Before You Start Documenting
⚠️ Safety First — No Documentation Is Worth an Injury
Do not climb on a damaged roof. Do not enter rooms with structural damage overhead. Do not approach downed power lines or flooded areas. All roof exterior documentation should be done from the ground, from a ladder leaned against a wall (not the roof), or using a drone if you have one. Your safety takes priority over any claim documentation.
Before shooting a single photo, set up your documentation correctly:
- Verify your phone's date/time and location settings are on — EXIF metadata is your best timestamp evidence
- Create a dedicated folder for all storm photos with the storm date in the folder name
- Shoot a "session start" photo of a current newspaper, your phone screen showing the date, or a handwritten sign with the date and storm name
- Back up to cloud immediately after each session — don't risk losing photos if your phone is damaged or lost
- Do not edit, filter, or crop photos — use originals only; edited files show modification timestamps in metadata
Exterior Documentation Checklist
Roof — Wide Shots
- ☐ All four elevations of the roof from ground level (front, back, left side, right side)
- ☐ Full ridge line visible in at least one wide shot
- ☐ Any visible sagging, displacement, or missing sections
- ☐ Debris on the roof (tree branches, impact objects)
Roof — Close-Up Damage
- ☐ Every missing or displaced shingle section (photograph each one separately)
- ☐ Granule loss areas — bare mat visible on asphalt shingles
- ☐ Impact craters, fractures, or bruising on shingle surface
- ☐ Damaged, torn, or displaced flashing at all penetrations (chimney, skylights, vents, valleys)
- ☐ Any exposed roof deck or underlayment
- ☐ Ridge cap damage or displacement
Soft Metal Surfaces (Critical Corroborating Evidence)
- ☐ All gutters — full length, close-ups of any dents, separations, or detachment from fascia
- ☐ Downspouts — full length and any impact damage
- ☐ HVAC condenser unit — top and all sides (hail dents on fins are clear evidence)
- ☐ Chimney cap and flashing
- ☐ Skylights — frame and glazing
- ☐ Siding — any impact dents, cracks, or displacements
- ☐ Window screens and frames
- ☐ Garage door panels
- ☐ Patio furniture and outbuildings
✅ Soft Metal Is Your Strongest Evidence
Hail that dents your gutters, HVAC unit, or window screens indisputably hit your roof at the same time. Adjusters who try to argue the roof damage is "cosmetic only" or "pre-existing" have a much harder case when you have clear contemporaneous metal impact evidence throughout the property.
Grounds and Surroundings
- ☐ Hail accumulation on the ground (photograph before it melts)
- ☐ Hail size reference — photograph hail next to a coin or ruler
- ☐ Tree damage, downed branches, or fallen trees on or near structure
- ☐ Neighboring property damage visible from your property (shows same-storm impact)
- ☐ Any vehicles with hail damage visible (strong corroborating evidence)
- ☐ Street flooding or debris lines showing water height if applicable
Interior Documentation Checklist
Check every interior ceiling and wall area that corresponds to any roof location with visible exterior damage. Water intrusion staining may appear immediately after the storm or develop over 24–72 hours as water works through the structure.
Attic
- ☐ Full attic overview shot showing rafters and decking
- ☐ Any wet insulation — photograph from multiple angles
- ☐ Water staining, mold, or discoloration on rafters or decking
- ☐ Any daylight visible through the roof deck
- ☐ Active drips or water pooling on attic floor
All Rooms — Ceiling and Upper Walls
- ☐ Every room ceiling — wide shot plus close-up of any staining or discoloration
- ☐ Paint bubbling, peeling, or texture changes indicating moisture behind the surface
- ☐ Any visible cracks in drywall that may be new
- ☐ Upper wall areas near exterior walls for any water tracking
- ☐ Light fixtures and ceiling fans — any signs of water intrusion
Windows and Doors
- ☐ Any broken or cracked glass
- ☐ Water intrusion at window or door frames
- ☐ Damaged or destroyed screens
- ☐ Frame or jamb damage from wind pressure
Supporting Evidence to Collect
Photos alone are not sufficient. Supporting evidence establishes the storm date, conditions, and the link between the documented damage and the storm event.
