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How to Document Hail Damage on a Roof for Insurance

Insurance adjusters need clear, timestamped documentation of hail damage. Here's how to photograph hail damage on a roof for a strong claim.

2 min readBy TimeFotos

Hail damage claims depend on documentation. Adjusters need to see the type, pattern, and extent of damage in an organized, timestamped set of photos. Here's how to document hail damage on a roof for insurance.


What to Photograph

Exterior / overall: All slopes and elevations so the adjuster can see the full roof.

Hail impacts: Close-ups of spatter marks, bruising, or fractures on shingles, metal, or other surfaces. Include a few with a reference (ruler or coin) if it helps show size.

Soft metal: Dents on vents, gutters, and flashing — these are often used as proof of hail size and direction.

Other collateral: Siding, window screens, AC fins — anything that shows hail size and pattern.


Organization and Timestamps

  • One job, one set — all photos tied to the same address and date
  • Timestamped — every photo with date and time (and GPS if possible). TimeFotos adds this automatically so the adjuster and carrier can verify when and where the inspection occurred

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Before Any Repair or Replacement

Document before any tear-off or repair. Once the roof is replaced, the original damage is gone. Pre-repair documentation is required for approval and supplement requests.


Share One Link

Send the adjuster one client share link to a clean, ordered photo set instead of dozens of separate files. TimeFotos client share links give a read-only report that looks professional and is easy to review.


Bottom Line

Document hail damage with overall and close-up photos, soft metal and collateral, all in one timestamped set before any repair. Share one professional link with the adjuster for faster, cleaner claims.

Start documenting storm damage jobs →

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