Answers · Storms and insurance
How should I document storm damage to my roof?
The short answer
Photograph and date everything from the ground before anything is moved or cleaned up: the roof from several angles, the dented gutters and vents, debris and shingles on the ground, hail beside a coin for scale, and any interior staining. Note the date and time of the storm and keep every receipt from the moment it happened.
The checklist
- Wide shots of each elevation of the house, then zoomed shots of specific damage.
- Soft metal: gutters, downspouts, vents, air conditioner fins, garage doors. Hail dents these first and they are visible from the ground.
- Hail on the ground next to a coin or a ruler, photographed while it is still there.
- Debris and shingles in the yard, before cleanup.
- Interior: stains, wet insulation, water in light fittings. Photograph these as they develop, not once.
- Receipts for tarps, emergency accommodation, and anything bought to make safe.
- The date and time of the storm, and a note of the local weather report.
Make safe, but keep it separate
Most policies require you to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, and most cover the cost of doing so. Ask for make-safe work to be invoiced separately from the permanent repair — it is generally handled differently in a claim, and separating it keeps the file clean.
Also asked
- Should I wait for the adjuster before cleaning up?
- Photograph first, then do what is necessary to stop further damage. You are not expected to leave water coming into the house. What you should avoid is permanent repairs before the adjuster has seen the scope, because that removes the evidence the claim is assessed on.
General information about roofs and about hiring, not advice about your building. Roofing contractor licensing, permits, insurance practice and deductible rules are set state by state and province by province across the United States and Canada, so your own authority is the current answer.