildings
Barns, shops, metal buildings, grain structures and outbuildings on acreage.
Details →05Cabinet painting
Kitchen and bathroom cabinet painting across Brighton and the corridor.
Details →06Deck and fence staining
Decks, fences, pergolas, railings and timber across Brighton and the corridor.
Details →07Commercial and ag
Retail, office, warehouse, agricultural and HOA properties.
Details →After hail damage questions
Should I paint before or after filing a hail claim?
Document before you paint. Painting over unassessed damage leaves an adjuster looking at a fresh coating with no record of what was underneath, which is a weak position. We photograph and write up damage by elevation before any work starts.
How do I know if I have hail damage?
Walk all four sides, not just the front. Hail arrives at an angle, so north and west elevations usually take the worst of it. Look at soft materials first: fascia, trim, soft siding, screens and thin metal show damage before the main siding field does.
Can you just paint over hail pitting?
You can, and it buys about two years. Pitting holds water and cracked boards are a water path into the substrate. Repair first, prime the bare areas, then coat.
Do you work with insurance companies?
We provide written, photographed documentation by elevation and a scope separating repair from repaint. We are painters rather than public adjusters, so we do not negotiate with insurers or interpret your policy.
Why does a whole elevation need repainting?
Because spot repairs on hail damage almost never blend. The surrounding film has weathered and the new material will read as a patch from the street.
Is Brighton really that bad for hail?
Adams and Weld counties sit in the part of Colorado that sees the most frequent damaging hail. Out on open ground with no terrain shelter, storms arrive with full force.
Request your free estimate
Tell us what needs painting and send a few photos. We cover Brighton and every town along the corridor, and most projects can be priced without a site visit.
Rather talk? 720-208-5645