Homeowner and renter guide

Wind or hail damage

Exterior damage can be hard to see safely. Start with access restrictions, temporary protection, and a record tied to each roof slope and elevation.

Safety comes before documentation

Stay off damaged roofs and away from downed lines, loose siding, broken glass, and unstable trees. Use qualified inspection and temporary protection.

Start here

0 / 4

Saved only in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.

16-step recovery path

Work the next decision, not the whole claim at once

Steps overlap. Return to an earlier step when new facts appear. Each step separates property work from insurance questions and names the record that moves the decision forward.

  1. 01

    Make sure everyone is safe

    Decision: Can everyone enter and stay safely, and who is qualified to decide?

    Property and work

    Follow official and qualified professional restrictions. Do not enter standing water, unstable structures, damaged electrical areas, contaminated spaces, or other unsafe conditions.

    Questions for the insurer

    Report actual restrictions and urgent needs. Do not delay emergency safety action while waiting for a coverage response.

    Before moving on

    You know who can assess each hazard, what areas remain restricted, and who owns the next safety decision.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Confirm a safe place for household members and pets.
    • Record access restrictions and the person or agency that issued them.
    • Photograph conditions only from a safe location.
  2. 02

    Cover tonight and the basics

    Decision: Which rooms and essentials are unusable, and what must be arranged today?

    Property and work

    List unusable rooms, utilities, clothing, food, medication, pet needs, and the facts that make the home impractical or unsafe.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask what information is needed to evaluate temporary living costs, essential purchases, housing, approvals, and any advance. Your policy and facts control.

    Before moving on

    You have a practical plan for the next night or two and written questions about how extra costs will be handled.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Keep receipts for extra costs, separated from normal household spending.
    • Record the date displacement began and every housing approval.
    • Ask for instructions in writing before making a long commitment when possible.
  3. 03

    Stop further damage without losing evidence

    Decision: What emergency work is necessary now, what was authorized, and who is expected to pay?

    For this loss: Temporary tarping or board-up should identify protected areas, fastening method, dates, and resulting condition without becoming an assumed repair scope.

    Property and work

    Ask the emergency company to explain affected areas, urgent protection, removals, equipment, and the records it will create. Emergency work is not the same as a rebuild agreement.

    Questions for the insurer

    Notify the insurer promptly and ask about inspection or evidence needs. Keep every signed authorization and itemized charge.

    Before moving on

    Immediate protection is separated from later repair decisions, with a written scope and a clear record of who requested the work.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Photograph before work when safe.
    • Save the signed authorization, daily logs, readings, invoices, and removed-item records.
    • Do not authorize broad repair work because emergency access was approved.
  4. 04

    Open one claim record

    Decision: What happened, who is assigned, and what is the next written deadline?

    Property and work

    Keep a dated chronology of discovery, observed damage, emergency actions, and qualified findings. Distinguish what you saw from what another person concluded.

    Questions for the insurer

    Get the claim number, assigned contact, complete policy and endorsements, submission instructions, and stated deadlines.

    Before moving on

    You can identify the next action, its owner, the supporting record, and the response date.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Create folders for photos, estimates, receipts, reports, and messages.
    • Confirm important phone discussions by email.
    • Do not guess at cause or timing when the facts are still unknown.
  5. 05

    Map the questions to the policy

    Decision: Which requests involve the building, belongings, living costs, emergency services, limits, or exclusions?

    Property and work

    Separate the physical work and expenses into clear categories before comparing them with claim responses.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask what coverage is being evaluated, applicable limits or sublimits, deductible, valuation method, endorsements, exclusions, and what remains undecided. A general explanation is not a decision on your loss.

    Before moving on

    Each open request has a category, an unanswered question, and a fact or document that could change the answer.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Make a written question list.
    • Compare the declarations, policy, and endorsements.
    • Request policy wording and the facts used for any written decision.
  6. 06

    Record rooms and belongings

    Decision: Can each affected room and item be traced before it changes location or condition?

    Property and work

    Use wide, medium, and close photographs. Inventory by room, including condition, make, model, age, ownership evidence, pack-out location, salvage decision, and disposal status when known.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask what evidence is needed before cleaning, moving, discarding, or replacing property and how belongings will be valued.

    Before moving on

    Every affected room and item can be tied to a photo or list and its current location or disposition.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Do not discard items only because they look dirty or damaged unless safety requires it.
    • Keep pack-out, storage, cleaning, and disposal records.
    • Label unknown details rather than filling them with guesses.
  7. 07

    Prepare for the inspection

    Decision: What was inspected, what was inaccessible, and what is still unknown?

