After the storm, get it on the record.

What storms do to a roof

Hail can bruise or fracture shingles, knock off the granules that protect them, dent metal vents, flashing and gutters, and crack siding. Straight-line winds lift and crease shingles, pull flashing and peel edges. Some of that is obvious from the ground. A lot of it is not, and it is easier to document in the weeks right after a storm than a year later.

What we look at

• The roof covering. Shingle or membrane condition, creases, fractures and granule loss, by slope.
• Soft metals and collateral. Vents, flashing, gutters, downspouts, window wraps and outdoor equipment, which often show a storm more clearly than the shingles do.
• Siding and openings. Cracks, holes and dents on each elevation.
• Condition apart from the storm. Age, wear and installation issues are written down too, so the record is honest about what the storm did and what it did not.

If you plan to file a claim

We are a contractor, not a public adjuster. We document damage and work with your adjuster at your request: we can meet them on site and walk the roof with them using our record. We do not interpret your policy, advise on coverage, or negotiate your claim, and we never pay, absorb, rebate or waive any part of a deductible. Minnesota law prohibits it (Minn. Stat. § 325E.66).

A National Weather Service warning over your address is a reason to look at the roof, not a finding of damage. Only an inspection can document what actually happened.