BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — A residential roof has always been one of a home’s most important defenses against Minnesota weather. In 2026, however, Bloomington homeowners have another reason to pay close attention to what is happening above them.
Repeated hailstorms, higher repair costs, changing insurance coverage and rapidly rising homeowners insurance premiums are bringing roof condition into sharper focus throughout the Twin Cities.
Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc. recently examined these issues in its report, Hail, Higher Insurance Costs and $60,000 Claims: Why Bloomington Roofing Is Getting More Attention in 2026. Read the original Bloomington roofing report
The issue is not simply that Minnesota receives hail.
Homeowners are increasingly dealing with severe-weather exposure at the same time that insurance premiums and construction costs are rising. That combination can make the financial consequences of a damaged roof significantly different from what homeowners may have experienced only a few years ago.
MPR News reported in April that Minnesota homeowners insurance premiums had increased approximately 34 percent over the previous year, the largest increase reported among U.S. states. Minnesota Department of Commerce officials cited growing extreme-weather losses, higher construction and repair costs, and the state’s older housing stock as contributing factors. Read the MPR News report on Minnesota insurance premiums
For Bloomington homeowners, that makes knowing the condition of the roof — and understanding the insurance policy covering it — increasingly important.
Twin Cities Hail Keeps Roofing in the Spotlight
Severe thunderstorms are nothing new in Minnesota, but recent storms demonstrate how quickly hail and high winds can affect communities across the metro.
FOX 9 documented hail in the Maple Grove and Shoreview areas during thunderstorms on June 19, 2026. Watch FOX 9’s Twin Cities hail coverage The footage followed severe weather moving across the Twin Cities and provided a clear example of the type of storm capable of creating roof concerns for homeowners.
The effects were not limited to hailstones hitting roofs.
The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that nearly 1,500 Xcel Energy customers remained without power the following day after high winds and hail moved through the region. Read the Star Tribune report on the Twin Cities storms
Events like these illustrate an important point for homeowners: severe weather can affect individual neighborhoods very differently.
One part of the metro may receive significant hail while another experiences mostly wind and rain. Even within the same neighborhood, roof orientation, tree coverage, shingle age and construction can cause two houses to experience the same storm differently.
That is why homeowners should avoid assuming that a roof is either damaged or undamaged simply because a neighbor filed an insurance claim.
The roof itself needs to be evaluated.
Hail Damage Is Not Always Visible From the Ground
One of the most difficult things about hail damage is that the roof may continue to look normal from the driveway.
Asphalt shingles are composed of multiple layers, including protective surface granules. Those granules help shield the asphalt beneath them from ultraviolet exposure and ordinary weathering.
When hail hits a roof with sufficient force, it may remove granules, bruise the shingle or damage material beneath the surface without knocking the shingle off the roof.
That creates a very different situation from an obvious missing shingle.
A homeowner may look up after the storm, see that every shingle appears to remain in place and assume everything is fine.
The real condition may not be visible from street level.
Roof penetrations, ridge materials, vents, flashing and gutters can also sustain damage during the same storm.
The safest response is not for the homeowner to climb onto the roof. Wet shingles, steep slopes and storm debris create fall hazards.
Instead, homeowners can begin by examining what is safely visible from the ground and then arrange a professional assessment if the property experienced significant hail or wind.
Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc. offers roof inspections in Bloomington and throughout the Twin Cities, including inspections following severe weather. The company states that its roof inspection service evaluates roofing conditions and can provide documentation when homeowners need to understand potential storm damage. Learn about Twin Cities Contracting Services’ roof inspection service
Roofing Claims Have Become Much More Expensive
Hail damage is becoming more financially significant because roof and exterior repair costs have changed.
CBS Minnesota reported in June that roofing and siding claims that previously averaged roughly $10,000 to $15,000 several years ago are now regularly reaching $40,000 to $60,000, according to an insurance industry executive interviewed by the station. Read CBS Minnesota’s report on rising hail claim costs
That does not mean every hail-damaged roof will produce a $40,000 or $60,000 claim.
Roof size, siding damage, material selection, labor costs, gutters, windows, ventilation, decking and numerous other variables influence the final scope.