    For this loss: Ask for a slope-by-slope and elevation-by-elevation record, test squares or measurement basis where used, interior moisture checks, and inaccessible areas.

    Property and work

    Prepare a room, system, and contents list. Include adjacent areas, concealed spaces, utilities, and conditions that may not be visible during a short visit.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask who is inspecting, the purpose of the inspection, what testing or measurements were used, and when the written scope or report will arrive.

    Before moving on

    Open questions are written down with an owner and a date for the next response.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Attend when allowed and take your own notes.
    • Request the report and measurement basis.
    • Promptly identify rooms or systems that were not addressed.
  8. 08

    Understand cleaning, drying, and removal

    Decision: What stays, what goes, and how will completion be checked?

    Property and work

    Separate protection, extraction, drying, cleaning, removal, repair, storage, disposal, testing, and clearance. Ask for the method and completion criteria for each.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask how emergency charges, equipment, testing, and completion records should be documented and evaluated.

    Before moving on

    You know the planned treatment for each area, who checks completion, and what record will prove the result.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Keep daily logs, readings, equipment dates, photos, and itemized invoices.
    • Record written changes to the plan.
    • Do not let removed work disappear from the reconstruction scope.
  9. 09

    Read the estimate against the work

    Decision: Does each room, task, quantity, material, and finish match the documented condition?

    For this loss: Compare quantities, waste assumptions, access, steep or high work, underlayment, flashing, vents, detach and reset, siding elevations, paint transitions, gutters, permits, and interior repairs to documented conditions.

    Property and work

    Read line by line before comparing totals. Mark each task included, omitted, pending, duplicated, or disputed, and note the source document for your conclusion.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask about omitted work, depreciation, taxes, overhead and profit, deductible, prior payments, and items still under review. These depend on the estimate, policy, and facts.

    Before moving on

    Every material task has a reason, quantity, source, and current status.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Build a room-by-room comparison table.
    • Use the latest dated version of each estimate.
    • Ask for revisions and explanations in writing.
  10. 10

    Choose a contractor and read the agreement

    Decision: Are scope, credentials, responsibilities, changes, schedule, and payment terms clear?

    Property and work

    Compare written proposals. Check licensing and insurance where relevant, protection, cleanup, exclusions, schedule, warranty, and the change-order process.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask what work has been evaluated and how payments are issued. Contractor selection and claim approval are separate questions.

    Before moving on

    The signed agreement states what is included, what is excluded, who owns each responsibility, and how changes are priced.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Read before signing and resist same-day pressure.
    • Keep every proposal, contract version, and change order.
    • Do not assume a contractor's price confirms insurance payment.
  11. 11

    Reconcile the estimate and check

    Decision: Why does the payment differ, and what document or event may release another amount?

    Property and work

    Build a ledger with estimate version, approved amount, payment, deductible, depreciation, prior payments, lender involvement, invoices, and unresolved gaps.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask what the check represents, what is held back, what conditions apply to later payments, and what limits or disputed items remain.

    Before moving on

    Every amount is tied to a category and you know the stated requirement for the next payment.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Do not infer coverage from the check alone.
    • Keep payment letters and lender correspondence.
    • Reconcile cumulative payments, not only the latest check.
  12. 12

    Plan repairs, selections, and approvals

    Decision: What sequence, permit, selection, lead time, or approval controls the next date?

    Property and work

    Write the sequence for permits, selections, ordering, inspections, protection, demolition, rebuilding, testing, and return to the home.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask which code items, upgrades, substitutions, or added work need separate review and what supporting record is requested.

    Before moving on

    Dependencies, selections, approvals, and realistic dates are written down.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Approve selections and substitutions in writing.
    • Track delay reasons and responsible parties.
    • Keep permits, inspection records, and revised schedules.
  13. 13

    Document hidden damage and changes

    Decision: What new condition appeared, and can it be recorded before it is covered?

    Property and work

    Pause before concealment when safe and practical. Photograph, measure, describe cause indicators, and obtain a written added-work proposal.

    Questions for the insurer

    Notify the assigned contact and ask whether another inspection or specific evidence is required before the area changes.

    Before moving on

    The condition, proposed change, decision owner, and response date are documented.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Maintain a change-order and supplement log.
    • Preserve removed material when safe and useful.
    • Keep revised scopes, estimates, and written responses together.
  14. 14

    Walk the work before calling it finished

    Decision: Does completed work match the agreement and operate normally?

    Property and work

    Walk the scope safely, compare materials and finishes, test ordinary operation, and identify defects or incomplete items.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask which completion documents remain and how withheld amounts or open claim items are handled.

