A step-by-step checklist for homeowners to assess, document, and report roof damage after any hail, wind, or severe weather event.
☐ Confirm everyone is safe
☐ Check for active leaks — water dripping, ceiling stains appearing
☐ Note the time and date — essential for insurance documentation
☐ Listen for the storm to fully pass before going outside
☐ If leaking: place buckets, towels, and protect valuables
☐ Walk the perimeter of your home — look for shingles, ridge caps, or flashing on the ground
☐ Check gutters and downspouts — are they dented? Separated from the fascia? Full of granules?
☐ Inspect AC unit and other soft metals — circular dents indicate hail hit your property
☐ Look at the roof from all sides — visible missing shingles, exposed dark areas, lifted sections
☐ Check windows and screens — damaged screens confirm hail size
☐ Photograph everything you see — date-stamped photos are essential for your claim
☐ Check all ceilings for water spots or stains
☐ Look at top-floor ceilings especially — closest to roof
☐ Check attic if safely accessible — look for daylight through the deck, water stains on rafters, wet insulation
☐ Note any new musty smells — signs of moisture intrusion
☐ Photograph all interior damage
After completing your ground-level checklist, schedule a free professional inspection. Contractors identify damage you can't see from the ground — including granule loss and shingle bruising.
Schedule Free Inspection →☐ Photos of all visible exterior damage — gutters, soft metals, any roof areas visible from ground
☐ Video walkthrough of exterior and interior
☐ Photos of any interior water damage
☐ Confirm storm event — note storm date, check local news or weather apps for verification
☐ Download NOAA storm report — available at weather.gov for official storm documentation
☐ Keep all damaged materials — don't throw away storm-damaged items until claim is settled
☐ Note previous roof condition — if you have "before" photos, locate them
☐ Schedule professional inspection — before calling your insurer if possible
☐ Open insurance claim — get a claim number
☐ Request emergency authorization — if active leaks need immediate tarping
☐ Be present for adjuster visit — have contractor's report ready
☐ Review adjuster's estimate — compare to contractor's assessment
☐ Appeal if estimate is low — you have the right to dispute
Ensure safety, then assess from inside. Check for active leaks, ceiling stains, and structural issues. Once safe to go outside, do a ground-level inspection of gutters, soft metals, and visible roof areas. Document everything with photos and video before touching anything. Then schedule a professional inspection.
Within 1-2 weeks of the storm event. Many insurance policies require prompt reporting, and documenting damage while it's fresh (before any weathering) makes for a stronger claim. Also, contractors get heavily booked after major storm events.
Have your roof professionally inspected anyway. Storm damage, especially granule loss from hail, is frequently invisible from the ground. If your neighbors' homes were damaged in the same storm, yours may be too — the only way to confirm is a professional inspection.
No. A free inspection is purely informational. The contractor will document what they find and provide a written report. You decide whether to file an insurance claim — and if the inspection finds no storm damage, you may have no reason to file anything.