Still, the trend matters.
The cost of a serious exterior loss can now represent a substantial financial event for both the homeowner and the insurer.
CBS also reported that roof coverage itself has changed at many insurance companies. Older roofs may increasingly be subject to depreciation or different settlement provisions rather than automatically receiving full replacement-cost treatment.
That makes reading the policy before damage occurs much more important.
Higher Premiums Do Not Automatically Mean Better Roof Coverage
One of the most dangerous assumptions homeowners can make is that a more expensive insurance premium means broader coverage.
It may not.
Minnesota homeowners are paying substantially more for insurance overall, but individual policies still contain different deductibles, exclusions, endorsements and settlement terms.
MPR News reported that Minnesota insurance officials are encouraging homeowners to reassess their policies and verify exactly what is and is not covered. Officials noted that some homeowners may have exclusions or higher deductibles they did not fully realize were part of the policy.
Roof coverage deserves particular attention.
A homeowner should understand whether covered roof damage is settled using replacement cost or actual cash value, whether a special wind or hail deductible applies, and whether the policy contains restrictions related to roof age.
Actual cash value treatment can produce a very different result from replacement-cost coverage because depreciation may be applied to older materials.
A household could therefore face a larger out-of-pocket expense than expected even when the insurer recognizes that covered storm damage occurred.
The best time to discover that difference is before the next thunderstorm.
Roof Age Is Becoming More Important
Insurance is only one reason homeowners should know the approximate age of their roof.
Roofing materials naturally change as they spend years exposed to Minnesota weather.
Summer sunlight and heat affect shingles.
Winter brings freezing temperatures, snow and ice.
Spring and fall introduce repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
Storms add wind and hail.
Over time, shingles may lose granules, become more brittle or develop other signs of aging.
That can affect how the roofing system responds to future hail.
A newer roofing system and a significantly older roof may react differently to the same storm, even when installed on neighboring homes.
That does not mean homeowners should replace a roof automatically when it reaches a certain birthday.
Age alone is not the full story.
Installation quality, previous storm exposure, ventilation, materials, maintenance and overall condition all matter.
The practical approach is to know both the age and the condition.
Documentation Can Matter Before and After a Storm
Homeowners often begin gathering documentation only after something goes wrong.
By then, establishing the previous condition of the roof can be more difficult.
A better strategy is to create a basic roofing record before severe weather occurs.
Useful documentation can include dated photographs, installation invoices, previous repair records, permits, manufacturer information and professional inspection reports.
After a storm, homeowners can photograph new exterior conditions from safe areas on the ground.
Fresh dents on gutters, damage to screens, broken tree branches, granules near downspouts and visible exterior impacts can all help establish what happened during the weather event.
Documentation does not determine whether an insurance company will cover a claim.
That determination comes from the policy and insurer.
But good records can help homeowners and roofing professionals explain the property’s condition more clearly.
Watch for Storm Chasers After Major Hail Events
The combination of expensive damage and widespread storms can create another problem: aggressive contractor solicitation.
CBS Minnesota reported that the Better Business Bureau warned Twin Cities homeowners about high-pressure storm chasers following hail events. The BBB highlighted concerns such as contractors arriving uninvited, pressuring property owners to sign immediately and requesting upfront payments.
Homeowners do not need to make a major roofing decision at the front door.
Take time to verify the company.
Check how long it has operated locally.
Confirm licensing and insurance where appropriate.
Read the proposed scope carefully.
Understand who will actually perform the work.
Ask what materials will be installed.
Get the terms in writing.
A storm may create urgency when water is actively entering a home, but urgency is not the same as pressure.
Insurance and Roofing Professionals Have Different Roles
A roofing contractor and an insurance adjuster may inspect the same property, but they have different responsibilities.
The contractor evaluates the roof as a construction system and can provide estimates or recommendations for roofing work.
The insurance adjuster evaluates whether damage falls within the policy’s coverage and determines how the insurer will handle the claim.
Homeowners should keep those responsibilities separate.
A contractor cannot guarantee that an insurance company will approve a claim.