    Before moving on

    A dated punch list names each remaining item, owner, and due date.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Photograph completed work and open items.
    • Keep permits, warranties, manuals, and final inspection records.
    • Do not call work complete only because the crew left.
  15. 15

    Reconcile the whole file

    Decision: What is paid, pending, disputed, incomplete, or no longer pursued?

    Property and work

    Reconcile repairs, belongings, storage, temporary living costs, invoices, stored items, and unresolved physical conditions.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask for a final claim summary, payment status, remaining requested records, and any written closure items.

    Before moving on

    Your ledger and document index explain the status of every major request and amount.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Request a final written summary.
    • Calendar remaining deadlines.
    • Keep the complete file after work and payments end.
  16. 16

    Get the right help for an unanswered question

    Decision: Is the problem technical, estimate-related, safety-related, process-related, or legal?

    Property and work

    Match the question to the right person: a qualified building or restoration specialist for conditions, an estimate reviewer for scope and line items, a safety professional for hazards, or a lawyer for legal advice.

    Questions for the insurer

    Ask for a written explanation, supporting policy language, facts relied on, and the available review or consumer-assistance process.

    Before moving on

    You can state one unresolved question, the supporting record, the decision needed, and the deadline.

    Actions and records for this step
    • Prepare a one-page chronology and document index.
    • Keep a concise list of questions and prior answers.
    • Do not upload private claim documents to this education hub.

What to gather next

0 / 9

Saved only in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Roof estimate education

Reading a wind or hail roof estimate: what is usually on, what is often missing, and what to ask next

A first roof estimate after a wind or hail storm is often written from one inspection, sometimes from the ground, a drone, or a short climb. It is a starting document. Before you look at the total, check whether the estimate describes the whole job: the roof surface, the edges, the flashing, the vents, the soft metals, and the rest of the exterior the storm hit.

This section helps you read one estimate against what you and your inspector documented. It does not decide coverage, negotiate for you, or replace a licensed roofer. Your policy, your state, your local building department, and the facts on your roof control what applies.

Check in before you read the estimate

0 / 6

Saved only in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.

If you do not know how many layers are on the roof, ask your roofer to check at an edge. It changes what a replacement has to include.

1. Find out what the estimate is paying for

Before reading lines, answer three questions from the first page and the summary:

  1. Is this a repair of some slopes, or a replacement of the whole roof? Write down which slopes are included.
  2. What deductible applied? Some policies have a separate wind or hail deductible, sometimes a percentage of the dwelling limit instead of a flat dollar amount.
  3. Is the roof paid at replacement cost, actual cash value, or on a roof payment schedule based on age? Look for depreciation and a "recoverable" or "non-recoverable" label.

Write those three answers at the top of a page. If you cannot answer one from the documents, that is your first question for the adjuster.

2. Slope-by-slope worksheet

Any slope with photos of damage but no line on the estimate goes to the top of your list. Any slope listed as "repair" with a damage count close to the replacement threshold the adjuster used is worth a written question about how that threshold was set.

Saved only in this browser. Nothing is uploaded.

Slope row 1

3. What roof estimates commonly leave out or leave unclear

Use this as a reading checklist, not a demand list. An item may already be bundled inside another line. Your job is to find where it lives, or ask that it be added or clarified.

ATear-off and layers

When a roof is replaced, typical practice is to remove the existing roofing down to the deck. If there are two layers, many replacements remove both, but that is not automatic. Confirm with your local building department and check how many layers the estimate assumes. Check that removal, the number of layers, and haul-off are written.

Ask: How many layers does the estimate assume, and where is removal and disposal of each layer shown?

BUnderlayment

New roofing goes over new underlayment. On low-slope sections, some local building departments require a double layer.

Ask: Where is underlayment shown, and does it cover every replaced slope?

CIce barrier at the eaves (cold climates)

In colder climates, many local building departments require an ice barrier at the eaves, often running at least 24 inches inside the exterior wall line. Many warmer areas do not. Your local building department is the authority for your address.

Ask: Does our building department require ice barrier here? If yes, where is it on the estimate?

DDrip edge at eaves and rake edges

On asphalt shingle roofs, many local building departments require drip edge at the eaves and rake edges, including on a replacement. Confirm what applies at your address with your local department.

Ask: Where is drip edge shown, and for how many linear feet?

EStarter course, ridge cap, and hip cap

These are separate pieces on most shingle roofs. They are easy to miss when an estimate only lists "shingles per square."

Ask: Where are starter, hip, and ridge shown, and do the lengths match the measurement report?

FFlashing and roof penetrations

Step flashing at walls, chimney flashing and counterflashing, pipe boots, roof vents, and skylight flashing usually have to be reset or replaced when shingles around them are replaced.

