Free Roof Inspection Guide: What's Covered and How to Get the Most From It

What a Free Storm Roof Inspection Includes

A free storm roof inspection from a licensed roofing contractor is a professional evaluation — not a brief glance from the driveway. A thorough inspection covers:

Exterior Roof Assessment

• Physical walk of the entire roof surface (not ground-level observation only)
• Shingle condition: granule loss, fractures, bruising, curling, missing sections
• Hail impact count on test squares — establishing damage density for claim purposes
• Wind uplift damage: lifted, displaced, or delaminated shingles
• Flashing condition at all penetrations: chimney, vents, skylights, valleys, eaves
• Ridge cap and hip condition
• Any exposed decking or underlayment

Soft Metal and Perimeter

• Gutters and downspouts: hail impact dents, separation from fascia
• Drip edge condition
• Fascia and soffit damage

Interior / Attic (Where Accessible)

• Attic moisture, wet insulation, water staining on decking
• Any visible daylight through the deck
• Interior ceiling and wall staining consistent with active leaks

How to Prepare for Your Free Inspection

Getting the most from a free inspection requires a little preparation on your end:

• Have your photo documentation ready — share your storm-day photos with the contractor so they can correlate your observations with their findings
• Know your roof history — when was it last replaced or repaired, and do you have the permit records?
• Clear attic access if you want the interior component included
• Note any areas of concern — ceiling stains, gutters pulling away, anything you noticed after the storm
• Have your insurance policy info available — a good contractor will want to understand your coverage before discussing claim strategy
• Verify the contractor's license before they arrive — use your state's verification portal (see our contractor license guide)

What to Do During the Inspection

Be present and engaged during the inspection — don't just let the contractor do their work and disappear:

• Walk the exterior with the contractor when they finish the roof — ask them to show you what they found and why it matters for the claim
• Ask about the hail hit count per test square — the number matters for single-storm attribution
• Ask specifically about soft metal evidence — gutters, HVAC, flashing — and whether they documented it
• Ask what they recommend — repair or full replacement — and why
• Ask if the scope triggers the state's re-roof threshold — in Florida, damage over 25% triggers full replacement requirement under FBC
• Do not sign anything during the inspection — the written report and estimate come afterward; take time to compare with other contractors

The Written Report: What You Should Receive

After the inspection, insist on receiving — in writing — all of the following:

• Inspection report with date, contractor name and license number, property address, and specific damage findings by location
• Photographs taken during the inspection, organized by location and damage type
• Repair or replacement estimate with line-item pricing — not just a total number
• Recommended scope of work — repair vs. replacement and the basis for that recommendation
• Contractor's insurance certificates — liability and workers' comp

Using the Contractor Report to Support Your Claim

The contractor's written report is most valuable in three specific situations:

1. Before the adjuster visits — present it to the adjuster as independent professional documentation; adjusters give weight to written contractor reports
2. When the adjuster's estimate is too low — use the line-item differences between the Xactimate estimate and the contractor report as the basis for a supplement claim
3. After a claim denial — a detailed contractor report documenting functional damage is the foundation of an appeal when denial was based on "no covered damage found"

Frequently Asked Questions