A roof inspection after a storm is not only about identifying damage. It can help you preserve sound materials, prevent unnecessary replacement and protect the value already built into your home. However, the order in which you document, report and repair the damage matters. Before anyone climbs onto the roof or covers the affected areas, create a clear record of what happened.
Document Your Roof Before Storm Season
The most useful photographs may be the ones taken while your roof is still intact. Photograph all four sides of your home, the roof from every safe vantage point and the ceilings inside each room. Save dated copies somewhere other than your phone, such as cloud storage or an email account.
This record makes it easier to distinguish new damage from normal wear. It can also support a repair-first approach. When contractors and adjusters can see the roof’s previous condition, they may be better equipped to identify which sections remain serviceable instead of treating complete replacement as the only option.
Keep your insurance declarations page, roofing invoices, permits and inspection records together. Louisiana’s Act 239 requires municipalities and parishes that issue building permits to include permitting and inspections for roof construction and reroofing. Paperwork from recent work can therefore provide valuable evidence of your roof’s age and condition.
Begin Your Roof Inspection After a Storm From the Ground
Never climb onto a storm-damaged roof yourself. Wet shingles, loose flashing and weakened decking can make a roof unsafe even when the surface appears stable.
Instead, walk around your home with your phone and binoculars. Photograph missing or lifted shingles, exposed nail heads, damaged ridge caps and sections that appear uneven. Look for broken gutters, displaced downspouts and soffit panels that have blown out of their channels.
Pay particular attention to roof valleys. Pine needles, leaves and small branches can collect there and prevent rainwater from draining. Water may then move underneath the shingle line without leaving obvious surface damage.
Check the ground near your downspouts for a sudden accumulation of granules. Some granule loss is normal as a roof ages, but a large amount appearing immediately after hail or heavy wind deserves professional attention.
Inside, photograph every ceiling and the upper portions of the walls. Include rooms with no visible damage. A complete record of both damaged and unaffected spaces can be more useful than a collection of close-up leak photographs.
Protect the Materials That Can Still Be Saved
Storm damage can quickly spread beyond the roof. Water that enters through one missing shingle may eventually damage insulation, framing, drywall, flooring and furniture.
Move vulnerable belongings away from active leaks and collect water in buckets where necessary. If it is safe to do so, cover furnishings and reusable materials with waterproof sheeting. This immediate action supports the principles of upcycling and thoughtful reuse by protecting what is already in the home rather than allowing preventable damage to turn usable materials into waste.
Photograph the original damage before installing a temporary cover. Then photograph the tarp or sheeting after it has been secured. Keep receipts for all emergency supplies and services. Insurance policies generally require homeowners to take reasonable steps to prevent further damage, but temporary work should not erase the evidence of the initial loss.
Call the Insurer Before the Contractor
Once you have completed the initial documentation, contact your insurer to report the damage. Record the claim number, the date and time of the call and the name of the representative.
Next, arrange a professional roof inspection after a storm. A qualified roofing contractor can safely inspect shingles, flashing, vents, valleys and decking. Ask for photographs and a written, itemized repair scope rather than a one-line replacement quote.
The contractor’s role is to assess and price the work. Louisiana’s Act 144 places limits on contractors presenting themselves as insurance-claim specialists or providing policy interpretation and claim-handling services. Questions about coverage or settlement negotiations should be directed to the insurer, a licensed public adjuster or an attorney.
Verify the Roofer Before Work Begins
Storms often bring travelling crews into affected communities. Some provide legitimate additional capacity, while others rely on pressure and confusion.
Be cautious if someone requests a large cash deposit, offers to waive your deductible or pushes you to sign during the first visit. Take the company’s information and verify its licence independently.
Louisiana’s Act 422 requires residential roofing work valued at $7,500 or more to be completed by a contractor holding the appropriate Residential Roofing or Residential Construction classification. You can check credentials through the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors before authorizing repairs.
A trustworthy contractor should also be willing to separate reusable materials from those that genuinely require replacement. Flashing, gutters, vents and sound roof sections should not automatically be discarded simply because another part of the system was damaged.
Create a Permanent Record of the Repair
Continue documenting the project once work begins. Save the final contract, itemized invoice, material information, permit, inspection record and photographs of the completed repair.
Act 62 created the voluntary Louisiana Roof Registry to collect building-permit information connected with roofing work. Availability and submission procedures may evolve as the Department of Insurance develops the program, so check the current requirements before relying on it. Whether or not you use the registry, keep your own secure digital and physical records.
A well-documented repair can make future inspections and insurance claims easier. More importantly, it creates a reliable history of what was repaired, what was replaced and what remained in service. That knowledge helps future homeowners make careful decisions instead of prematurely tearing out materials that still have years of useful life.
A storm does not always mean starting over. With prompt documentation, responsible temporary protection and a qualified inspection, you can repair what failed while preserving as much of your home as possible.
