Hurricane roof inspection: a homeowner’s preparation checklist

Bring what you already know

Gather existing records rather than trying to create a technical diagnosis yourself:

• Approximate roof age and material, if known.
• The date you noticed a change, plus safely taken photos.
• Prior roof repairs, estimates, warranties, or inspection reports.
• A description of leaks, missing material, or debris seen from a safe location.
• Any temporary protection already installed and who performed that work.
• Access details, pets, gates, and a contact person for the visit.

Ask questions specific to the roof

Use the relevant prompts below to ask what the inspector checked. These are discussion points, not instructions for homeowner roof access.

• Shingle roof: Were the covering, edges, flashing, and penetrations assessed? What supports the proposed repair area?
• Tile roof: Which tiles are affected, and can the underlying water-shedding system be assessed? Are matching replacement materials available?
• Metal roof: Were panel connections, seams, fasteners, flashings, and penetrations considered? What could not be seen?
• Low-slope or commercial roof: Were the membrane, seams, drainage points, edges, and rooftop-equipment details assessed?

Request findings you can use

Ask for dated photos with locations, a written description of observed conditions, and a list of inaccessible areas. Ask the roofer to separate observations from conclusions about cause. If additional evaluation is recommended, ask who should perform it and which decision depends on that evaluation.

Separate weather history from roof findings

The storm-history lookup on this site supplies historical context. A nearby weather report does not prove that a specific roof was damaged. Preserve your observation timeline and let the inspection document the property’s actual condition.

Finish with a next-step decision

Ask whether the immediate need is temporary protection, a defined repair, further assessment, or a replacement proposal. Request the proposed work and exclusions in writing, with a contact for questions. For coverage decisions, use your insurer rather than interpreting a roofing estimate as an approval.

Common questions

What useful documentation looks like

Example report entry — fictional

Location

Rear roof slope, near the valley; marked on the roof diagram.

Observed condition

Several displaced tile pieces; close-up and wider context photos attached.

What remains unknown

Condition of underlayment and decking beneath tiles; not established by a ground photo.

Recommended next step

Qualified inspection of the affected assembly, followed by a written repair scope and any access limitations.

Ask your roofer to distinguish direct observations from possible causes and to identify areas it could not inspect.

Continue planning