What We're Seeing on Vehicles — and What You Should Know

On Thursday, August 13, a powerful round of storms moved across the Denver metro area, producing large hail, damaging winds, flooding and significant tree damage.

In some areas, this wasn't a quick burst of pea-sized hail.

FOX31 reported hail drifts reaching 2 to 3 feet in Foxfield, with hail as large as 1.75 inches near Arapahoe Park. The National Weather Service warned of storms capable of producing ping-pong-ball-size hail and winds up to 60 mph across parts of Aurora, Centennial, Parker, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Foxfield and surrounding communities.

For vehicle owners in the path of this storm, the damage has been very real.

We've Already Repaired Dozens of Vehicles From This Storm

At Rocky Mountain Hail, we began seeing vehicles from the August 13 storm almost immediately.

And as of now, we've already repaired and returned dozens of vehicles damaged in this storm.

That gives us a very clear picture of what this particular storm did.

We're seeing everything from relatively light cosmetic hail to vehicles with significant dent counts across the hood, roof, trunk, rails and body panels.

The good news is that much of this damage is highly repairable.

Hail Damage Can Be Harder to See Than You Think

One of the most common things we hear after a storm is:

"I don't think mine is that bad."

Sometimes that's true.

But hail damage can be surprisingly difficult to see in normal daylight, particularly on roofs, upper door frames and lighter-colored vehicles.

Professional hail inspections use specialized lighting and reflections to identify damage that may be almost invisible in a driveway.

That matters because even relatively subtle hail damage can affect the value of your vehicle if it is left unrepaired.

Colorado dealerships and automotive professionals see hail damage constantly. They know where to look for it.

Don't Wait for Your Insurance Company to Tell You What to Do

If your vehicle was outside during the August 13 storm, you don't need to wait for an insurance adjuster to inspect it before choosing a repair facility.

Start with a professional hail inspection.

At Rocky Mountain Hail, we can inspect the damage, help determine whether filing a claim makes sense and, if needed, help file the claim with your insurance company.

You also do not need to drive around collecting multiple repair estimates.

Your insurance company's initial estimate is simply the beginning of the claim process. Once the vehicle is properly inspected under professional lighting, additional damage may need to be documented through the supplement process.

That is completely normal with hail claims.

What If the Insurance Estimate Seems Too Low?

This happens frequently after major storms.

An insurance adjuster may inspect a vehicle outside, through photographs or during a very short appointment.

A proper hail repair facility has considerably more time — and much better lighting — to evaluate the vehicle.

That is why insurance supplements are such an important part of hail repair.

A supplement allows the repair facility to document damage or necessary procedures that weren't included in the initial insurance estimate.

It doesn't mean something went wrong.

It means the repair is being properly documented.

Paintless Dent Repair Is Usually the Best Option

When the factory paint remains intact, Paintless Dent Repair (PDR) is typically the preferred way to repair hail damage.

Rather than sanding the vehicle, applying body filler and repainting panels, PDR allows trained technicians to restore the metal while preserving the original factory finish.

That means:

• No unnecessary body filler

• No unnecessary repainting

• No concerns about paint matching

• More of the vehicle remains original

Preserving factory paint is always our first goal.

What If the Hail Broke the Paint?

Large hail can occasionally crack or damage paint.

That doesn't mean the entire panel automatically needs a conventional body shop repair.

At Rocky Mountain Hail, we use a hail-first repair approach.

We restore as much of the metal as possible first, then refinish only the areas that actually require it.

This allows us to minimize traditional body work and preserve as much of the vehicle's original construction and finish as possible.

How Long Are Repairs Taking From the August 13 Storm?

Repair time depends primarily on:

• Damage severity

• Insurance approval speed

• Parts availability

• Whether paint or glass was damaged

• The number of panels affected

Light hail repairs may take only several business days.

Moderate vehicles commonly take approximately one to two weeks.

Heavier vehicles can take longer, particularly when parts, refinishing or significant insurance supplements are involved.

Even during major Colorado hail events, we have never had a customer's vehicle in our shop longer than five weeks.

That is something we take tremendous pride in.

Be Careful Who You Choose After a Major Hailstorm

Large Colorado storms also bring something else:

Out-of-state hail companies.

After major storms, temporary repair operations frequently arrive in Colorado looking for damaged vehicles.

Some employ excellent technicians.

But before handing over your vehicle, we strongly recommend asking one question:

"Will this company still be here if I need them six months from now?"

Rocky Mountain Hail is an established Colorado company.

We're here before the storm.

We're here while the repairs are happening.

And we'll still be here after hail season ends.

If Your Vehicle Was in the August 13 Storm, Have It Looked At

If your vehicle was in Aurora, Centennial, Parker, Greenwood Village, Lone Tree, Foxfield, Arapahoe Park or the surrounding Denver metro area during the August 13 storm, it is worth having it professionally inspected — even if you aren't sure you see damage.

There is no obligation to repair simply because you have it inspected.

The first step is simply knowing what happened to the vehicle.

And after repairing and returning dozens of vehicles from this storm already, we've become very familiar with exactly what this particular hailstorm left behind.

Rocky Mountain Hail
Denver, Colorado
Premium Auto Hail Repair • Paintless Dent Repair • Insurance Claim Assistance