Storm Damage Roof Inspection: What Photos You Need for Your Claim
When a severe storm rolls through Western North Carolina, the aftermath can be overwhelming. If you suspect your home has taken a beating, your first instinct might be to call your insurance company. However, before you formally file a claim, you need solid evidence.
Filing a claim without proper documentation is a quick way to get a denial letter. Insurance adjusters are trained to look for specific "cause of loss" indicators. To secure the coverage you deserve, you or your contractor must capture high resolution photos that tell the undeniable story of the storm damage. Here is exactly what needs to be photographed before the adjuster arrives.
1. The Roof Surface: Wind and Hail
The most obvious damage happens right on the shingles, but taking a single photo of the whole roof from your driveway will not work. You need close up, highly detailed shots.
If high winds came through, you need photos of missing shingles, exposed underlayment, and "creased" shingles. A crease is a dark horizontal line where the wind lifted the shingle and snapped the fiberglass mat inside. If there was hail, you need photos of circular "bruises" where the granules have been completely knocked away, exposing the dark asphalt layer underneath.
2. Collateral Damage: The "Proof" on the Ground
Adjusters know that if a storm was severe enough to destroy your roof, it also damaged other items around your property. This is called collateral damage, and it is vital for proving your case.
You need clear photos of dented aluminum gutters, chipped paint on your siding, and tears in your window screens. Hail will often leave very clear impact marks on the soft metal fins of your outdoor HVAC unit. Adjusters look closely at these soft metals because they are more easily dented than shingles, proving that a severe weather event actually occurred at your address.
3. Inside the Attic: Tracing the Leak
A thorough inspection does not just happen outside. If you have active water coming inside and need an immediate roof leak repair, the attic holds the most important evidence.
You need flash photography of your wood decking showing fresh water stains or dark moisture spots. Photos of matted down, wet insulation or daylight shining through the roof deck are undeniable proof that the roofing system has structurally failed.
4. Specialty and Commercial Systems
Standard asphalt shingles are not the only materials that suffer storm damage. If your home has been upgraded to metal roofing, you need specific photos showing large indentations on the standing seams or deep scratches that compromise the rust proof coating.
For business owners, a storm can easily rip the edge flashing right off a flat roof. Documenting commercial roofing damage requires photos of lifted membrane seams, punctured TPO from flying debris, and displaced roof drains that could cause massive interior flooding.
5. Leave the Climbing to the Pros
Gathering this evidence is incredibly dangerous for the average homeowner. Walking on a steep, storm damaged roof is a major safety hazard.
You do not have to do this alone. At True North Roofing, we perform a Detailed Roof Inspection specifically designed to help with the insurance process. We safely climb the roof, document every bruise, crease, and soft metal dent with high resolution photography, and provide you with a comprehensive report. When the adjuster arrives, you will have a professional packet of evidence ready to hand to them.
Financing Your Deductible
In North Carolina, it is illegal for a roofing contractor to pay or "waive" your insurance deductible. You are responsible for that out of pocket cost. However, we believe that an unexpected storm should not drain your savings account.
We offer flexible financing options to help you cover your deductible or upgrade to a better roofing system while keeping your monthly expenses completely manageable.
Ready to get the proof you need for your claim? Reach out to schedule your inspection and let True North Roofing handle the heavy lifting.
Serving Our Local Communities:
Asheville & Buncombe County
Hendersonville & Henderson County
Waynesville & Haywood County
Brevard & Transylvania County
Sylva & Jackson County
