How much does a storm-damage roof inspection cost?

Free from most legitimate roofers (it's their customer-acquisition cost). If a roofer charges for a storm-damage inspection, ask why — most don't. Walk away from any roofer who asks for payment for the inspection itself before any work is done.

How long after the storm should I get the inspection done?

Within 60 days ideally. Missouri policies typically require claims within 12 months, but adjusters get more skeptical the longer you wait. Earlier inspections also catch fresh damage that's harder to dismiss as 'pre-existing wear.'

What if my insurance carrier sends their own adjuster instead of accepting my roofer's report?

Standard. Carriers always send their own adjuster. The value of your roofer's report is that it sets the floor — the adjuster has to evaluate your documented findings rather than starting from scratch. Be present for the adjuster's visit with the roofer's report in hand.

Can I rely on a drone inspection?

Drones are useful for high-resolution overview photos, but they can't substitute for a walked inspection. Hail bruising in particular requires close-up tactile assessment. Drone-only inspections produce thinner reports that adjusters often discount.

How does Surgepoint set up a storm-damage inspection?

We match you with a vetted Missouri-licensed roofer in your ZIP. They arrive with the proper documentation tools (chalk, camera, ladder, fall protection) and produce the full insurance-ready report. Free. No AOB. We never touch your claim.

Storm damage · Inspections

Storm damage roof inspection: what to expect from a real one

A 'storm damage roof inspection' is broader than just hail — it covers wind damage, debris impact, tree limbs, and water intrusion through compromised flashings. Here's what a thorough post-storm inspection covers, what should be in the report, and how it differs from a routine roof check.

The short answer

Storm damage covers four categories: hail, wind, debris/tree impact, and water intrusion. A proper inspection covers all four.
A real inspection takes 45–90 minutes for a residential roof and produces a written report with 30–60 photos.
Wind damage often shows as missing shingles, lifted shingles, or ridge cap displacement; hail shows as bruising; debris shows as punctures or impact craters.
Unlike routine roof inspections, a storm-damage inspection documents specifically for an insurance claim — date of damage, NOAA storm data correlation, photo evidence per area.

The four categories of storm damage to a roof

**Hail damage.** Bruises and granule loss on asphalt shingles, dents on metal flashings and vents, possible cracks in tile or slate. Usually invisible from the ground — the inspector walks the slopes and identifies the bruise pattern.

**Wind damage.** Lifted, creased, or missing shingles. Ridge cap displacement. Loose flashings around chimneys and skylights. Wind damage typically clusters on the upwind slope and along ridgelines. Visible from the ground when severe; subtle when not.

**Debris and tree-impact damage.** Punctures, dents, or torn shingles caused by airborne debris (small branches, garbage cans, signs) or fallen tree limbs. Usually localized rather than distributed across the roof.

**Water intrusion damage.** Damaged flashings, compromised seals around penetrations, or interior water staining. Often shows up days or weeks after the storm when the compromised seal lets water in during the next rain.

A real storm-damage inspection covers all four categories explicitly. If your inspector is only checking 'is there hail damage' and ignoring the other three, you're getting a partial inspection.

What the inspector should be doing on your roof

**Walking the slopes systematically.** Each slope, end to end, looking for bruises (hail), missing/lifted shingles (wind), and punctures (debris).

**Marking damage with chalk.** So they can photograph the marked spots and produce a damage-density count by area.

**Inspecting all penetrations.** Vents, plumbing stacks, chimneys, skylights, ridge vents. These are the most common leak entry points after a storm.

**Examining flashings.** The metal seals around chimneys, walls, and valleys. Damaged flashings cause leaks even when surrounding shingles look fine.

**Checking gutters and downspouts.** For granule deposits (hail damage indicator) and for impact damage (dent count corresponds to hail size).

**Checking soft metals.** Vent caps, A/C condenser fins, mailbox, vinyl siding. Documents the storm's impact intensity at ground level.

**Inspecting the attic when accessible.** Water staining on the underside of decking, daylight visible through punctures, wet insulation. Confirms whether storm damage has caused interior issues.

What the written report should contain

**Date of damage** if known. For a Missouri April 28 hail event, this is the NOAA-archived storm date.

**Hail/wind data correlation.** Reference to NOAA storm reports for your ZIP showing reported hail size and wind speeds.

**Photo documentation per area.** 30–60 photos covering all 4 damage categories and all roof sections. Include photos of undamaged areas (negative documentation) so the report shows the inspector actually looked.

**Per-area damage findings.** Quantified — how many bruises, how many lifted shingles, how many compromised flashings.

**Repair vs. replace recommendation.** With reasoning. Light damage usually triggers repair; widespread damage usually triggers replacement under most homeowner policies.

**Estimated repair cost.** Itemized — materials, labor, dumpster, permits.

**Inspector identity.** Name, license number, BBB rating, contact info.

How storm-damage inspection differs from routine roof inspection

**Documentation depth.** A routine inspection might produce 10 photos and a one-page summary. A storm-damage inspection produces 30-60 photos and a detailed report because it's documentation for an insurance claim.

**Time on roof.** Routine: 20-30 minutes. Storm-damage: 45-90 minutes.

**Weather/event correlation.** Routine inspection assesses general condition. Storm-damage inspection ties findings to a specific weather event with date and NOAA data.

**Output format.** Routine produces a maintenance recommendation. Storm-damage produces an insurance-ready claim package.

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Frequently asked

How much does a storm-damage roof inspection cost?: Free from most legitimate roofers (it's their customer-acquisition cost). If a roofer charges for a storm-damage inspection, ask why — most don't. Walk away from any roofer who asks for payment for the inspection itself before any work is done.
How long after the storm should I get the inspection done?: Within 60 days ideally. Missouri policies typically require claims within 12 months, but adjusters get more skeptical the longer you wait. Earlier inspections also catch fresh damage that's harder to dismiss as 'pre-existing wear.'
What if my insurance carrier sends their own adjuster instead of accepting my roofer's report?: Standard. Carriers always send their own adjuster. The value of your roofer's report is that it sets the floor — the adjuster has to evaluate your documented findings rather than starting from scratch. Be present for the adjuster's visit with the roofer's report in hand.
Can I rely on a drone inspection?: Drones are useful for high-resolution overview photos, but they can't substitute for a walked inspection. Hail bruising in particular requires close-up tactile assessment. Drone-only inspections produce thinner reports that adjusters often discount.
How does Surgepoint set up a storm-damage inspection?: We match you with a vetted Missouri-licensed roofer in your ZIP. They arrive with the proper documentation tools (chalk, camera, ladder, fall protection) and produce the full insurance-ready report. Free. No AOB. We never touch your claim.

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