Ask: Which flashing and vent items are being replaced, which are reset, and which are left out?

GSteep and high roof labor

Steeper roofs and two-story roofs take more labor and safety setup. Estimating software lists these as separate labor charges.

Ask: What pitch and number of stories does the estimate use for each slope?

HWaste

Shingle quantities usually include a waste allowance for cuts at hips, valleys, and edges.

Ask: What waste percentage is used, and how was it set for this roof's shape?

ISoft metals and the rest of the exterior

Hail often marks gutters, downspouts, vents, screens, siding, fences, and painted surfaces. Wind can lift siding and damage fences.

Ask: Which elevations and exterior items were inspected? Where are gutters, screens, and siding addressed, or which were found undamaged?

JMatching

If only some slopes are repaired and the new shingles do not match the rest of the roof, the result can be a visibly patched roof. Whether a full slope or full roof is owed for matching depends on your policy, any matching endorsement or limit, and your state's rules. It is not automatic either way.

Ask: Has a match been checked for this shingle? If the shingle is discontinued or will not match, how does the estimate handle it?

KPermit and code items

Many areas require a roofing permit. Items your local building department requires may fall under a separate code upgrade coverage with its own limit.

Ask: Is a permit on the estimate? Are department-required items listed, and under which coverage?

LInterior damage from the same storm

Wind-driven rain or a punctured roof can stain ceilings and wet insulation. That interior work belongs on the claim too.

Ask: Was the interior inspected for leaks from this storm? If yes, where is that work on the estimate?

4. Five-question self check

0 open

  1. 1. Do I know which slopes are being paid for and which are not?

  2. 2. Do I know which deductible applied and the dollar amount?

  3. 3. Do I know whether the first payment is actual cash value and what is needed to recover held-back depreciation?

  4. 4. Is there a written deadline for finishing repairs to recover depreciation?

  5. 5. Have I asked my local building department what is required for a roof replacement at my address?

Every "no" or "not sure" becomes a written question. Ask the adjuster for deadlines in writing.

Sample owner email
Subject: Questions on the [loss address] roof estimate dated [date]

Hello [Adjuster name],

I reviewed the roof estimate dated [date] against my photos and the inspection notes. Could you please show me where the following are included, or review them for addition if they are not:

1. Removal of [one / two] existing layers and haul-off
2. Underlayment and drip edge on the replaced slopes
3. Starter, hip, and ridge
4. Flashing and vents at [chimney / walls / pipes]
5. The [north / east] slope, where the photos show [describe damage]

Please also confirm which deductible applied, whether depreciation is recoverable, and the deadline to complete repairs. If an item is already included in another line, please point me to it. If you need more documentation, please tell me exactly what to send.

Thank you,
[Name]
Claim [number]
Short phone script
I am calling about the roof estimate dated [date]. I want to understand which slopes are included, how many layers the estimate assumes, and where underlayment, drip edge, and flashing are shown. I also want to confirm the deductible, whether depreciation is recoverable, and the deadline to finish repairs. Can you send me that in writing after our call?

After the call, send a two-line email that lists what was said and what is still open.

5. Evidence that usually moves a roof estimate conversation

  • Photos labeled by slope and direction, with a wide shot that shows where the close-up was taken
  • The inspection or test square results for each slope
  • The measurement report (roof area, pitch, eaves, rakes, hips, ridges, valleys)
  • A roofer's written note on the number of layers and the deck condition
  • The local building department's answer on required roofing items, in writing or from its website
  • For matching questions, the shingle brand and line, and anything showing the line is discontinued or will not match

6. What this free section is not

  • Not a coverage determination
  • Not legal advice
  • Not public adjusting or negotiation on your behalf
  • Not a roof inspection or a repair bid
  • Not a guarantee of payment
  • Not a substitute for a full file review when the loss is large or disputed

Optional next step

If you have one roof or exterior estimate and want a focused plain-English read of what it includes, what appears missing or still needed, and ready-to-use adjuster emails and word scripts, Property Loss Pro offers a $99 Estimate Check. Aaron reviews and personally approves every report before you see it. Request only. Capacity, scope, fee, and timing are confirmed before a file is accepted. No card is collected on this site. Free education on this page stays free and does not need an upload.

About the Estimate CheckSend a message

After the free guide

Have an estimate and want a second set of eyes?

The $99 Estimate Check is an optional, focused review of one estimate. It explains what one insurance estimate includes and what is worth clarifying, with written questions and phone talking points for you to use. Request only; scope, fee, and timing are confirmed first. It is not legal advice, a coverage decision, negotiation, or a repair bid. Education here stays free.

Learn about the Estimate CheckSee the sample Estimate Check reportSend a message