Post Storm Roof Inspection: What a Roofer Looks For

What the Roofer Inspects on the Roof Surface

Shingle field damage: The inspector walks each slope methodically, checking for hail impacts, wind-lifted tabs, creased shingles, and granule loss. For hail damage, they press each suspected impact point with their thumb. A hail-damaged shingle flexes under pressure because the mat beneath the granules is fractured, while a shingle with cosmetic granule wear stays firm. This tactile test identifies damage that is invisible to photographs and ground-level observation.

Test squares: Insurance adjusters and roofers use test squares, defined 10-by-10-foot sections of roof, to quantify damage density. The inspector counts the number of hail hits, missing shingles, or damaged tabs within each test square and records the count. Insurance companies use these counts to determine whether the damage density justifies repair of that section or replacement of the entire roof. Multiple test squares are taken on different slopes to establish a damage pattern.

Seal strip integrity: Even when shingles appear intact, the thermally activated seal strips between layers may be broken. Wind can lift a shingle, break the seal, and allow it to fall back into place, looking undamaged from the ground. The inspector checks seal strips by gently lifting shingle edges. Intact seals resist the lift. Broken seals allow the shingle to come up easily, indicating the shingle will fail in the next wind event at a lower speed than the one that originally broke the seal.

Granule loss patterns: Uniform granule loss across the entire roof is a sign of age, not storm damage. Storm-related granule loss appears in clustered patterns that correspond to hail impact points, wind abrasion zones, or debris strikes. The inspector distinguishes between these patterns to identify which damage is claimable and which is pre-existing wear.

Flashing, Penetrations, and Detail Work

Chimney flashing: The inspector examines the step flashing along each side of the chimney, the counter-flashing embedded in the mortar joints, and the cricket or saddle on the uphill side. Storm damage to chimney flashing includes bent or displaced step flashing, cracked counter-flashing, and separated sealant at the mortar line. These failures create high-volume leak points because chimneys interrupt the water flow pattern on the roof surface.

Vent boots and pipe collars: Every plumbing vent, exhaust fan, and pipe penetration is sealed with a rubber or neoprene boot. The inspector checks each boot for cracks, tears, and separation from the pipe. While vent boot deterioration is often age-related rather than storm-caused, storm impacts can accelerate existing cracks and turn a minor vulnerability into an active leak point.

Valley integrity: Roof valleys carry the highest water volume and are subject to both concentrated water flow and debris accumulation. The inspector checks for worn valley lining, lifted or displaced shingles along the valley edges, and any debris that could impede water flow. Valley failures cause some of the worst leaks because of the volume of water they channel.

Ridge caps and ridge vents: Ridge caps sit at the highest point of the roof where wind uplift is greatest. The inspector checks for displaced, cracked, or missing ridge cap shingles and verifies that the ridge vent beneath is intact and properly sealed. A compromised ridge creates a direct pathway for rain into the attic.

Drip edge and eave condition: The metal drip edge along the eaves and rakes is checked for bending, displacement, or separation from the fascia. Damaged drip edge allows water to flow behind the gutter and into the fascia board, causing rot that is hidden from view until it progresses significantly.

Attic Inspection

A thorough post-storm inspection includes the attic. The inspector looks for daylight through the roof deck (indicating holes or gaps), moisture on the underside of the sheathing, wet or compressed insulation, water stains on rafters and trusses, and active dripping or pooling. Attic evidence often reveals damage that the roof surface inspection could not detect, such as leaks at flashing transitions that are covered by the shingle surface layer.

The inspector also assesses the structural condition of the framing. Cracked rafters, displaced truss connections, and bowed sheathing indicate impact damage severe enough to compromise the roof's structural integrity, not just its waterproofing. Structural findings elevate the repair from a roofing project to a construction project requiring engineering input.

The Inspection Report

A professional inspection produces a written report that includes a damage summary describing the type, extent, and location of each damage point, photographs of every significant finding with annotations, test square counts showing damage density per section, a recommendation for repair scope (spot repair, partial replacement, or full replacement), and an estimate for the recommended scope of work.

This report serves multiple purposes. It guides the repair scope so you and your contractor agree on what work is needed. It supports your insurance claim by providing professional documentation that the adjuster can evaluate. And it creates a permanent record of your roof's condition at a specific point in time, which is valuable if additional damage occurs later.

Coordinating the Inspection With Your Insurance Claim

The ideal timing for a professional roof inspection is after you have filed your claim but before the adjuster's visit. This allows your roofer to identify all damage points first and then walk the roof alongside the adjuster, pointing out findings that the adjuster might miss. Adjusters inspect hundreds of roofs after a storm and spend limited time on each one. A knowledgeable roofer ensures that every legitimate damage point is documented in the adjuster's report.

If there is a disagreement between the roofer's findings and the adjuster's assessment, the roofer's report with photographs and test square data provides the basis for a supplement request. This is a standard part of the insurance restoration process, not an adversarial action, and experienced storm damage roofers handle supplement submissions regularly.