Roof Damage Assessment: The Foundation of Every Claim and Supplement
Updated: 5 days ago
Your assessment is the claim
Every roof claim gets built on one thing: what you documented the first time you were on the roof. The adjuster's scope, the homeowner's expectations and any supplement you send later all trace back to that inspection. A rushed walk-through with a handful of photos leaves gaps the carrier won't fill for you. A complete, organized assessment sets the baseline for everything that comes after.
Here's what that assessment should include, how to photograph it, and where it pays off.
What a complete roof damage assessment includes
Work the roof in a consistent order so nothing gets skipped. A complete assessment covers:
Every slope and elevation. Name them the same way every time (front, rear, left, right, or by compass direction) and assess each slope on its own. Damage on one slope doesn't prove damage on another.
Test squares and hail hits per square. Mark a 10x10 test square on each slope you're claiming and count the hits inside it. Record the count per slope. Look for bruising, granule loss and fractured mat, not just cosmetic marks.
Wind damage. Check for creased, lifted or missing tabs, broken seal strips and displaced ridge cap. Creasing is easy to miss from the ground, so lift tabs and photograph the fold line.
Collateral damage. Gutters, downspouts, vents, turtle vents, pipe jacks, flashing, ridge vents, skylights and other soft metals. Dents on soft metals help corroborate a hail event and are often easier for an adjuster to see than shingle hits.
Measurements. Squares, eaves, rakes, ridges, hips, valleys and wall flashing. Use a measurement report and spot-check it against the roof.
Pitch. Record pitch per slope. It affects steep charges, waste and installation requirements.
Layers. Count the existing layers at an edge or a lifted tab. Additional layers change tear-off and disposal.
Decking. Note the decking type and any soft spots, rot or spaced sheathing you can see or feel.
Code items. Note what's missing or required on the replacement roof, such as drip edge, ice barrier, starter and ventilation, so those items can be addressed in the estimate.
The photo checklist
Photos are only useful if someone else can follow them. Shoot in a set sequence for every slope:
Overview. The whole property from the street, including the address if possible.
Elevation. Each side of the house, showing height, stories and anything mounted on the siding.
Slope. Each roof slope in full, so the reviewer knows where the close-ups came from.
Close-up with chalk or a scale. Circle hits in chalk and include a tape, ruler or coin for size. Shoot the test square and individual hits, creases and collateral damage.
Labeled. Label every photo with the slope or elevation and what it shows ("Rear slope, test square, 12 hits" beats "IMG_4471").
How it helps at the adjuster meeting
When you meet the adjuster with a documented assessment, you're working from the same map. You can walk slope by slope, point to marked test squares and show collateral damage you've already photographed. Disagreements become specific ("this slope has eight hits in the test square") instead of opinions. When your scope and theirs line up on the roof, there's less to fight about on paper.
How it helps with the claim
A clear photo set and written assessment show the homeowner the full extent of the loss, not just what's visible from the driveway. It sets a baseline for the claim and builds trust, because the homeowner can see exactly why you're recommending what you're recommending.
How it helps with the supplement
When the carrier's estimate comes back, your assessment is the checklist you compare it against. Missing slopes, short measurements, skipped collateral items and missing code items stand out right away. Every line you add in a supplement should point back to a photo, a measurement or a code reference from that first inspection.
Common mistakes
Shooting too few photos, or unlabeled ones. If a reviewer can't tell which slope a close-up came from, it doesn't help you.
Skipping the test squares. A general "hail damage throughout" note is easy to push back on.
Assessing only the roof. Gutters, vents, screens and soft metals are part of the loss and part of the evidence.
Guessing measurements or pitch. Small errors carry into every line of the estimate.
Forgetting layers and decking. These often get found at tear-off, when they're harder to document.
Not noting code items up front. If they aren't in your notes, they're easy to leave out of the estimate.
Turn your assessment into a carrier-ready file
A strong assessment does most of the work. It gives you a clearer scope, a template for the estimate or supplement, and more leverage with the adjuster. It also helps you win more scope disputes, cut down on return trips, and recover more of what the job actually costs. Aftermath Claims turns your photos, measurements and the adjuster's report into carrier-ready Xactimate estimates and supplements, with appraisal and umpire services when a claim needs them.
This post is general information for contractors and is not legal or insurance advice. Policy language and local requirements vary.
Send a File for Estimate at aftermath.claims/submit or call 833-4AM-ROOF.
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