What does a storm damage inspection include?
A storm damage inspection is a full, documented survey of your roof after a hail or wind event: every slope from the air by drone, every slope again on foot, and the attic underneath. We photograph each hail bruise and creased shingle, chalk-mark test squares and count the hits inside them, measure the slopes, and record the collateral evidence on gutters, drip edge, vents, and flashing that ties the damage to a specific storm on a specific date.
What you get is a dated photo report and a written repair scope. The report shows what is on the roof and where. The scope lists what it takes to fix it, line by line, including the code-required items like underlayment and flashing that a quick look from the driveway leaves off. That package is yours. If you file a claim, you can share it with your carrier or adjuster. If you do not, it is an honest picture of where your roof stands.
The inspection is free, with no obligation. Some roofs we inspect are fine. Some have minor damage that needs a repair, not a replacement. Some are clearly storm-damaged across every slope. We tell you which one you have, in writing, and the decision about what to do next stays with you.
How does a roof insurance claim actually work?
A roof insurance claim is between you and your carrier. You report storm damage, usually wind or hail, and the carrier decides what applies under your policy. Carriers generally separate sudden storm damage from gradual wear or age, and that distinction drives a lot of claim decisions. The clearer the evidence that a storm did the damage, the cleaner the claim.
The process follows a predictable sequence. You report the damage to your carrier, the carrier assigns an adjuster, the adjuster inspects the roof, and the carrier issues a scope and an estimate. You can compare that scope against our written estimate for the roof. Once you decide how to proceed, the work gets done. Every step runs on the quality of the documentation behind it.
Two policy terms matter most: your deductible, and whether your coverage is replacement cost value or actual cash value. Both are on your declarations page, and your agent or carrier can explain which one applies before you file. We cannot tell you what your policy pays.
What goes in the documentation your adjuster sees?
Your adjuster sees the same things we photograph: round hail bruises with granule loss and a soft mat underneath, hit counts inside a marked test square on each slope, lifted and creased shingles from wind, broken sealant bonds, and displaced flashing. They also look for corroborating dents on gutters, downspouts, drip edge, and vents, because soft metals confirm hail size and wind intensity across the whole property.
So that is what we document. Dated drone photos of every slope. Close-ups of representative hits with the chalk marks and counts visible. Measured slopes, pitch, and square counts. Attic photos where water tracks or daylight show up. Photos of every dented soft metal. The storm date and the direction it came from, matched to the slopes that took the damage. It is the same grid-and-square method adjusters use, so our findings and theirs speak the same language.
The report is built so nothing is left to memory or argument. An adjuster inspects many roofs a week and can move fast. A roof that has already been photographed, measured, and marked hit by hit is a roof that does not get judged from the ground. We hand you a report your adjuster can verify line by line, and you can share it with your carrier or adjuster.
What should the documentation show when the adjuster comes out?
When your adjuster schedules the inspection, you deal with them directly. We are not part of that inspection. Our report shows every slope we marked, every test square and its count, every creased tab, and every dent on the gutters and vents. Damage on a back slope or behind a chimney is easy to miss in a fast inspection, so you can share the report and photos with your adjuster.
The adjuster writes the scope. That is their job, and we respect it. We do not argue, inflate, or negotiate. We document what is there and give you the report to share. Complete documentation is what keeps legitimate storm damage from being written off as wear.
If you would rather we not be there, that is your call. The report stands on its own. Most homeowners want us present because a second set of eyes that already knows the roof makes the inspection faster and more thorough, and because it takes the pressure off you to explain damage you cannot see from the ground.
What if my carrier has questions about the damage?
Carriers sometimes have questions about storm damage: a slope they could not see, or damage that looks like wear. The answer is clear documentation. Our report shows dated photos and measurements for every slope, so the condition of the roof is on record.
The report is yours, and you can share it with your carrier. Any question about your claim, including a reinspection, goes through your carrier's own process.
We are a roofing contractor, not a public adjuster or a law firm. We do not negotiate with your carrier or handle your claim for you. For disputes that go beyond scope and documentation, you may need a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.
Why should you use a local roofer for storm damage documentation?
You should use a local roofer because the crew that documents your roof is the crew that has to stand behind the work for years. After every Houston storm, out-of-town crews descend on Katy and the surrounding suburbs promising to handle your claim and get you a free roof. Many push illegal deductible waivers, ask you to sign an assignment of benefits that hands them your claim rights, and disappear once the check clears. A local crew has its reputation on the line in your own neighborhood.
Be especially careful with anyone who offers to waive your deductible or eat it for you. That is insurance fraud, and it exposes you, not just them. Be equally careful signing an assignment of benefits, which can strip you of control over your own claim and lock you into a contractor you cannot easily fire. A legitimate contractor documents the damage, repairs or replaces the roof, and never asks you to do anything dishonest to get the job.
Rlynt Roofing is locally owned in Katy, TX. We carry an A rating with the BBB, a 5.0 star rating on Google, a 5.0 on Angi, and we are insured. Every storm restoration we complete is backed by our standard 10-year workmanship warranty plus the manufacturer material warranty, in writing. We install Owens Corning architectural and Class 4 impact-rated shingle systems, with IKO options available, so the rebuilt roof holds up to the next storm.
How long does the process take from inspection to finished roof?
Most storm roofs run from a couple of weeks to a couple of months from inspection to completed work, depending on your carrier, the season, and how clean the documentation is. Filing and getting an adjuster scheduled is usually the slowest part, and it slows further after a major storm when carriers are handling a surge across the region. A fully documented roof moves faster because there is less back and forth over what is up there.
The roof work is the quick part. Once your carrier approves the scope and materials are on site, most residential roofs are torn off and replaced in one to a few days, weather permitting. If your roof is actively leaking while you wait, we dry-in the vulnerable areas so your home stays protected. You are never left exposed while paperwork moves.
The best way to keep things on schedule is to start with a thorough inspection and stay responsive to your carrier. Every missing photo or unanswered request adds days. We provide the documentation so your carrier has fewer reasons to ask for more. From inspection to final photos, you will know what we found and what we built.
Our Process
- 01
Free inspection
We inspect the roof — drone plus boots-on-roof — and give you a full photo report. No obligation.
- 02
Documented assessment
You see exactly what we see: every hit, leak, and worn area, documented with dated photos and measurements.
- 03
Clear written scope
A written scope and price. If insurance is involved, you file with your carrier and we give you the documentation to share.
- 04
The build
Our own crew does the work — tear-off, decking check, underlayment, and your chosen shingle system, installed to code.
- 05
In writing
Our standard 10-year workmanship warranty plus the manufacturer material warranty. Final walkthrough and cleanup with a magnetic nail sweep.
