Roof Replacement in Southwest Missouri - What to Know After the April 28 Hail

If your roof in Springfield, Republic or Aurora took hail on April 28, 2026 and nobody has been on it since, a free inspection is the first step, and a full tear-off replacement is often where it ends. CRE Roofing replaces roofs across southwest Missouri with the same crews, the same written scope and the same claim process we use in Oklahoma. Here is what a replacement involves, how the storm fits in, and what to ask before you sign.

Why April 28 still matters this fall

The National Weather Service logged 22 hail reports within 5 miles of downtown Springfield between 11:40 AM and 1:17 PM that day. The largest, 4 inches, came down about 3 miles north of downtown near Dickerson Park Zoo. The same storm crossed Aurora and Republic, where two reports inside 3 miles of downtown measured 3.25 inches.

Stones that size do not always leave a hole you can see from the yard. More often they bruise the shingle mat under the granules. A bruised roof can look fine for months, then start shedding granules and letting water in at the next hard rain or freeze. That is why a roof that "seems fine" in October can still be a roof that needs replacing. Our Springfield hail record and Republic hail record pages list every reported hail day since 2016.

What a full replacement includes

A replacement is a tear-off down to the decking, not a new layer of shingles over the old ones. On a southwest Missouri home that usually means:

• Tear-off and disposal - everything comes off, and the debris leaves with us
• Decking repair - rotten, delaminated or hail-punctured boards get replaced, and we photograph them first
• Drip edge and flashing - new metal at the eaves, rakes, walls, valleys and penetrations
• Synthetic underlayment - the secondary water barrier under the shingles
• Ventilation - intake and ridge ventilation sized to the attic
• Cleanup - a magnet sweep of the yard and driveway

If a bid leaves out new pipe boots, vents or flashing, it is not cheaper. It is smaller. Our roof replacement page walks through each line item.

Insurance claim or retail replacement

If hail or wind damaged the roof, the replacement usually runs through your homeowners policy and you pay your deductible. If the roof is simply worn out, it is a retail job and you pay for it directly.

The two paths are documented very differently. On a storm job we chalk and photograph a test square on each slope and write up whether the damage is functional or cosmetic, because that line decides a lot of hail claims. Then we check what hail takes that often gets left off a claim: gutters, siding and soft metals like vents. If you file, we meet the adjuster on the roof with our documentation. Read functional vs cosmetic hail damage for how that line is drawn.

Choosing the material for the next roof

Most homes get architectural asphalt shingles. In hail country it is worth asking about impact-resistant options. We use Class 3 as our minimum and install Class 4 wherever the budget allows. Metal is the other option, and on the right house it is the last roof you buy.

Before you choose, call your insurance agent and ask two questions: does my policy offer an impact-resistant roof discount, and what paperwork does the carrier need from the contractor? See our metal and Class 4 roofing page for the trade-offs.

What to ask any southwest Missouri roofer

Four roofing companies working one Republic street after a storm is normal. Sort them with a few questions:

1. Is the decking photographed before boards are replaced?
2. Are pipe boots, vents, flashing and underlayment all new, in writing?
3. Who meets the adjuster, and what documentation do they bring?
4. Who answers the phone if something goes wrong next year?

We cover the rest in what to ask a Springfield Missouri roofing contractor.

Common questions

Does CRE Roofing replace roofs outside Springfield?

Yes. Springfield is the hub of our Missouri work, and Republic, Aurora, Fair Grove and Lebanon all have their own pages. See roofing across Missouri.

My roof looks fine from the ground. Should I still have it checked after April 28?

Yes. Hail bruising is often invisible from the yard. A free inspection with photos tells you whether there is functional damage.

Can I put new shingles over the old ones?

We do a full tear-off so the decking can be inspected and the roof is rebuilt as one system.

Will you pay my deductible?

No. You file the claim and you pay your deductible, and we will not offer to cover it.

Get a straight answer on your Missouri roof

If your roof has not been looked at since April, book a free inspection on our contact page. CRE Roofing will photograph what we find and tell you plainly whether you need a repair, a replacement or nothing at all.