What I look at before i ever look at the roof
One thing homeowners are often surprised to learn is that when I get called out for a storm damage inspection, the first thing I do isn't look at the roof.
I pull a storm report.
Before I ever set foot on the property, I want to know whether there was a qualifying hail or wind event at that specific address. Insurance companies typically want to see evidence of a storm date within the past calendar. Without a documented storm event, the chances of getting a roof approved through insurance are usually very slim.
That's why I always start with the facts.
The First Three Questions I Ask
Once I arrive at the property, I have three questions that help me understand what position the homeowner is in:
How old is the roof?
Have you had any leaks or noticed missing shingles?
Who is your insurance company?
The first two questions help establish the condition and history of the roof.
The third question is one of the most important qualifying questions I ask.
Different insurance companies handle storm damage claims differently. Some are more straightforward than others. Some require extensive documentation and evidence before they will approve a claim.
I've had claims approved quickly, and I've had others require months of back-and-forth discussions.
One claim in particular stands out.
The homeowner had obvious wind damage on nearly every slope of the roof. There were visible hail impacts to the shingles, dents in the metal roof components, dents in the gutters and downspouts, and active leaks causing interior damage.
Even with all of that evidence, the claim took more than six months before it was finally approved.
That's why understanding the insurance company involved is an important part of the process. It helps set realistic expectations from the beginning.
Then I Inspect the Property
Here's where my process is different from what many homeowners expect.
I don't start with the roof.
Instead, I start looking for evidence of storm damage around the entire property.
I'll inspect:
Mailboxes
Gutters
Downspouts
Window screens
Aluminum fascia
Metal roof accessories
Siding
Fencing
Air conditioning condenser fins
Other soft metal surfaces
Why?
Because hail and wind don't just damage roofs.
Storms leave clues everywhere.
The roof is only one piece of the puzzle.
According to the insurance industry's accepted storm damage evaluation practices, collateral damage to surrounding property can help establish the size, direction, and severity of a storm event. These indicators are often important when evaluating whether roof damage is consistent with a recent hail or wind event.
By the time I get on the roof, I've already started building a complete picture of what happened.
Finally, I Inspect the Roof
Only after reviewing the storm history, asking questions, and evaluating the property do I climb onto the roof.
At that point, I'm looking for evidence that supports or contradicts everything I've already observed.
I'm looking at:
Wind damage
Hail impacts
Creased shingles
Missing shingles
Damaged ridge caps
Flashing issues
Previous repairs
Signs of aging versus storm-related damage
The goal isn't to find a reason to file a claim.
The goal is to determine whether storm damage is actually present and whether an insurance claim makes sense in the first place.
The Bottom Line
A good storm damage inspection is about much more than climbing a ladder and taking a few photos.
It starts with storm history.
It includes understanding the homeowner's situation.
It involves inspecting the entire property—not just the roof.
And most importantly, it requires being honest about what the evidence shows.
Sometimes that means recommending an insurance claim.
Sometimes it means recommending a repair.
Sometimes it means telling a homeowner their roof simply doesn't have enough storm damage to justify filing a claim.
At ProTech Construction and Roofing, we'd rather give you the truth than tell you what you want to hear. That's how we approach every inspection.
