Updated April 2026
Summary:
When a hailstorm hits Calgary, your best defense is preparation. Choosing dent-resistant materials for your exterior and garage doors, installing window shutters, and keeping up with preventive roof maintenance, like inspecting for damaged or missing shingles, can all reduce the damage a hailstorm can do. Landscaping the trees and bushes around your home removes potential projectiles before the wind can turn them into one, and upgrading high-risk areas to impact-resistant materials is the most effective long-term investment you can make.
Home protection at a glance: Here are eight ways to reduce hail damage to your Calgary home.
- Upgrade to dent-resistant exterior and garage doors
- Install window shutters or impact-resistant window film
- Perform preventative roof maintenance
- Landscape to reduce falling tree and branch damage
- Upgrade to impact-resistant materials
- Protect and maintain your eavestroughs
- Review your home insurance policy before hail season
- Park vehicles in a garage or use a hail cover
Summer weather can really do a number on your home. Stormy summer weather in Calgary can almost knock your house down, especially when the currents hit us hard as they steamroll over the Rocky Mountains.
By the time summer rolls around, Calgarians are ready to spend time on the patio enjoying the rays. However, as you know, Calgary’s summers are prone to hailstorms.
It’s a useful skill to know how to assess your home for damage after a hailstorm, but just as important is learning ways and means to protect the most vulnerable parts of your home during the storm. The more damage limitation you can do, the better shape your house will be in once the storms pass.
So, let’s check out our eight ways to reduce hail damage and keep from making expensive repairs to the house!
Exterior & Garage Doors
Choose materials for your exterior doors that are dent-resistant. While the winds and hail may not knock your door down (we hope!), they can sure do a number on your home’s aesthetic.
Some materials, such as hardwood and durable steel, are much better at resisting dings and dents than lighter and more economical options. If your exterior doors are known to take a pummeling during the hail, consider upgrading to dent-resistant options. You’ll love knowing that dented doors are one problem you’ll never have to address again.
Windows
Windows can be more vulnerable to damage from hailstones than any other part of the house. One solution for minimizing the damage is to build window shutters onto the exterior wall. While such shutters have a reputation for being an eyesore (or even garish), they can be designed tastefully and offer an impenetrable barrier to hail over winter. You could even install them only for the winter months, and they could help lock in heat.
Another option is to apply impact-resistant window film. It won’t stop a large hailstone from cracking the glass, but it holds the glass together on impact, reducing the risk of shattering and the associated safety hazard. It’s an affordable upgrade that’s well worth considering for windows that face prevailing storm directions.
Preventative Roof Maintenance
The biggest threat to your roof is already-damaged, aged, or worn tiles, leaving gaps in the vulnerable surface beneath. What you should try to do during the warmer months is take a trip up to the roof (or have someone go for you) and inspect the battlefield: are any shingles missing or damaged? Any major defects or poor maintenance in general? Report these problems to your insurance provider and get everything up to scratch for next winter.
Of course, we’re advocates for hiring roofing professionals (like us) vs. DIY.
It’s also worth knowing your shingle type. Standard asphalt shingles offer limited impact resistance, while architectural and impact-resistant shingles are specifically designed to withstand the force of hailstones. If your roof is aging, upgrading to an impact-resistant product is one of the best long-term investments you can make on a Calgary home.
Landscaping of Trees and Bushes
The kind of hail that threatens your house usually means high winds as well, and this combination can turn the trees, shrubs, and bushes on your property against you. Make sure to trim bushes and remove larger branches or even whole trees that could fall into or towards your home during a storm. By landscaping the area around the house, you can protect it.
We all remember the incredible “winterpocalypse” that took place in September 2015. The City of Calgary is still recuperating from that one. Don’t make your home a victim during the next one; take steps to protect your home now!
Impact-Resistant Materials
Whether it’s your roofing shingles, windows, or the front door, you can always upgrade the material quality. Of course, it’s a more expensive option, but by introducing impact-resistant materials to the highest-risk areas, you virtually snuff out the damage potential.
When comparing materials, look for products with a Class 4 impact resistance rating, which is the highest available. Class 4 shingles, for example, are tested by dropping a 2-inch steel ball from 20 feet and must show no cracking or splitting to earn the rating. In hail-prone cities like Calgary, the premium is almost always worth it.Protect and Maintain Your Eavestroughs
Eavestroughs are one of the most commonly overlooked targets of hail damage. A severe storm can dent, crack, or detach sections of eavestrough entirely, and damaged eavestroughs can’t do their job of directing water away from your foundation.
Before hail season, inspect your eavestroughs for any sections that are already pulling away from the fascia, sagging, or showing signs of wear. Ensuring they’re in good shape going into storm season means they’re more likely to survive it intact, and less likely to cause water damage after the fact. Adding Alu-Rex leaf guards also adds structural strength to the eavestrough itself, which is rated to hold up to 250 lbs per linear foot.
Review Your Home Insurance Policy Before Hail Season
One of the most practical things you can do before hail season hits is to review your home insurance policy. Not all policies cover hail damage the same way, and some require you to report damage within a specific window after a storm.
Know what your deductible is, what’s covered, and what documentation you’ll need to make a claim. If you do sustain damage, having photos of your home’s pre-storm condition makes the claims process much smoother. Many Calgary homeowners have found that upgrading to impact-resistant materials also qualifies them for a discount on their premiums (it’s worth asking your insurer about, at least!).
Park Vehicles in a Garage or Use a Hail Cover
This one isn’t strictly about your home’s exterior, but it’s worth including. Vehicles are extremely vulnerable to hail damage, and repairs can be costly. If you have a garage, use it. If you don’t, a purpose-built hail protection car cover can significantly reduce denting and paint damage during a storm. When a severe storm is forecast, getting your vehicle under cover is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do.
Remember that during a severe hail storm, the most important thing is always to protect yourself and your family. Do what you can for the house, but never at the risk of your own health. Don’t be like this guy: