In July 2026, Prime Roofing & Restoration replaced the roofs on a home and its detached garage in Clay, Jefferson County, Alabama. Hail hits found in the July 9 inspection were documented for the insurance claim, and the new roof went on in late July.
Project at a glance
- Location: Clay, Jefferson County, AL
- Inspection: July 9, 2026
- Installed: July 20, 2026
- Final photos: July 23, 2026
- Buildings: House and detached garage
- Service: storm damage roof repair
- Roof: Architectural shingles over synthetic underlayment
About Clay
Clay is in northeastern Jefferson County, about 15 miles from downtown Birmingham. Prime Roofing serves Clay as part of our Birmingham-area roofing services.
Before: what the inspection found
The challenge: two roofs, one claim
The inspection found hail damage on the house and on the detached garage. Both roofs were photographed and the hits circled in chalk, so the claim covered every building with damage rather than just the main roof.
The crew replaced both roofs to match, protecting the pool and landscaping during the tear-off.
What we did
- Inspected the house and detached garage and marked the hail hits.
- Photographed the damage for the insurance claim.
- Protected the pool area and landscaping before the tear-off.
- Removed the old shingles from both roofs.
- Installed synthetic underlayment.
- Installed new architectural shingles on the house and garage.
- Cleaned up and took drone photos of the finished roofs.
During the job
The finished roof
Why these materials
Architectural (dimensional) shingles are made from two laminated layers, so they are thicker and heavier than the old flat 3-tab shingles many Birmingham-area homes started with. Prime Roofing is an Owens Corning Preferred Contractor and also installs other major brands; see our asphalt shingle roofs page for the options.
Synthetic underlayment goes over the whole deck under the shingles. It is lighter and more tear-resistant than old felt paper, it lies flat in the heat, and it gives the roof a second layer of water protection if a shingle is ever damaged.
Keeping your roof in good shape
- Check the roof from the ground after every hailstorm or strong wind. The National Weather Service office in Birmingham, which is based at the Shelby County Airport in Calera, issues the severe thunderstorm and hail warnings for this part of central Alabama.
- Keep gutters and downspouts clear, especially in fall, so water does not back up under the first row of shingles.
- Trim tree limbs back at least 6 to 10 feet from the roof. Limbs that rub the shingles wear off the granules that protect them.
- Look at pipe boots and roof vents once a year. Rubber pipe boots dry out in the Alabama sun long before the shingles do.
- If you see a ceiling stain, call right away. A small leak at a flashing is a quick fix, while wet decking left for months is not.
Frequently asked questions
Many homeowners policies cover other structures, like a detached garage, separately from the house. That is why we inspect and photograph every roof on the property, not just the main one.
We walk the roof and circle each hail hit in chalk, usually on a 10 by 10 foot test square on every slope, and photograph the dents in vents and metal flashing. Those photos are what the insurance adjuster sees, so we take them before anything is touched.
Most homes Prime Roofing re-roofs are torn off and covered in one day, with cleanup and a final check the same day or the next morning. Bigger or steeper roofs can take a second day.
It depends on your policy and on how much damage the adjuster finds. Prime Roofing documents the damage with photos, meets the adjuster at the house and walks the roof with them, but the decision is your insurance company’s.
Need a hail inspection in Clay?
Book a free roof inspection, read about storm damage roof repair, or see how our insurance claims help works.