What it is for
Take it on the roof as a checklist. Then give it to the customer or the insurance adjuster as the report.
It has three pages. Page 1 has the job details and a summary. Page 2 is the checklist, grouped by area, with a storm damage section. Page 3 is a photo log and the sign-off.
How to use it
- Fill in the job details before you go up: customer, address, date, weather, roof type, material, age, layers, stories, and how you got access.
- Work through the checklist on page 2. Tick OK, Fair, Poor or N/A for each item, and write short notes.
- After a storm, count the hail hits in a 10 by 10 ft test square on each slope. Count wind-creased shingles and tick collateral damage.
- Take photos and log each one on page 3: number, location and what it shows.
- Fill in the summary on page 1 last: overall condition, recommended action and urgent items.
- Sign and date it, then give a copy to the customer.
What you fill in
- Customer, property address, date, inspector and weather
- Roof type, material, approximate age, layers, stories and access
- Condition and notes for each item: roof surface, edges and penetrations, ridge, hips and valleys, drainage, ventilation, and the attic
- Hail hits per test square on each slope, wind-creased shingles, collateral damage and the storm date
- Photo number, location and what it shows, for up to eight photos
- Overall condition, recommended action and urgent items
- Inspector name, signature and date
Questions people ask
What does a roof inspection check?
It checks the roof surface, the edges and penetrations, the ridge, hips and valleys, the gutters and drainage, the ventilation and, when you can get in, the attic. This checklist lists each item with room for notes. The report then sums up the overall condition and what to do next.
How do I document hail damage?
Mark a 10 by 10 ft test square on each slope and count the hail hits in it. Count wind-creased shingles, and note damage to gutters, screens, AC fins and paint. Write down the storm date and take photos of each test square. Insurers often count hail hits per test square, so mark each slope.
How many photos should a roof inspection have?
Take enough to show every problem you list, plus each slope and each test square. The photo log in this file has eight boxes. Add a page if you need more.
Can a roofer do an insurance inspection?
A roofer can inspect the roof and document the damage. The insurance adjuster decides the claim. Do not act as a public adjuster or negotiate the claim for the homeowner. Some states forbid it.
How often should a roof be inspected?
There is no single rule. Many roofers suggest a check after each major storm, and a regular check on a schedule they agree with the homeowner.