Storm Records
- ☐ Screenshot or printout of NOAA/NWS storm report for your area and date
- ☐ Any hail size reports from NOAA's Storm Events Database for your county
- ☐ Screenshot of local news coverage of the storm event
- ☐ Any weather app screenshots showing storm conditions at your address on the date
Prior Condition Evidence
- ☐ Any pre-storm roof inspection reports or photos showing prior condition
- ☐ Permit records from prior roofing work (establishes installation date and scope)
- ☐ Previous insurance inspection reports or wind-mitigation reports
- ☐ Roof warranty documentation
Emergency Repair Records
- ☐ Before-tarp photos showing exposed damage
- ☐ During-tarp installation photos
- ☐ Receipts for all emergency materials (tarps, plywood, fasteners)
- ☐ Receipts or invoices for any emergency labor
The NOAA Storm Events Database
Visit ncdc.noaa.gov/stormevents and search by your state, county, and date range. Download the official storm record for your event — this is the same data your insurer's third-party verification service will use. Having it in hand before the adjuster visit prevents disputes about whether a storm actually occurred at your location.
After You've Documented: Next Steps
- Back up all photos to two locations immediately — cloud storage plus a local copy
- Make temporary repairs — tarp the roof, board broken windows; document as you go
- Call your insurer to open a claim — report the loss promptly; most policies require notification within a set timeframe
- Get a licensed contractor inspection — a written contractor report with photos, damage scope, and repair estimate is the most powerful supplemental documentation you can have before the adjuster visits
- Do not authorize permanent repairs until after the insurance adjuster has inspected — unless the insurer specifically authorizes emergency work in writing
- Keep a claim log — record every phone call with the insurer (date, time, representative name, what was discussed)
Get a Licensed Contractor Inspection Before the Adjuster Visits
A written inspection report from a licensed local roofer — documenting damage scope, impact count, and estimated replacement cost — is your strongest claim support tool.
Get Free Inspection →Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I need to document storm damage before making repairs?
Your insurance policy requires you to document damage before making permanent repairs because once repairs are made, the evidence of the original damage is gone — and your insurer has no independent way to verify what was damaged or how severely. If you repair without documentation, the insurer may dispute the scope of damage, argue that claimed damage was pre-existing, or deny portions of the claim outright. Emergency temporary repairs (tarping, boarding windows) are both allowed and encouraged — but document the damage thoroughly before the tarp goes on, not after.
What photos does an insurance adjuster most want to see?
Insurance adjusters primarily want to see: wide establishing shots of the whole roof showing overall condition; close-ups of specific impact points, fractures, granule loss, and penetrations; soft metal surfaces (gutters, downspouts, HVAC units, flashing) showing hail or wind impact; interior ceiling and wall areas showing water intrusion staining; any structural damage such as decking exposure or rafter damage; and photos of debris — tree limbs, hail accumulation on the ground, neighboring property damage from the same event. Date-stamped photos carry more weight than undated images.
How do I date-stamp my storm damage photos?
Most smartphones embed GPS coordinates and a precise timestamp in the photo metadata (EXIF data) automatically — this is the most reliable form of date evidence. Verify your phone camera has location and timestamp enabled. Additionally, photograph a newspaper or phone screen showing the current date and time in the same session. If you use a digital camera without automatic metadata, note the date and time in a separate voice memo or written log and reference specific photo file names. Never edit photo files after the fact — the metadata modification date will show the edit.
Should I make temporary repairs before the adjuster visits?
Yes — you have a duty to mitigate further damage under your insurance policy, and failing to tarp or board up can give your insurer grounds to deny secondary water damage that occurs after the storm. Make emergency temporary repairs promptly. However: document all damage thoroughly before the tarp or boards go on, keep every receipt for materials and labor, photograph the tarp installation itself, and notify your insurer before or immediately after making repairs. Most policies reimburse reasonable emergency mitigation costs as part of the claim.
How long should I keep my storm damage documentation?
Keep all storm damage documentation for at least the full duration of your claim — through any appeals, supplemental claims, or litigation. For major storms, this could be 2–3 years. Store copies in at least two locations: locally (external hard drive or printed) and in cloud storage. Insurance claim disputes, contractor warranty issues, and resale disclosure requirements can all require documentation years after the event. The documentation is also relevant for future insurance renewals and for establishing a pre-existing condition baseline if another storm occurs.
