Replace a roof and settle the insurance scope properly

  1. Photograph and video the full roof surface from every accessible angle
    45 min

    This step produces a dated, unaltered visual record of every roof surface, penetration, and flashing — before anyone touches the roof. This record is your primary evidence for the insurance claim and your only defense if the adjuster or contractor later claims damage was pre‑existing. The challenge is covering every plane and component systematically while working at height, without missing the small details adjusters use to deny coverage.

    • Set your phone or camera to embed date and time stamps in file metadata (Settings > Camera). Do not use filters or auto-enhance.
    • From ground level, photograph all four sides of the house, including the roofline against the sky. Capture the full context before zooming in.
    • Using a ladder, shoot each roof plane in overlapping passes from ridge to eave, left to right. Get full-plane shots first, then zoom in on specific damage.
    • Photograph every roof penetration: plumbing vent boots, chimneys, skylights, bathroom fans, satellite mounts, and roof jacks. Get both a wide context shot and a close-up of each seal.
    • For hail damage: place a coin or ruler next to impact marks for scale. A dime (17.91 mm diameter) is the standard reference adjusters use.
    • For wind damage: photograph lifted or curled shingle tabs, creased shingles, and missing pieces. Show the exposure gap where a shingle has blown off.
    • For granule loss: take close-ups of bare fiberglass mat, gutter debris filled with granules, and the texture difference between damaged and intact areas.
    • Record a slow video walking the ridge line of each roof section. Narrate what you see — “south‑facing plane, upper third, three hail strikes near the plumbing boot.”
    • Photograph gutters, downspouts, and splash blocks. Heavy granule accumulation in gutters confirms ongoing shingle deterioration.
    • If you cannot safely reach a section, use a telescoping pole camera, a drone with GPS tagging, or a zoom lens from an upper window.