Storm Documentation
What the Storm Left Behind
After a storm passes, visible damage is only what trained eyes recognize. This field guide walks through every surface and system to check, in sequence, so nothing gets missed before any repair or adjuster visit.
Updated October 5, 2026
Read This First
The short version
- After a storm, check soft metals at ground level first, then the roof surface, then the attic and ceilings.
- Gutters, downspouts, AC units, and window sill flashing dent more easily than shingles. Round dimples there confirm hail contact.
- Photograph everything and note where it is, such as which side of the property.
- Document before any work touches the property. Once work starts, the before record is gone.
- Do not get on the roof without proper gear and experience. Storms may have loosened sections.
Document from the ground first, then call or text 512-575-5052 or use Get Help for safe roof-level documentation.
Short version: 2 min. Full page: 5 min. Want the detail? Each section below opens with a tap, or switch to Full at the top to open them all.
Documentation Order
Where to look. What to photograph.
Check the perimeter first, then the roof from ridge to eave, then the attic and ceilings, with a location in each photo.
Exterior Perimeter First
Walk the perimeter before accessing the roof. Soft metals at ground level, gutters, downspouts, AC units, confirm whether hail was present and provide size reference.
Roof Surface Second
Work from ridge to eave on each slope. North-facing slopes retain damage evidence longer. Document each area with a location reference in frame.
Interior Check Third
After exterior documentation, check attic for daylight penetration and fresh moisture. Check ceilings for active staining. Interior findings add context to exterior conditions.
What should I photograph after a storm?
Start with soft metals: gutters, downspouts, drip edge, AC unit top, vent caps. These show consistent impact patterns and are the easiest to document from the ground. Move to fascia, soffits, and painted trim surfaces. Note any visible shingle displacement or granule accumulation in gutters. Photograph everything with location context, which elevation, which section of the property.
Is it safe to get on my roof after a storm?
Not without proper equipment and experience. Storm conditions may have loosened sections of roofing, created wet or debris-covered surfaces, or compromised structural integrity in areas not visible from the ground. The Roof Shepherd conducts roof-level documentation safely. Ground-level documentation of soft metals and exterior surfaces can be done immediately and safely by the homeowner.
The Post-Storm Checklist
What to look for after a hail or wind event
Round dimples on soft metals, granules in gutters, and lifted or missing ridge caps point to hail or wind damage.
Start at Ground Level
Before accessing the roof, check soft metals at grade. Gutters, downspouts, AC condenser units, and window sill cap flashing all dent at lower impact thresholds than shingles. Round dimple patterns on these surfaces confirm hail contact and give approximate size reference, the fastest ground-level verification of whether a hail event actually affected your property.
Roof Surface Indicators
Hail impact bruising displaces granules, exposing the darker fiberglass mat underneath. Granule deposits in the gutters after a storm are a reliable indicator visible from the ground. Functional damage, fractured substrate, cracked seams, uplifted tabs, is what determines long-term roof performance. Cosmetic granule loss alone doesn’t always mean replacement is needed.
Wind Damage Patterns
Wind damage concentrates at the leading edge, ridge, and penetrations where uplift pressure is greatest. Lifted or missing ridge caps, exposed nailing strips, and siding separation on the windward elevation are the first indicators. The most significant wind damage is often at flashing seams where sealant has failed under repeated pressure cycles, invisible from the ground but critical to document.
Why Documentation Timing Matters
The window closes faster than most homeowners expect
Out-of-state contractors can arrive within 24 to 72 hours, and once any work begins, your before record is gone.
The storm-chaser window
After a significant storm, out-of-state roofing contractors arrive in affected neighborhoods within 24 to 72 hours. Some begin making repairs or applying emergency tarps before the homeowner has a chance to document original conditions. Once any work begins, the before record is gone. Contractor modifications, even emergency ones, change the evidence base for any subsequent insurance conversation.
Documentation completed before any work touches the property is the most defensible record a homeowner can have. It establishes what the storm left, not what a contractor found after modifications were made. That distinction matters when a claim is reviewed.
Post-Storm FAQs
Common questions after a storm event
How long do I have to document storm damage?
Texas insurance policies require prompt notice of a claim, and the outside wall is two years or less from the date of loss: Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.070 lets your policy shorten the time to sue to two years, and § 16.071 lets a notice condition be as short as 90 days. Document early and report promptly. But documentation is most useful when done immediately: contractor traffic erases evidence, debris gets cleaned up, and secondary damage from an unresolved leak compounds quickly. Document before any repair begins.
Do I need to file a claim before getting documentation?
No. Documentation before a claim decision is actually more useful, it establishes a baseline before the insurance process introduces any incentive to minimize or maximize the visible damage. You can decide whether to file after you understand what is actually present.
What if the storm happened weeks or months ago?
Late documentation is still useful, particularly for establishing current visible conditions. Weather data (NOAA SPC hail reports, wind event data) can corroborate a storm date. Photos timestamped after a documented storm event, combined with current visible conditions, still build a useful record, especially if damage has been progressing since the event.
What is a storm chaser and why should I avoid them?
Storm chasers are roofing contractors who follow major hail events into affected areas and solicit business door-to-door, often the same day or week of the storm. They operate under time and volume pressure, which increases the likelihood of poor installation quality, missing manufacturer certifications, and post-project warranty disputes. Documentation before any repair decision is the primary protection.
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