Documentation Guide
How to Document Roof Damage for Insurance
Insurance settlements are won or lost on documentation. Here's what to capture, how to capture it, and what insurers actually want to see.
The Principle
Insurance is evidence-based.
The adjuster doesn’t believe what you say. They believe what you show. Documentation that’s timestamped, geotagged, high-resolution, and captured from both close-up and wide-angle for context is documentation that survives skeptical review.
Timestamped
Geotagged
High-resolution
Wide + close-up
What To Photograph
Six things, every claim.
- 01
Capture wide shots of every roof slope
4–8 wide-angle photos minimum, showing the entire surface of each roof plane.
- 02
Close-up every damage indication
Lifted shingles, cracks, hail bruises, missing material. Close enough to see the damage clearly.
- 03
Photograph soffit, fascia, and gutters
These often show storm damage even when the main roof field looks fine.
- 04
Document yard debris
Shingles, granules, and tree fragments in your yard support the storm-driven cause of loss.
- 05
Photograph any interior water damage
Ceiling stains, wall discoloration, attic moisture. Even minor signs matter.
- 06
Verify timestamps and geotags
Use a phone with location services on. Insurers prefer GPS-stamped photos when available.
What To Write Down
A short written record helps.
- Date and approximate time of the storm event
- Wind speed if known (we look up NWS data later)
- What you noticed first
- Any sounds during the event (hail = small impacts; debris = larger thuds)
- Anything you've already done (tarped, called insurer, etc.)
Free PDF
Get the Tampa Roof Insurance Claim Documentation Kit.
15-page guide including photo templates, sample claim language, and adjuster meeting prep. Built by people who’ve done this hundreds of times.
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