Likewise, insurance approval does not eliminate the homeowner’s responsibility to choose a qualified contractor and understand the roofing project being performed.
Clear communication among the homeowner, contractor and insurance company can reduce confusion.
Why Roof Inspections Are Becoming More Valuable
A professional roof inspection is useful even when the roof does not immediately require replacement.
The inspection can provide a snapshot of the roof’s present condition.
That can be valuable after severe weather, before insurance renewal, when purchasing a home or when the homeowner simply does not know how much useful life may remain in the existing roofing system.
Twin Cities Contracting Services states that its inspection process is designed to identify roofing concerns and help homeowners decide whether maintenance, installation or replacement should be considered.
That information can turn an emergency decision into a planned decision.
Homeowners can review their options, evaluate the household budget and address problems before interior damage occurs.
Bloomington Homeowners Should Look Beyond the Shingles
A roof is not simply the visible shingle surface.
A complete residential roofing system can involve decking, underlayment, ice-and-water protection, flashing, ventilation, starter shingles, field shingles, valleys and ridge components.
When replacement becomes necessary, each of those elements deserves attention.
Minnesota’s climate makes some of those details particularly important.
Ice and snow place different demands on roofs than warm-weather climates.
Improper ventilation can also contribute to moisture and winter performance problems.
That is why homeowners comparing roofing estimates should not compare only the brand or color of the shingle.
Ask what the complete roofing system includes.
Local Experience Matters in Minnesota Weather
Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc. has operated in the Bloomington and Twin Cities area since 1964 and provides residential roofing services that include roof inspections, roof installation and roof replacement. Visit Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc.
Local roofing experience can be especially relevant in Minnesota because contractors regularly deal with weather conditions that are very different from those in many other parts of the country.
Homeowners need roofing systems that can handle winter, hail, wind, summer heat and seasonal temperature swings.
Storm restoration should therefore be viewed as more than simply replacing damaged shingles.
The goal is to restore a complete roofing system capable of continuing to protect the home through future Minnesota seasons.
What Bloomington Homeowners Can Do Now
Homeowners do not have to wait for the next hail warning to prepare.
A practical approach includes knowing the roof’s age, documenting its current condition, reviewing the homeowners insurance policy and addressing existing maintenance issues.
Pay particular attention to four questions:
- How old is the roof, and what condition is it currently in?
- What deductible applies specifically to wind or hail losses?
- Is covered roof damage settled at replacement cost or actual cash value?
- Who will you contact for a roof inspection after the next significant storm?
Having those answers before bad weather arrives can remove much of the uncertainty that follows a damaging storm.
Why Bloomington Roofing Is Getting More Attention in 2026
The roofing conversation in Bloomington is changing because several pressures are arriving at once.
Minnesota is experiencing rising homeowners insurance premiums.
Twin Cities communities continue to experience hail and high-wind storms.
Exterior repair and claim costs have climbed.
Insurance companies are reconsidering how they treat older roofing systems.
Homeowners therefore have more reason than ever to understand what is protecting their house.
None of this means every roof needs replacement.
It means roof condition is becoming a bigger piece of household risk management.
A homeowner who knows the condition of the roof, understands the insurance policy and maintains useful documentation is better prepared than someone who first begins investigating after water appears on the ceiling.
The roof may sit quietly above the house most days of the year, but in Minnesota it remains one of the building components carrying the greatest responsibility when the weather turns severe.
For additional background on the issue, readers can review Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc.’s original examination of hail, rising insurance costs and increasingly expensive roofing claims in Bloomington. Read the full original article
Homeowners can learn more about the company’s residential roofing, roof installation, roof replacement and inspection services through the Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc. website.
For homeowners concerned about hail or recent storm activity, the company’s roof inspection service is the most directly related service page for this article.
Important: Insurance policies, deductibles, depreciation, coverage and claim decisions vary by carrier and individual policy. Homeowners should consult their insurer or licensed insurance professional about their specific coverage.
About Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc.
Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc.
140 W 98th St #202
Bloomington, MN 55420, USA
Phone: (952) 405-6201
Website: https://twincitiescontractingservices.com/
Google Maps: Twin Cities Contracting Services Inc., Bloomington, Minnesota
