It was a whale of a storm the evening of Aug. 5, which came with high winds, a torrential downpour, and in some areas of the city — golf ball-sized hail. Unfortunately, it was once again the northern end of Calgary that got the worst of it. It was a series of supercell storms, says an Environment and Climate Change Canada meteorologist in a Calgary Herald article published the day after, and the aftermath was a trail of dented roofs, shredded siding, flooded streets, busted windshields, and dinged-up hoods.
It will likely be at least a month until the full scale of the damage is tallied through vehicle and home insurance claims, however a number of questions and concerns have been raised as cleanup is now fully underway. Residents are concerned about the durability and resilience of their homes, and shady contractors may be looking to take advantage.
How do we make sure we have more resilient built homes?
An estimated 36,000 homes were affected by the hailstorm, estimates an expert from the Northern Hail Project in a recent CBC article. The prediction is insured damage costs will be similar to the $1.2 billion hailstorm of 2020, which also seemed to target the north of the city. Many people have seen their homes badly damaged twice in four years.
In the event of a severe storm, vinyl siding and shingles are not sufficient, says the expert. And make no mistake, there will be more storms.
Consumer and citizen advocates believe that, at the very least, areas of Calgary that are prone to hail damage should have far more stringent provincial building codes. In an ideal world, those codes would apply to the entire city.
Materials like fibre cement siding or traditional stucco are far more resistant to hail than vinyl. Unfortunately, they are also more expensive.
Another drawback to vinyl is that when it is damaged, it often ends up in the landfill. As vinyl is a type of plastic, it takes hundreds of years to biodegrade and can disperse microplastics throughout the ecosystem — especially into water resources.
Current building code requirements do include mitigations to protect against environmental conditions, however it’s up to builders to decide whether or not they are going to include more resilient materials in their designs. As the cost of housing continues to rise, it becomes an affordability issue.
Beware of dodgy contractors
CityNews is warning residents of homes that were hit to beware of unlicensed contractors looking to cash in on an unfortunate situation. Although there hasn’t been any concerns reported as of yet, the situation provides the perfect platform for someone to take advantage.
A major concern with unwittingly using an unlicensed contractor is if a worker falls or is injured on your property, without WCB coverage you become liable.
Red flags to look out for include:
- An unusually low quote.
- Asking for payment in full before any work is done (especially in cash).
- Cannot show their license.
- Very simple, very vague paperwork.
- No online reviews (this means they were probably just “established”).
- References can’t be provided.
- No proof of insurance.
- Asking the homeowner to obtain the appropriate permits.
The City of Calgary has deployed a team of peace officers to patrol neighbourhoods impacted by the storm to help ensure all contractors are legitimate. Fines start at $1,000 for any business caught without the proper paperwork.
Hail and your home insurance policy
Hail damage is generally covered by most home insurance policies and includes protection against shredded roofs, flying debris, falling branches, or rain entering through openings caused by wind or hail.
Remember, if your roof is in poor shape, your insurance company has the right to refuse a claim for hail damage.
If you have made any improvements, such as installing impact-resistant roofing, be sure to inform your insurance company. You may receive a discount on your coverage.
Hail damage is also covered by vehicle insurance policies.
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Learn more about how Lane’s can help you save on your home and auto insurance. Contact us at our Calgary, Banff, Edmonton and greater Alberta offices.
